Eating disorders

About 3.9 per cent of Australians are impacted by eating disorders. In the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) catchment the percentage is higher, with conservative estimates putting it at 4.4 per cent – approximately 80,000 people.

Eating disorders are mental illnesses characterised by disturbances to thoughts, behaviours and attitudes to food and eating. They are caused by an interaction of genetic, behavioural, psychological and sociocultural factors.

There are several different types of eating disorders and related issues. Click on these links for more information:

• Body image
• Disordered eating and dieting
• Anorexia nervosa
• Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
• Binge eating disorder
• Bulimia nervosa
• Other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED)

Eating disorders are the frequent subjects of misinformation, myths and often hazardous social media fads. These can complicate diagnosis, treatment and patient awareness, and present a major clinical challenge. Three-quarters of people with a diagnosable eating disorder do not seek treatment.

To help clinicians and patients better understand and respond to eating disorders, NWMPHN has partnered with the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) to develop training, resources and real-time, dedicated service assistance.

Meet Victoria’s first go-to support person for GPs treating eating disorders

Catherine Roberts is Victoria’s first ever Eating Disorders Service Navigator. As such she plays a critical role in linking together GPs, mental health professionals and dietitians with people with eating disorders, their families and supports.

Catherine, who has worked for many years in nursing and the mental health sector supporting people with eating disorders, takes on her navigator role as part of the NWMPHN pilot program called Right Care, Right Place: Eating disorder care in my community. (For more details of this project, see next section.)

Any GP operating within NWMPHN’s 3,200 square-kilometre catchment can take advantage of her skills, insight and knowledge, free of charge.

“In this position I help consumers and their families navigate the sometimes overwhelming and daunting health system to ensure they get the best quality treatment,” she explains.

“I also help GPs to feel supported and valued in their work, so they can do their jobs safely and effectively. In turn, this will hopefully help them feel more confident and capable in supporting people with eating disorders, which will in turn improve health outcomes.”

To read more about Catherine’s role, see this NWMPHN webpage.

Health professionals can contact Catherine via NWMPHN’s Referral and Access Team on (03) 9088 4277. GPs can refer to Catherine using our mental health service referral form.

The Right Care, Right Place project

To help clinicians and patients better understand and respond to eating disorders, NWMPHN has partnered with the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) to codesign the Right Care Right Place: Eating disorder care in my community project.

Set to run until June 2026, the Commonwealth-funded project sees GPs, mental health professionals and dietitians in four primary health network catchments trained to deliver eating disorder treatment and participate in ongoing professional development to boost their skills and confidence.

Training for GPs will focus on early identification, screening, assessment, shared care, treatment pathways and recovery support.

Training for mental health professionals and dietitians will follow a similar approach, with an option for mental health professionals to undertake additional training in evidence-based therapeutic models for children, adolescents and adults.

The training modules all align with current national practice standards and contribute towards the Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) credential.

All training under the Right Care Right Place pilot is provided free of charge. Participating GPs, mental health providers and dietitians are also reimbursed for engaging in training and attending professional development events.

Mental health professionals and dietitians are already enrolled in the pilot program.

Clinical resources

The National Eating Disorders Collaboration hosts multiple, detailed and clinically validated information sheets, training modules and other resources for health professionals wishing to learn more and treat eating disorders.

These include:

• Eating Disorders Stepped System of Care
• Screening and assessment tools for eating disorders
• MBS items

The below modules are evidence-based, nationally recognised and freely accessible to all members of NEDC – membership to which is free.