Livewire: online communities for families affected by a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability.

Living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability has a huge impact on all the family - young people, siblings and parents have their own unique support requirements. Livewire (www.livewire.org.au) provides three separate online communities featuring social networking tools (chat, blogs, forums) and relevant content for these family members - a place where they can meet and share experiences with other people who understand what they are going through.

• Livewire Members (members.livewire.org.au) is for young people, aged over 10 and under 21, living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability.
• Livewire Siblings (siblings.livewire.org.au) is for young people, aged over 10 and under 21, who have a brother or sister living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability.
• Livewire Parents (parents.livewire.org.au) - launching October 2009 - is for parents and carers of someone living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability.

Chat hosts and moderators trained in adolescent health are online 7 days a week to ensure that Livewire remains a supportive and fun place. Livewire is working with the Australian Federal Police to help ensure
all members of Livewire remain safe while engaging with the community. Every membership application is authorised with written parental consent and proof of identity.

Livewire is an initiative of the Starlight Children's Foundation and is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the Clever Networks program.

For more information or to join a Livewire Community, just go to http://www.livewire.org.au, Alternatively, you can contact the Livewire Support Team on (02) 8425 5971.