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Volunteer - become a leader!

Peer Leaders are volunteers in the South West Self Management Program, who facilitate the Living a Healthy Life workshop series for individuals with chronic health conditions. The workshop series contains 6 sessions - each 2.5 hours in length. Workshops are offered in a community setting with groups of 6-15 participants.

Application Form

Your role as a Peer Leader

As a Peer Leader, you will be paired with another Peer Leader to guide participants through 2 or more Living a Health Life workshop series per year. These workshops have been designed and evaluated at Stanford University, and provide you with an opportunity to lead a highly interactive learning experience for our participants.

Workshop content

Leaders learn how to facilitate workshops by attending a free four-day training course. A scripted manual is also provided. The workshop covers topics such as:

  • Healthy eating
  • Exercise
  • Managing pain, fatigue, stress and medications
  • Communicating with health professionals
  • Making decisions about treatments
  • Planning ahead
  • Problem solving

How you can benefit

  • Empower others to better manage their chronic conditions
  • Learn valuable information and hone your skills in group facilitation
  • Have the satisfaction of watching participants successfully manage their chronic conditions and live healthy lives

Who can be a Peer Leader?

Preference is given to applicants who have experience with a chronic health condition, either directly, or indirectly as a caregiver. Peer Leaders may also include professional care providers.

How to apply

Application Form
  1. Complete the application form
  2. Participate in an in-person or phone interview
  3. Sign a commitment to honour your responsibilities as a Peer Leader and adhere to the policies of the South West Local Health Integration Network
  4. Submit evidence of a valid Police Reference Check
  5. Provide two references


Please contact us to learn more about becoming a volunteer Peer Leader:


Local: 519-421-5691
Toll-free: 1-855-463-5692
Email: info@swselfmanagement.ca


Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does Peer Leader training cost?

    The training and materials costs are typically covered through financial support provided by the SWLHIN. However, there are partnership opportunities where other partners are supporting the costs of training.

  • What is Self-Management?

    Self-management relates to the tasks that an individual must undertake to live well with one or more chronic conditions. These tasks include gaining confidence to deal with medical needs, everyday roles & responsibilities, and emotional issues.

  • What will I learn as a Peer Leader?

    As a Peer Leader, you will have the satisfying task of integrating the contents of the program and learning group facilitation skills that can be transferred to other areas of your life. More importantly, you will play a role in supporting people affected by chronic conditions in successfully managing their health conditions by using the skills and tools that you have shared with them.

  • What do Peer Leaders do?

    Peer Leaders must successfully complete a 4-day Peer Leader Training Workshop. Peer Leaders are asked to commit to deliver the six-week “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions” workshop at least twice in the year following their training. They will also have the opportunity to participate in activities to promote and implement the “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions” workshops in the community.

  • Is it difficult to be a Peer Leader?

    No, it is not difficult to be a leader. Leaders will have come through training and will receive ongoing support from the Program Coordinator as needed. As far as the course material is concerned, the Peer Leader’s Manual gives exact instructions and tips in a user-friendly structure. Most importantly, you do not need to be a health professional to lead this course.


    Peer Leaders are provided with ongoing support and opportunities for education. They are asked to attend refresher courses that are scheduled from time to time. The refresher courses 

    are an opportunity to share experiences, ask questions and practice Peer Leader skills.

  • Why is the program scripted?

    The Stanford program is research based and has been delivered across the world for over 20 years. For legal and liability reasons, the program needs to be delivered as scripted to ensure consistency in programming and messaging. 

  • As a healthcare professional, how might I benefit from Peer Leader training?

    The four-day Peer Leader training program will expose you to a new and empowering approach to self-management for those living with chronic conditions. Taking the training will allow you to be eligible to lead the “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions” workshops in your community with another Peer Leader who is most likely living with a chronic condition him or herself. You will develop skills to support self-management with patients with whom you interact. 

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