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Eating Disorders Australia (EDA) was born out of a desire to see carers not just survive, but thrive. Caring for someone with an eating disorder is a tough journey and we have seen how carers often end up misunderstood and discouraged. EDA hopes to change this. Carers provide a vital support during recovery and they deserve to have all the tools and support they need to play this role. We believe all carers need to be provided with a place where they feel understood and heard as well as providing them with the education and up-skilling required to support someone in recovery. 

Supporting someone with an eating disorder doesn’t come with a manual but that doesn’t mean it should be a heartbreaking and discouraging experience. Carers deserve to feel supported, confident and energised in their role. We have created our online courses to help you grow and figure out your next steps forward. We place value on carers looking after themselves in the process and knowing where to turn to for their own support. 

You can learn more about our upcoming courses here. 

If you’re a professional carer (such as a support worker, youth worker, school counsellor or other health professional) who is interested in learning more about how to support someone with an eating disorder, please read more about our course for professionals here. 

EDA aims to help carers of people with an eating disorder to feel supported and confident in their role. We also aim to provide you with the space and understanding to be able to reflect and figure out what your role actually looks like. Everyone’s recovery journey looks different and therefore everyone’s experience of being a carer will as well. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about how we can support you. 

EDA also provides online counselling to adults recovering from an eating disorder or disordered eating. To read more about our counselling service, click here. 

Alyssa has worked in the mental health industry for almost 10 years. She has studied psychology while also working at Lifeline as a crisis supporter, mentor and facilitator. During her time there she learnt the importance of providing a listening ear and understanding to the many crises people are facing. She also witnessed the benefits of having someone recognise your struggle and encouraging you to keep moving forward.

At one stage, she was a carer for a friend with an eating disorder. This experience unveiled the lack of understanding about eating disorders that is present today. Her own lack of knowledge and difficulty in finding people who did understand recovery meant that the stigma around her friend's eating disorder became stronger and the eating disorder burrowed deeper. It's not easy caring for someone experiencing an eating disorder and it's made harder when support is hard to find. Her interest in this area was born because of this experience and after finishing her Masters in Counselling, she joined the Butterfly Foundation as a counsellor providing support to people with lived experience, their carers and health professionals.

At Butterfly, she also worked as a support group facilitator, online carers facilitator and as a therapist in the Intensive Outpatient (IOP) program. She has witnessed the need for all carers (regardless of their exact role) to be given adequate information, guidance and support. Carers are an extremely important part of the puzzle of recovery and recognition of this is vital. Eating Disorders Australia (EDA) was therefore born out of wanting to give carers regular access to online courses and other support services that can be accessed from anywhere in Australia. These courses are designed to meet the need of supporting carers in their quest to help a loved one through recovery.