What we’re doing to support people experiencing eating disorders
We recognise the importance of making sure all Australians can access affordable and appropriate care and support. We are committed to strengthening a nationally consistent system of care for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders in Australia.
Our work brings together strategies, core principles, specialised services and workforce capability to deliver a national model of care. Our aim is to improve outcomes for people experiencing, or at risk of, eating disorders, and to ensure families and carers receive the support they need to play an effective role in the recovery journey.
Why this is important
Eating disorders can be severe and life threatening. They affect people of all ages and backgrounds. People experiencing eating disorders require coordinated care that is tailored to their individual needs.
A nationally consistent, evidence-based system of care for eating disorders will help people receive safe, appropriate and effective support wherever they live.
Our funded initiatives include the delivery of national eating disorder services and supports, workforce training, research and service evaluations which all help improve access to care, quality and safety for individuals, families and carers.
Goals
Our Australian Government–funded initiatives aim to:
- provide minimum standards for a nationally consistent system of care for eating disorders
- address the gaps within the stepped-system of care through national community-based eating disorder support and services
- conduct innovative eating disorder research to improve access to high quality eating disorder care
- support the translation of evidence into practice across the system, with innovative solutions including digital interventions
- support safe, culturally appropriate, trauma informed and evidence-based responses
- improve access to treatment and management services under Medicare
- strengthen workforce capability through training and competency standards.
Meeting our goals
We meet these goals through:
- overseeing implementation of the National Eating Disorders Strategy 2023–33 and the Australian Eating Disorders Research and Translation Strategy 2021-31
- promoting the Eating Disorder Safe Principles across communities and services
- funding eating disorder services across the stepped system of care from prevention to recovery care and supports
- continuing eating disorder research through the Australian Eating Disorder Research and Translation Centre
- delivering Medicare funded eating disorder treatment and management services
- providing specialist, free and confidential support through the Butterfly national Helpline 7-days a week
- responding to the Eating Disorder Medicare Benefits Schedule items evaluation
- supporting workforce training aligned with national core competencies.
Who we work with
We work with:
- state and territory governments
- Primary Health Networks
- eating disorder sector organisations and peak bodies
- Services Australia.
More information
National Eating Disorders Strategy 2023–33
The Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing launched the National Eating Disorders Strategy 2023–33 on 30 August 2023. The strategy was developed by the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) with the broader eating disorders sector.
The strategy guides how we design and deliver policy and programs and sets minimum standards for eating disorder care.
NEDC is leading the implementation of the strategy in collaboration with governments, Primary Health Networks and the eating disorders sector.
Eating Disorder Safe Principles
NEDC developed the Eating Disorder Safe Principles which promote whole of community approaches that aim to do no harm and support safer, more culturally appropriate environments for people experiencing, or at risk of, eating disorders.
NEDC has also developed a range of resources to help translate these principles into practice.
For more information, please visit the NEDC website at Eating Disorder Safe Principles.
Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan
Eligible patients can access Medicare-funded psychological and dietetic services through an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan. A medical practitioner develops the plan based on the patient’s needs and circumstances. The eating disorder services under Medicare are provided in courses of treatment to ensure the most appropriate care and effective support throughout a patient’s recovery journey.
Read our fact sheets to learn more.
Evaluation of Medicare Benefits Schedule items
We asked La Trobe University, Deakin University and a consortium of partners to provide an independent evaluation of the Eating Disorder Medicare Benefits Schedule items.
The final report includes 46 recommendations that are now informing future policy directions.
Training for practitioners
We expect practitioners providing eating disorder services to meet national workforce core competencies to provide safe and appropriate eating disorder care.
Training is available through:
- Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders
- the InsideOut Institute
- National Eating Disorders Collaboration.
Resources
Eating disorder resource collection
Contact
Emergency support
If you or someone you know needs help:
- Butterfly Foundation
- Beyond Blue
- Lifeline
- 13YARN – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line
- Kids Helpline
- Suicide Call Back Service
- eheadspace
- MensLine Australia
- QLife
For providers
Medicare provider enquiry line
National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC)
InsideOut Institute
The Australian Eating Disorders Research and Translation Centre
Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED)
For people seeking assistance
Medicare general enquiries
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Butterfly Foundation
InsideOut Institute
Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA)