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Expert taskforce to guide reform of services for people with eating disorders

Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge today announced the Victorian Coalition Government's Eating Disorders Taskforce which will advise on effective treatment and support for people with an eating disorder, their families and carers.

Christine Fyffe, Member for Evelyn, will chair the taskforce which will play a pivotal role in making recommendations to deliver on the government's election commitment to establish an eating disorder strategy.

Ms Wooldridge said the taskforce will seek public input and build on what has already been heard from people with a disorder, families, carers and clinicians.

"The strategy will seek to create better connections between GPs, hospitals, specialist mental health services and organisations supporting recovery," Ms Wooldridge said.

"That includes connections between private and public care and better support for people as they transition between programs for children and young people and for adults across their life. We know that navigating the vast range of services is complex and needs to be better managed and more effective for individuals and their families," Ms Wooldridge said.

Ms Fyffe said the taskforce would also build on the knowledge gained from recent initiatives such as the Body Image and Eating Disorders Treatment and Recovery Service (BETRS) and Southern Health's Wellness and Recovery Centre pilot projects.

"The Victorian Government values innovation and new ideas and has committed $935,000 to continue these pilot projects through to the end of 2012, while the evaluation is being completed," Ms Wooldridge said.

Ms Wooldridge said the Eating Disorder Strategy would strongly reflect what people with an eating disorder and their carers say makes a difference to them.