Page 475 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 23 March 2022
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The implementation of these initiatives provides clients with access to a more timely intervention, in addition to enabling the eating disorders program to increase their capacity to see clients and provide ongoing therapy for clients who require longer term therapy or present with more complex needs. As well as the STRIDE Program and parenting group, the clinical hub dietician offers nutritional assessments to eligible clients.
As was committed to in the 2019-20 budget, another new service offering to be implemented in the ACT is the Early Intervention Service for Eating Disorders. This new service will focus on promoting help-seeking behaviour and early intervention treatment for people in the early stages of developing an eating disorder and those with an eating disorder of low to moderate severity.
Improving access to early intervention services is intended to improve patient outcomes and promote recovery whilst reducing demand on the specialist tertiary and acute inpatient services. In 2021 work progressed on the development of the early intervention service model of care, and the service is on track to be operational in the 2022-23 financial year.
As committed to by the commonwealth in 2020, the residential treatment centre is expected to fill the critical gap between inpatient hospitalisation and outpatient programs to provide an opportunity for a more intensive psychological recovery and improved integration of services. In 2021 work progressed on developing the model of care and identifying a preferred location, and in November 2021 an open tender was released for the initial architectural concept designs. The successful tenderer started on this design work earlier this year.
The complexity of eating disorders requires multiple services, settings and agencies to coordinate their efforts and work together. This level of change will take time and requires a staged approach. This update to the ACT eating disorders position statement represents a significant milestone in reporting on the numerous initiatives undertaken and the future work planned. It demonstrates that the ACT government is continuing to take strides in the development and coordination of a high-quality eating disorders services system that provides the right care at the right time.
The ACT government is committed to providing the best eating disorders services possible and recognises the importance of this work for all people with eating disorders in the ACT.
In closing, I am grateful to the petitioners for raising the profile of eating disorders and all of those who have contributed to the work to date. I present the following papers:
ACT Eating Disorders Position Statement—Update—
Response to Dr Marisa Paterson’s e-petition, dated February 2022.
Ministerial statement, 23 March 2022.
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