Webinar Overview: For someone with an eating disorder, accessing safe and effective treatment as early as possible can improve treatment outcomes and reduce the risk of chronicity and complications. Historically there has been limited guidance around the depth and breadth of knowledge, skills and experience required by treatment providers in this space. With the aim of improving the competencies of professionals.
ANZAED recently published treatment principles and minimum general clinical practice and training standards for mental health and dietetic professionals who provide treatment to individuals with an eating disorder. This presentation explores the perspectives and opinions of two individuals with a lived experience through a panel-style format, on how translation of the practice standards might help improve future patient care.
Click here to see the video by AJ Williams-Tchen, Founder and Director of Girraway Ganyi Consultancy. He is a Lead Cultural Facilitator, Social Worker, Counsellor and Mental Health First Aid Instructor.
Kelly Griffin is a Male with lived experience of eating disorders. Spending a number of years a “gym junkie” and immersing himself with the typical methodology of clean eating, Kelly continued to drive behaviours that led to a number of life threatening experiences. Upon competing in the fitness industry, Kelly subscribed to the notion of extreme dieting that led to a serious deterioration of major organs, threatening his life. Following a stint in hospital and seeking support through organisations like Butterfly Foundation and research via ANZAED, Kelly now lives the life recovery. Whilst he still enjoys the gym and being fit, he now uses this focus to drive awareness, reduce stigma as a lived experience advocate within the Community.
Dr Gabriella Heruc is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with Honours in Psychology, Master of Nutrition & Dietetics and PhD in Medicine with over 20 years clinical experience in mental health and 15 years focused on eating disorder treatment in public and private inpatient, day program and outpatient settings. Gabbi is the Past-President of ANZAED, and Co-chair of the development of the practice standards, alongside Kim Hurst. She also works for Northern Sydney Local Health District Eating Disorders Service and in private practice.
Dr Kim Hurst is a Senior Psychologist and is the Clinical Lead of the Robina Private Hospital’s Eating Disorders Service, she also is in Private Practice. Prior to this Kim was a founding member of the Gold Coast Child & Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS), Eating Disorder Program (EDP). Kim has worked across a range of eating disorder treatment settings including psychiatric and medical inpatient units and outpatient services. She has developed specialist eating disorder clinical policies and is focused on service improvement strategies to enhance treatment delivery.
Melissa Keller-Tuberg is a youth mental health advocate and aspiring researcher studying a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at Swinburne University of Technology. After recovering from Anorexia Nervosa and experiencing the limitations in current services, Melissa has become a passionate advocate for the importance of consulting lived-experience voices in mental health decision-making. Through sharing her story, she helped secure federal funding for a Canberran in-patient Eating Disorder treatment centre. Melissa is now involved in mental health reform in Victoria through working on the Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health and whole-of-government Youth Strategy.
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