Understanding our System of Care
Eating disorders are mental health conditions that impact and interplay with all aspects of a person’s life: mental wellbeing, physical health, social connection and work and school life.
Victoria’s mental health services are the key service system for providing care and treatment for people experiencing eating disorders and their families and supports. Service responses may range from local community mental health care and treatment through to coordinated intensive mental health and acute physical health care and treatment.
Underlying Principles
The national and Victorian systems of care are underpinned by several key principles:
- Stepped System of Care: Both frameworks embrace the stepped system of care, ensuring individuals receive the appropriate level of treatment based on their needs.
- Co-production: This collaborative approach involves service providers working alongside consumers (individuals with lived experience) to design and deliver services that are responsive and effective.
- Evidence-based Treatment: Treatment approaches are grounded in research and proven effectiveness in managing eating disorders. The combined national and Victorian system of care strives to create a coordinated and accessible network of support for all Victorians affected by eating disorders. This system aims to ensure early intervention, provide appropriate treatment options at all levels of severity, and ultimately improve the lives of individuals and families struggling with eating disorders.
The combined national and Victorian system of care strives to create a coordinated and accessible network of support for all Victorians affected by eating disorders. This system aims to ensure early intervention, provide appropriate treatment options at all levels of severity, and ultimately improve the lives of individuals and families struggling with eating disorders.
Relevant Mental Health Policies & Frameworks
- The National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC): This national collaborative body plays a pivotal role in shaping the national response to eating disorders. They provide resources, research, and service-development guidance for healthcare professionals across Australia. A key initiative is the introduction of the new National Eating Disorders Strategy.
- Victorian Eating Disorders Strategy: Victoria complements the national framework with its own dedicated strategy. This strategy outlines a comprehensive plan for preventing, identifying, and treating eating disorders within the state. It emphasises early intervention, ensuring individuals receive support at the earliest stages of their eating disorder.
