Butterfly applauds $5m Federal Budget investment into Eating Disorder Research
1 June 2019 – Butterfly Foundation welcomes the Federal Minister for Health, Minister Greg Hunt’s announcement of $5M to fund two major research projects for ground breaking research into eating disorders.
Butterfly Foundation CEO, Kevin Barrow said that this much-needed investment in research will provide a more in-depth understanding of eating disorders, as well as spotlight how technology can help with the early detection and intervention for those at risk.
Butterfly has supported the Government’s commitment into eating disorders research since the $125 million Million Minds Mission (MMM) was announced last year, by encouraging our internationally recognised researchers to push the envelope with their research proposals, and to advocate for the inclusion of lived experience people in project scopes.
The two winning projects feature Australia’s internationally recognised researchers into eating disorders. The two grants, one for ($3.67M) to Dr Sarah McGuire to lead a highly regarded team of experts at Sydney University, and the second ($1.34M) to Assoc. Prof. Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz and his enterprising and innovative team at Deakin University, are the first cabs off the rank for the new MMM fund for mental health.
“We congratulate the recipients on these innovative research projects, and recommit Butterfly to supporting these projects and their teams as they kick start their research. We are especially pleased to support the researcher’s commitment to involve people with a lived experience, as we are confident that their insights will be invaluable to the research,” said Mr Barrow.
“Dedicated investment into research into all aspects of eating disorders has long been needed in Australia. This is especially true for key areas of early detection and intervention through health system reform, and into how technology can be deployed to assist in the reduction of prevalence of eating disorders.
“Having a dedicated mental health research program underpins the necessary reforms the health system needs to respond to the millions of Australians living with mental ill health, including the one million who are currently living with an eating disorder.
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NOTE TO ALL EDITORS AND PRODUCERS – Please refer to the Mindframe Guidelines for reporting of eating disorders. Please include help seeking advice in all media coverage.
Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact Butterfly’s National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 or support@butterfly.org.au
For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14
Media Contact:
Elaine Banoub
0412 273 673 | ebanoub@primary-pr.com
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