Right Care Right Place: Eating disorder care in my community Project
Program overview
Eating disorders are serious, complex, and potentially life-threatening mental illnesses. They are characterised by disturbances in behaviours, thoughts, and feelings towards body weight, shape, and/or food and eating. Eating disorders have detrimental impacts upon a person's life and may result in serious medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial consequences. In the Adelaide PHN region alone, over 50,000 people are estimated to have an eating disorder, with levels of disordered eating and body image distress even higher.
Unfortunately, treatment uptake is low, with only 23% of people with an eating disorder accessing care through our health system. Adelaide PHN, in partnership with the National Eating Disorder Collaboration (NEDC), is addressing this gap through the Right Care Right Place: Eating disorder care in my community project. This initiative aims to strengthen eating disorder care within primary health settings across Adelaide.
About the Project
Funded as part of a $20 million Mental Health Program Community-Based Eating Disorder Supports grant from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, the Right Care Right Place: Eating Disorder Care in My Community project seeks to establish a more integrated stepped system of care for eating disorders in the Adelaide PHN region. Being implemented in partnership with the National Eating Disorder Collaboration and evaluated by Flinders University, the outcomes from this project will inform future decisions on sustainably scaling the model across Australia to ensure broader impact. This is a key bottom-up initiative that aligns with the National Eating Disorders Strategy 2023-2033.
Service Navigation Support
Through the project, people will have better access to safe and effective care and support - the right care, across the eating disorder stepped system of care - the right place. A dedicated Support Navigator (Eating Disorders) is now available through the Head to Health Phone Service to support individuals, supporters, and referrers to navigate available care and support options. See APHN Program Directory – Head to Health Phone Service for contact details.
Service Mapping and Strengthening Referral Pathways
This component involves comprehensive mapping of available eating disorder, disordered eating, and body image distress care and support options across the region. Key information such as referral criteria, costs, and wait times will be documented for each service. Through strengthening referral pathways, we are building partnerships between providers to create supported transitions to and from services, ensuring people can move seamlessly through different levels of support as their needs change.
Stakeholder Activation and Workforce Capacity Building
This component brings together the eating disorder service sector to collaborate on sector reform initiatives and improve service delivery. Through workforce capacity building, we are helping to enhance the primary healthcare sector's ability to respond effectively to eating disorders. This includes providing education and training opportunities and establishing communities of practice where healthcare professionals can share knowledge and develop their skills in eating disorder care.
Project Outcomes:
- Health professionals can skilfully and confidently identify, refer, and treat people with eating disorders within their scope of practice
- Support and treatment services are culturally inclusive and accessible for people with eating disorders and their support networks
- Existing resources are optimised and streamlined to eliminate redundancy
- Key stakeholders can recognise early warning signs and locate appropriate care and support
- Comprehensive mapping of the stepped care system outlines accessible pathways for eating disorder care and support
Project Partners:
National Eating Disorder Collaboration
Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing
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