Common Grounds is the Australian Endometriosis Foundation’s peer-support and mental health program for young women aged 18–35 living with endometriosis. Designed to build capacity in young women navigating a chronic illness, each session brings together up to 13 participants at a local café for a structured two-hour conversation, a safe space to strengthen mental wellbeing, share experiences, learn about their condition, and build lasting connections with others who truly understand what they’re going through.
Young women with endometriosis face a significant and often overlooked mental health burden during the years they are completing education, entering work, forming relationships and building financial independence. AEF’s 2024–25 data (n=3,100) found 85% reported anxiety, 56% depression and 22% suicidal thoughts or self-harm. Half of respondents aged 18–35 went without psychosocial support because of cost, while more than 80% could not find in-person support tailored to endometriosis.
Common Grounds aims to strengthen the mental wellbeing, social connection, health literacy and self-efficacy of young women living with endometriosis, while building a sustainable network of trained lived-experience leaders.
Over 12 months, AEF aims to deliver 112 sessions across up to eight community hubs, reach at least 1,000 unique participants through up to 1,456 attendances, and train additional Youth Ambassadors to facilitate safe, structured peer support.
We will measure whether participants experience reduced isolation, improved confidence managing endometriosis, stronger coping and self-advocacy skills, and sustained connection to peers and support services. AEF will use registration data, pre- and post-session surveys, repeat-attendance tracking and follow-up with consenting participants.
Our core impact targets are to maintain or exceed AEF’s existing result of 85% of attendees reporting that they feel less alone and more confident managing endometriosis, and for more than 40% of participants attending multiple sessions to report reduced anxiety and depression. We will also measure positive change in health-management self-efficacy, social connectedness and confidence advocating for health needs.
Success will therefore be assessed not only by how many young women attend, but by measurable changes in their wellbeing, connection, confidence and capacity to navigate life with a chronic condition.
Evaluation will be embedded from registration through follow-up so AEF can measure impact, identify what works and improve delivery throughout the project.
AEF will collect de-identified information on participant age, gender, postcode, diagnosis status, existing support and unmet needs. We will report unique participants separately from total attendances and track repeat participation, referral uptake, geographic reach and facilitator involvement. Pre- and post-session evaluation will use validated measures including the Social Connectedness Scale, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease scale and resilience measures, alongside qualitative questions about coping, confidence, relevance and unmet needs. Consenting participants will be invited to complete follow-up surveys to assess whether changes are sustained.
Quantitative data will be analysed through pre/post comparisons, while qualitative feedback will be reviewed thematically. Quarterly reviews will compare outcomes by location, age, attendance pattern and referral source so that session content, outreach and facilitator support can be adapted in response to participant experience.
AEF will share aggregated findings through a public Common Grounds impact report, its Annual Report and updates to AIIW and funding partners. De-identified participant voices will be included with consent. Lessons will also be returned to AEF’s Youth Advisory Committee and Youth Ambassadors.
The Australian Endometriosis Foundation offers an in-person community for young people
aged 18-35 navigating endometriosis, providing connection and support through evidence-
based programs and resources. We respond to the isolation and uncertainty many young
women experience when seeking diagnosis and treatment, providing them with in-person,
peer-led programs, practical resources and community support. As a result, we create a
community where no young person goes through endometriosis alone – and where all young
people feel seen, supported and uplifted by a community that understands their challenges
