Australian voters call for urgent funding for eating disorder prevention and treatment
Friday 4 April, 2025
New research commissioned by Butterfly Foundation has found that:
- Nearly two-thirds (60%) of people support additional funding being allocated by the Federal Government to prevent and treat eating disorders
- 30% of people have a personal connection with someone with an eating disorder
- Around half of Australians (47%) do not think Australia currently does enough to prevent and treat eating disorders
- Less than one in four people (23%) think the Government is doing enough for eating disorders
- Healthcare was second only to cost of living as being ‘very important’ to respondents and their households
Butterfly has been actively advocating for increased government funding for eating disorder prevention and treatment over the past six months, knocking on doors in Canberra and invoking the considerable support of their lived experience community. An online latest survey of 1,606 voting adults, conducted by Resolve Strategic on 26-29 March, confirmed that additional funding for eating disorder prevention and treatment was strongly supported by the electorate, across all age groups, political and regional demographics.
“It is urgent that the Government and the Opposition show their commitment now. The number of people affected is increasing, the age of onset is dropping, and the impacts are worsening,” said Butterfly CEO Dr Jim Hungerford. “Every month 100 people die from, and 10,000 develop, an eating disorder, with 1.1 million people and their families currently impacted. Without government investment in prevention, the consequences will be catastrophic.”
“We have been meeting with politicians on all sides to request a modest $9.9m over three years to stem this tide,” said Dr Hungerford. “We were incredibly disappointed that there was zero new funding for eating disorder prevention or treatment in the Australian Government’s 2025-26 budget announcement on 25 March, nor in the Budget response from the Coalition, and so far, have not had assurances from any political party that this funding will be forthcoming. It is clear from this latest research that people in Australia want to know why. The time for talk is over, the time for action for the more than 1 million people living with an eating disorder is now.”
Lily, one of more than 1100 members of the Butterfly Collective who have a lived experience of an eating disorder, said: “I’m shocked and disappointed (about the lack of funding in the budget announcements). In my nursing role I have seen a huge increase in patients presenting with eating disorders. Their families are also suffering watching their loved one suffer while experiencing extreme emotional and financial stress. It’s so important that people who are at risk are able to avoid ever developing an eating disorder – as once they get in that mindset, it can be extremely hard to get out. We need to stop this rise in incidence of eating disorders in this generation and not let it affect generations to come!”
Jem, who has their own lived experience of an eating disorder, said in response to the lack of funding announcements, “It is unsurprising but still disheartening. I don’t believe that people realise how dangerous eating disorders are. Social media has a lot to do with body dissatisfaction in our society… however, social media campaigns can be a great avenue for challenging ideas through education and providing information on treatment and support.”
The recent media focus on eating disorders and body dissatisfaction supports the survey findings. “There has been a groundswell over the last 12 months, with the number of media articles about eating disorders tripling to an average of six per day,” said Dr Hungerford. “Increasingly heartbreaking personal stories are appearing in the media, of children at risk, families in despair, people unable to cope.”
According to Deloitte’s recent report, Paying the Price, eating disorders cost Australia $67 billion every year in economic and wellbeing losses. “Butterfly has never been funded to do critical mental health promotion work and this lack is reflected in today’s escalating crisis,” said Dr Hungerford. “$9.9m extra funding over 3 years for prevention and early intervention initiatives to address this urgent need equates to less than 1 cent a day for each person in Australia currently living with an eating disorder – a small price to pay, given the huge economic and emotional burden on all Australians.”
-ENDS-
Media Contact
Zoe Bradbury, Communications Manager
0400 58 58 55
comms@butterfly.org.au
Editor and producers note: Please include the following support line details in all media coverage of this story and refer to the Mindframe Media guidelines for safe reporting on eating disorders. Please include the following helpline message.
Help and Support
Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact:
- Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or support@butterfly.org.au
- Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23
- For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14
Our Helpline is a free, safe, and confidential service providing counselling, support groups, information, and referrals to health professionals around Australia screened for an understanding of eating disorders. All Butterfly National Helpline counsellors are qualified mental health professionals with specialist training in eating disorders and body image.
About Butterfly
Butterfly is Australia’s leading not for profit supporting everyone affected by eating and body image issues. You can find out about Butterfly and our prevention services for schools and communities at www.butterfly.org.au or contact our education team – education@butterfly.org.au
