Australia’s first residential eating disorders treatment facility gifted with an Undumbi Tribal name
Wednesday, 26 August 2020
In a naming ceremony held today on the Sunshine Coast, local Elders of the Kabi Kabi Nation presented the new residence with a traditional name from the Kabi Kabi people, ‘Wandi Nerida’, which means ‘Gather Together and Blossom’.
At a special naming ceremony, Tais K’Reala Randanpi explained: “this tribal land we stand on today, is sacred to the Kabi Kabi tribal people which has a real deep meaning to us. ’Wandi Nerida’ in our tribal language means ‘Gather Together and Blossom’. This is what happened when our people, the Salt and Freshwater People came together, they blossomed. Here will be no different, seeing people coming together, to create a new beginning for themselves to blossom.”
Construction is now complete on Wandi Nerida (formerly known as ‘endED Butterfly House’), based in the Mooloolah Valley on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, and it is expected to open early next year. The facility will provide a safe, nurturing and healing environment for those most in need, delivering intensive, person-centred treatment for eating disorders.
CEO of Butterfly Foundation, Kevin Barrow said that there is a dearth of residential treatment available in Australia and in fact, only 25 per cent of the estimated one million people currently living with an eating disorder are getting treatment[1]. He added: “Wandi Nerida is Australia’s first residential facility dedicated to the holistic treatment of people with an eating disorder in a tranquil bushland environment. The state of the art, purpose-built 13 bed residential treatment facility will operate under the Butterfly Foundation Residential Eating Disorders Treatment (B-FREEDT) Model of Care©, which provides a phased treatment structure to address not only symptoms and/or behaviour but also underlying perpetuating psychological factors.”
The setting is critical to the success of the treatment and the treatment philosophy includes providing a nurturing home-like facility where people diagnosed with eating disorders can work, over time, towards health and wellness. .
“As we realise when first asked, that our mother’s totem being a beautiful butterfly, and yarning around this, became inspirational to say the least,” said Tais. When Tais first walked around the property he noted the significance of the country. He explained: “at the back of this property, is an old tribal pathway that was created by the old ones, which connected to our way of life, culture, spirituality, lifestyle and journey to our tribal lands. And today, this will be the same, at this new place, which will bring healing to the mind, body and soul or spirit.”
endED co-founder, Mark Forbes, said that “today was another humbling reminder of the connections and support we have from the local community. This resonates with the very core of endED and the Wandi Nerida residential facility.”
The naming ceremony was conducted by Tais K’Reala Randanpi aka Les of the Muckan family group and representatives from Butterfly Foundation and endED, including endED cofounders Mark and Gay Forbes.
For more information on Wandi Nerida visit the Butterfly website.
ENDS-
Media Contact
Alex Cowen – Communications Manager, Butterfly Foundation | 0497 008 716 alex.cowen@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
[1] https://butterfly.org.au/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-explained/
