Eating Disorder Alliance welcomes $26 million in MYEFO funding
A collective of national and state-based leading eating disorder organisations welcomes the Federal Government’s MYEFO budget announcement of over $26 million for essential services and programs to support people living with eating disorders and those that care for them, although noted that there was very little new funding announced.
The Eating Disorder Alliance (EDA) acknowledges the Federal Government’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) budget announced yesterday, with over $26 million in funding dedicated to addressing unmet gaps in the eating disorder system of care, following consistent and compelling advocacy from the Group to extend funding for existing services. While EDA was disappointed not to have received the new funding for essential programs, there is no doubt that sustained funding, proactive policy and ongoing commitment from government enables organisations across the sector to continue work to improve lives and outcomes for people with eating disorders and their families.
Eating disorders cost the Australia economy over $67 billion every year, and the number of people impacted has risen by 21 per cent since 20121. Despite this, eating disorders remain one of Australia’s least funded and most misunderstood mental illnesses.
Recent research commissioned by Butterfly Foundation found that nearly two-thirds (60 per cent) of people support additional funding being allocated by the Federal Government to prevent and treat eating disorders, and around half (47per cent) think Australia does not currently do enough to prevent and treat eating disorders2.
In the only new funding announced, EDA is very pleased to see that, critically, the Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) will receive $800,000 over two years to continue delivering the eating disorder credentialing system, connect.ed.
ANZAED CEO Jade Gooding highlighted that less than a third of people with eating disorders are able to access the care they need, and said, “This funding will allow us to improve that by connecting individuals and their families with professionals who understand and are equipped to provide support for these serious mental health issues.”
The funding announcement also included $13.1 million over two years for existing eating disorder treatment and support services. This included extending BiTE, a pilot program to identify innovative and evidence‑based models of care to best address the needs of people with eating disorders in community‑based settings, to be led by Eating Disorders Queensland.
Other funded programs include Butterfly Foundation’s outpatient program, Next Steps, providing free care for those with an eating disorder coming out of inpatient treatment, Eating Disorder Families Australia’s Fill the Gap counselling service for carers, as well as Right Care, Right Place, a partnership between the National Eating Disorder Collaboration (NEDC) and four PHNs to establish and integrate a local system of care in diverse regions, and InsideOut’s eClinic providing access to free eTherapy to all Australians, along with their GP Hub – supporting GPs with point of care tools and resources.
Eating Disorders Queensland CEO Belinda Chelius emphasised the importance of funding community-based care and said, “We know that long-term recovery does not happen on an inpatient ward, but in the community, with treatment and support meeting the client where they are at in their recovery. From a systems approach, having an integrated treatment system that is easy to navigate, accessible, and equitable is the foundation of a universal mental health care approach. A right, not a luxury.”
$9.3 million over two years will be dedicated to upskilling the mental health workforce in evidence‑based eating disorder interventions and support the Australian Eating Disorders Research and Translation Centre.
COO Peta Marks said that this ongoing funding acknowledges how integral co-produced research is to learn more about the illnesses, to prevention and treatment innovation, and to the evaluation and improvement of services, with the goal of ensuring best outcomes for those living with an eating disorder.
The NEDC will also receive a $2.2 million extension of funding over two years to continue to support national leadership and collaboration to implement the National Eating Disorders Strategy 2023-2022, establishing standards for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.
NEDC National Director Dr Sarah Trobe said, “we are working in a collaborative and coordinated way across eating disorder, health, mental health, and community settings to ensure that people impacted by eating disorders can access the care they need. This wouldn’t be possible without ongoing Government investment and their ongoing commitment to the implementation of the National Strategy.”
As well as funding for Fill the Gap, Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) will receive $400,000 over two years to continue counselling services for unpaid carers of people with eating disorders across Australia.
EDFA CEO Jane Rowan highlighted the importance of including carers in the conversation and said “eating disorders are felt not just by the individual, but the entire family and support network. Carers need support too, to help their loved ones achieve long-term recovery and ensure their own mental wellbeing is looked after in the process.”
As well as the funding for Next Steps, Butterfly will receive $400,000 over two years to support Butterfly Body Bright, which equips Australian primary schools with the tools and knowledge to support positive body image and prevent eating disorders from developing.
Butterfly CEO Jim Hungerford emphasised the importance of investing in prevention and said, “Butterfly Body Bright is already paving the way through an evidence-based program that takes a whole-school approach. We must continue to advocate for prevention to become a cornerstone of mental health funding to protect those who are most vulnerable, so we can act before body dissatisfaction and eating disorders become a lifelong struggle.”
The continued funding for these existing effective programs is aligned with EDA’s ‘One Voice, One Ask’ campaign, which was designed to offer a scalable, and integrated solution to Australia’s eating disorder crisis, aligned with the National Eating Disorders Strategy. We are proud that our advocacy efforts have translated to commitment by the Government.
The EDA comprises Butterfly Foundation, Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA), the Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED), Eating Disorders Queensland (EDQ), and Eating Disorders Victoria (EDV), Eating Disorders Neurodiversity Australia (EDNA), the InsideOut Institute, the Australian Eating Disorders Research and Translation Centre (AEDRTC), The Embrace Collective and the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC).
-ENDS-
Media Contact:
Eating Disorder Alliance
E: media@eatingdisordersalliance.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 visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online or email, 7 days a week, 8am-midnight (AEST/AEDT).
- Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23
- For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14
