As identified in the National Eating Disorders Strategy 2023-2033 (National Strategy), there has been increasing recognition of eating disorders as part of ‘core business’ for public sector mental health services. However, the extent to which this is endorsed and adopted across services on a national level is unknown. The National Eating Disorders Collaboration mapped child, adolescent and adult community-based mental health services to address this knowledge gap and gain a better understanding of responses to eating disorders across Australia. This presentation will focus on child and adolescent mental health services.
A desktop review of child community mental health services and headspace services was conducted to generate a complete map of these services across jurisdictions, supplemented by contact with organisational leaders and subject matter experts where details were unavailable online. Identified services were asked to complete a survey of their response to eating disorders, including service provision, workforce training and care navigation.
An overview of all child community-based mental health services and headspace services across Australia will be presented accompanied by a summary of the services’ response to eating disorders across service type and jurisdiction.
This service mapping and analysis offers insights into the current landscape of eating disorder care for children and adolescents within the community-based mental health component of the stepped system of care. The National Strategy outlines standards and actions to support the eating disorder response in child and adolescent community-based mental health care settings, aiming to embed eating disorders into the ‘core business’ practices. Progress will be evaluated by NEDC through repeated mapping and surveys.