Click on the image below to read our poster about the program:
Supporting Social Skills & Meaningful Connections
What is PEERS®?
Do you want your child to develop effective social skills and build lasting friendships? Join PEERS for Adolescents/Teens, a proven, evidence-based program designed to help young adults improve their social skills in a supportive group setting.
Who is it for?
This program is designed for socially motivated adolescents aged 12–15 years and their nominated Social Coach (for example, a parent, caregiver, or support person).
What does it involve?
Adolescents attend weekly group sessions on Thursdays, while Social Coaches participate in weekly online sessions on Wednesdays. Attendance at both sessions is required, as Social Coaches play an important role in supporting skill practice and generalisation outside of the group.
The PEERS® program includes two parallel groups:
Participant Group
Adolescents learn practical, real-world social skills through structured lessons, role-plays, and guided practice. Topics are age-appropriate and focus on everyday peer situations relevant to teenagers.
Social Coaching Group
A parent, caregiver, or other support person attends a weekly coaching group to learn how to support skill practice outside of sessions. All participants are required to have a Social Coach who can attend weekly sessions.
The program runs for 15 weeks in small groups (8–10 participants). Social Coaches receive training to provide constructive feedback and support during weekly social practice activities.
What will you learn?
This 15-week group program is structured so that each session builds on the skills learned in the previous week. Participants will develop practical, real-world social skills, including:
• How to start and maintain conversations
• Making positive first impressions and managing conflict
• Using humour in appropriate and effective ways
• Navigating electronic and online communication
• How to make and keep friends
• Understanding appropriate ways to interact with peers
• Recognising social cues and body language
• Learning strategies to handle rejection, teasing, bullying, rumours, gossip, and cyberbullying
Current Group Start Date: Wednesday 18th March 2026
Finish Date: Thursday 2 July 2026
Mid-program break: No sessions the week of 6 April (8th and 9th April). Sessions will resume as usual from Wednesday 15th April.
Participants must enrol in the full 15-week program.
Location:
• Teen/Adolescent Group: 12 The Avenue, Hurstville
• Parent (Social Coaching) Group: Online (link will be provided)
Session Times:
Teen/Adolescent Sessions: Thursdays, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Parent (Social Coaching) Sessions: Wednesdays, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (online)
Session Costs & Payment Terms
- Fees: $336 per week ($5040 total).
(includes 90 minutes for the particpant
+ 60 minutes for their social coach).
- Deposit required: For Medicare-rebated, private, and NDIS self-managed participants, a $672 deposit (equivalent to two weeks’ payment) is required to secure enrolment.
- Plan-managed NDIS payments: Full payment required upon registration.
Payment Methods:
Payment can be made as one upfront total or in weekly installments at the end of each participant session using one of the below methods.
1. Credit card or cash: speak to our reception team on the day of the group session or by securely stored credit card.
2.Online payment: Scan or click the QR code at the bottom of your invoice to make your payment on the day.
3. Phone: Call our reception team to make payment.
Avaliable Rebates
1. Medicare Rebate – Participants may be eligible for a $68.30 rebate per session for up to 10 group sessions per year under Medicare. A current Mental Health Treatment Plan & referral from a GP or psychiatrist is required.
- The gap-payment for Medicare group sessions contributes to the Medicare Safety Net, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs.
2. NDIS – The PEERS program can generally be claimed for self-managed or plan-managed participants. It is typically funded under the Capacity Building category, specifically:
- Increased Social and Community Participation – Innovative Community Participation (09_008_0116_6_3)
- Increased Social and Community Participation – Community Participation Activities (09_011_0125_6_3)
- Improved Relationships – Individual Social Skills Development (11_024_0117_7_3)
- Improved Daily Living – Community Engagement Assistance (15_045_0128_1_3)
- > Important: Participants should confirm eligibility with their NDIS plan manager or support coordinator. Only self-managed and plan-managed NDIS funds can be used.
3. Private Health Insurance – Clients should check with their provider to confirm eligibility and rebate amounts.
Why Join Our PEERS® Group?
✔️ Facilitated by experienced Clinical Psychologists
✔️ Small group setting for individualised attention
✔️ Practical, real-world skill-building
✔️ “Social coach” involvement to reinforce learning at home
Fun Facts & Evidence-Base:
> Originally developed at UCLA, the world-renowned PEERS® program has been translated into over a dozen languages and is used in more than 150 countries worldwide.
> PEERS® teaches ecologically valid social skills—the same strategies naturally used by socially successful individuals.
> The program equips participants with practical, real-world strategies to navigate social interactions confidently in school, the workplace, and community settings.
> PEERS® is grounded in research and has been proven effective in helping participants improve their social skills and form meaningful relationships, including:
- Improvement in social assertiveness, cooperativeness, and self-control.
- Significant improvements in social responsiveness, due to the programs attention to receptive and expressive social communication skills.
- Improved empathy and perspective-taking. This may be due to an increase in mentalising ability, leading to an increased understanding of other’s mental and emotional states.
- Reduced self-reported loneliness due to greater participation in social activities and hobbies, as well as the development of meaningful friendships.
- Increased frequency of social invitations extended to the participant.
- Reduction in social anxiety, and increasing overall social functioning.
2026 Group Facilitators
Janice Tang
B Psych (Hons), M Clin Psych, PhD
Jessica Taylor
B Sc Psych (Hons), M Psych (Clin)