Michelle Foster

A few years ago, a close family member spoke to me about his struggles with friendship. He’s kind, engaging, and outgoing—meeting new people wasn’t a challenge. But for some reason, those friendships didn’t last.

Knowing he wasn’t alone, I searched for a Sydney-based course that focused on building and maintaining friendships. That led to his enrolment in one of the first PEERS® Social Skills Programs offered in Australia.

The results were immediate and lasting. With new tools and a clearer understanding of the social landscape, he built a solid group of friends and now has the confidence and skills to expand his social network as he pleases.

Impressed by the program’s practical approach and lasting impact, I trained as a PEERS® facilitator and seven years ago, founded Friends Matter. My goal was to make these skills accessible to people whose social struggles are often misunderstood or overlooked by offering structured, evidence-based support in a welcoming, safe, and friendly environment.

For more than 20 years, I’ve worked with neurodiverse families, supported autistic children starting school, provided counselling, and trained adults with moderate intellectual disability in the workplace. Social challenges have been a common thread throughout—and this is where PEERS® makes a real difference.

If you're looking to build your social confidence, create new friendships, or strengthen the relationships you already have, I can show you how.

Email me your contact number and the best time to catch you by clicking the link below or call me on 0416 084 235 during business hours.

I hope to speak with you soon, Michelle.