Recovery Support Groups
Recovery support in a safe space
For anyone experiencing an eating disorder or body image concern
Our recovery support groups provide spaces where you can feel free to discuss your body image and eating concerns. You don’t need to do this alone.
Butterfly’s Virtual Recovery Support Groups are facilitated by trained peer facilitators who have lived experience of an eating disorder themselves. Anyone over age 18 from anywhere in Australia is welcome to attend. You may be interested in joining a Virtual Support Group because:
- These Group facilitators have lived experience of an eating disorder or body image concern and can better relate to what you are going though.
- There’s greater opportunity to get to know other participants in the group as there’s more of a face-to-face feel than on webchat.
Our Webchat Recovery Support Groups are facilitated by specialist counsellors from our National Helpline. Anyone over age 16 from anywhere in Australia is welcome to attend. You may be interested in joining a Webchat Recovery Support Group because:
- The Webchat Recovery Support groups provide a space for participants to share their lived experience, wisdom and knowledge with each other. The groups are an opportunity to mutually learn from others at different points in their recovery journey.
- Webchat Support Group facilitators are trained mental health counsellors, with specialist skills in body image and eating disorders. The facilitators help to ensure a safe, inclusive and respectful space.
- You can remain anonymous and identify yourself as you choose – we do not share your details with anyone and we encourage participants to use a pseudonym to protect your privacy.
We also run In-Person Support Groups in Launceston and Hobart, Tasmania. Please scroll further down on this page for more information about these in-person support groups, or contact rss@butterfly.org.au.
Please note: Butterfly’s Support Groups don’t replace treatment by a trained professional. If you’re looking for answers to specific issues around eating disorder recovery or care-giving, it’s best to consult with your treating professionals, or contact our National Helpline.
We strive to create a safe and supportive environment for all participants in our group programs.
We request that you act respectfully and safely towards our staff and other people using our services or participating in our programs at all times. If someone behaves in a way that is abusive, threatening or in any way places others at risk, our staff may immediately end the interaction or remove someone from a virtual program. Please see Butterfly’s Charter of Rights for more information.
Virtual Recovery Support Group
Where: ONLINE (ZOOM)
Time: 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm (AEST/AEDT)
When: Mondays. We run these groups weekly.
March – 16th, 23rd, 30th
April – 13th, 20th
May – 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
June – 1st, 15th, 22nd, 29th
Note: Recovery Support Groups will not be running on 6th April, 27th April, and 8th June due to the respective Public Holidays.
Please click REGISTER NOW to complete our form and book a date/time that suits you.
Fee: FREE TO ALL (Thanks to support by the Crown through the Tasmanian Department of Health.)
Webchat Recovery Support Group
Anyone in Australia aged 16+ can join.
Where: Online
When: Monday and Wednesday each week (closed on Australian national public holidays)
Time: 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm (AEST/AEDT)
Please use a pseudonym or nickname (instead of your Full Name) and to protect your privacy, DO NOT upload a profile picture.
Circle.so is hosted overseas. This means that information you share in the platform may be stored outside Australia including your email address. At the end of each group, Butterfly securely saves the chat transcript on our Australian servers, then permanently deletes the chat record from Circle.so.
Frequently asked questions
Follow these quick steps to join your first group. Once you have signed up, simply sign in each time to join a group!
1. Sign up on this link
- Click “Sign up”
- Enter a pseudonym or nickname for ‘Full Name’ (not your real name to protect your privacy), along with your email and password
- Tick the box to agree to the ‘terms of service’ and ‘privacy policy’
- Click “Sign up” again.
2. Set up your profile
- DO NOT upload a profile photo
- Check your ‘Full Name’ is a pseudonym or nickname
- Click “Continue”.
3. Get started
- A welcome pop-up message will appear with a reminder to check that you’re using a pseudonym or nickname and that you haven’t uploaded a profile picture.
- Click “Let’s go”.
4. Join today’s group
- Click Feed and read the Recovery Support Group Guidelines
- If joining from a Mobile/tablet: Click on the three lines icon (top left) to navigate between the Feed, Support News and Group
- Click on the group titled with today’s date (e.g. “1/10/2025 Recovery Support Group”).
You’re now ready to participate! If you need further support, please reach out to the Butterfly Helpline team on 1800 334 673.
You will be welcomed into an accepting space. The group is focused on how best to support you in your recovery journey and we will discuss topics related to understanding, self-care and recovery skills.
After you create an account and log in, you will need to read the Group Guidelines. These help ensure an inclusive, supportive and safe experience for all. Once you join the group, the Facilitator will help guide the conversation. All participants are encouraged to share their lived experience, wisdom and knowledge in ways that feel comfortable and safe. It’s important to be respectful, kind and compassionate with yourself and others, including when different perspectives are shared.
There is no set discussion and participants are encouraged to share their own experiences as honestly and as safely as they feel comfortable. You are welcome to listen if you are not ready to speak. The shared experience of the group relies on our willingness to show compassion to ourselves and to others.
Butterfly recognises that eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of their ethnicity, colour, culture, religion, economic status, gender identity, sexuality, age, or ability. We prioritise inclusive and safe spaces for every person in the community.
Your privacy is important to us. We collect and store your information only where necessary and relevant so we can provide you with our services and, subject to your permission, conduct research.
Butterfly Foundation uses Circle.so to facilitate our Webchat Recovery Support Groups. Circle.so is an online platform that is hosted overseas. This means that information you share in the platform may be stored outside Australia including your email address. At the end of each group, Butterfly securely saves the chat transcript on our Australian servers, and then permanently deletes the chat record from Circle.so.
If you are unsure whether what you are experiencing is an eating disorder or you have not been diagnosed by a health care professional you are still very welcome to come along.
In-Person Recovery Support Group in Launceston
Where: “Myrtle room”, Medicare Mental Health Centre: 62-64 Canning Street, Launceston, Tasmania
When:
Monday 23 March
Monday 20 April
Monday 18 May
Monday 15 June
Time: 5.30 pm – 7.00 pm (AEST/AEDT)
Join us for our in-person Recovery Support Group in a safe and welcoming environment, held in Launceston on the 3rd Monday of every month. Led by trained peer facilitators who have their own lived experience of an eating disorder, we cover topics such as understanding, self-care and recovery skills. For more information email rss@butterfly.org.au.
Fee: FREE TO ALL (Thanks to support by the Crown through the Tasmanian Department of Health.)
In-Person Recovery Support Group in Hobart
Where: ‘Training Room’, Mental Health Council of Tasmania, Level 6, 39 Murray Street, Hobart, Tasmania
When: Thursday 11th June
Time: 5pm – 6:30pm (AEDT)
Join us for our new in-person Recovery Support Group in a safe and welcoming environment, held in Hobart. Led by trained peer facilitators who have their own lived experience of an eating disorder, we cover topics such as understanding, self-care and recovery skills. For more information email rss@butterfly.org.au.
Fee: FREE TO ALL (Thanks to support by the Crown through the Tasmanian Department of Health.)
Do you care about a friend or family member experiencing a body image issue or eating disorder? We also have Carer Support Groups which you can access from anywhere in Australia.
Let’s talk
Whether you need support for yourself or someone you care about, call our free and confidential Helpline on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673), chat online or email.
