Special Interest Groups
ANZAED is keen to support all groups within it who work to understand, prevent or treat eating disorders.
ANZAED has a number of Special Interest groups that have a shared specific interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge or learning. Members cooperate to affect or to produce solutions within their particular field, and may communicate, meet and share this with the larger organisation.
ANZAED also periodically hosts meetings at conferences of groups, including dietitians, nurses, GPs and early careers researchers.
Private Practitioners Special Interest Group
The membership of this group includes any financial member of ANZED who has interest in the assessment and treatment of individuals with eating disorders who present in a private practice setting.
The Group aims to provide a forum for:
- Information sharing and dissemination
- Identifying and discussing common points of interest
- Networking
- Advocacy
- Education
- Collaboration
Acting Chairs: Ariana Elias, Janet Lowndes, Amy Talbot, Jodie Sheraton
Contact: Ariana Elias- ariana@raisingbodyconfidentkids.com.au
Child & Adolescent Treatment Special Interest Group
The membership of this group includes any financial member of ANZAED who has a particular interest in the treatment and recovery of children and youth with eating disorders. The Group will meet up to 3 times a year via video-conferencing and once a year at the annual ANZAED conference..
The Group aims to provide a forum for:
- Information sharing and dissemination
- Identifying and discussing common points of interest
- Networking
- Advocacy
- Education
- Collaboration
Acting chairs: Martin Pradel, Kellie Lavender, Tania Withington and Colleen Alford.
Contact persons:
Colleen Alford – Colleen.alford@health.nsw.gov.au
Kellie Lavender – kelliel@nzedc.co.nz
Occupational Therapy Special Interest Group
The membership of the ANZAED Occupational Therapy Special Interest Group {SIG} is made up of AHPRA Registered Occupational Therapists who are current financial members of ANZAED.
PURPOSES
- for Occupational Therapists with a special interest in eating disorders to share their knowledge and skills in the role of Occupational Therapy in treatment of eating disorders
- to increase the contribution of Occupational Therapy in the field of eating disorders
- to advance members’ own learning
- to communicate this awareness and knowledge about the unique role of Occupational Therapy to the ANZAED community and the field of eating disorders as a whole.
Chair and contact person: Marree Clarke mareehelenclark@gmail.com
Non Government Organisation (NG) Special Interest Group
The membership of the NGO SIG are ANZAED members who are involved with or interested in ED NGO’s.
PURPOSES
- To enhance communication between ED NGOs
- To promote the value of NGOs in the eating disorders service system within ANZAED
- To provide support for ED NGO activities.
Chair and contact persons: Cath Doyle coordinator@eda.org.au & Mel Marks melissa@eda.org.au
Day Programs Interest Group
PURPOSES
- Network regarding clinical matters: Sharing wisdom, challenges, what works etc…what models people use, up skilling clients, common issues and strategies.
- Collaboration and support with research and evaluation: Focussing on clinical AND research matters
Contact person: Natalie Crino Natalie.Crino@health.nsw.gov.au
ANZAED SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP POLICY & PROCEDURE
A Special Interest Group (SIG) is a group of individuals within a larger organisation that has a shared specific interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge or learning. Members cooperate to affect or to produce solutions within their particular field, and may communicate, meet and share this with the larger organisation.
ANZAED is keen to increase member benefits and to support all groups within it who work to understand, prevent or treat eating disorders. One way identified to further this goal is the establishment and support of SIGs.
A number of professional groups have requested the establishment of Special Interest Groups (SIG) within ANZAED. It has been suggest that these groups would benefit from being able to share ideas within their group.
For groups who are under-recognised within the eating disorder field, having an identified SIG would help them raise their profile within the field. It is proposed that the formation of SIGs for these groups would enhance communication within that group and support their members working in the eating disorder field. Thus, SIGs would provide an important member benefit for these groups. The establishment of SIG could potentially advantage ANZAED through the attraction of new members.
It is recognised the needs and wishes of different groups will vary considerably. Many groups may mainly want to have an opportunity to meet at the annual ANZAED conference, but others may wish to engage in a range of other activities during the year. As SIGs would be established for the benefit of members, the nature of the activities would be determined by the SIG.
Any ANZAED member can propose the formation of SIG by writing to the Chair of the Membership Committee expressing their desire to form a SIG and providing a brief description of the focus and the rationale for the SIG. This letter should be supported with five (5) additional signatures of potential SIG members. If the establishment of the SIG is approved by the Executive, the proposer of the SIG will be made interim chair. An inaugural meeting will be scheduled at the next ANZAED conference. At this meeting, two co-chairs will be elected and a discussion of desired activities will be held. This will lead to the establishment of Terms of Reference for each SIG.
Email Rini das if you are interested or have any questions about forming a new Special Interest Group; anzaed@anzaed.org.au
The steps to forming a Special Interest Group are:
- One person is required to write to ANZAED, providing a brief description of the focus and the rationale for the SIG and expressing willingness to be acting chair.
- Four other people from this profession or work-setting to co-sign the application.
- Have a meeting during the conference to elect 2 co-chairs, and start planning!
For more details please read the ANZAED SIG Policy & Procedure below
The Chair of each SIG will work with SIG members to outline Terms of Reference for the SIG. These will include:
(a) a statement of the goals of the SIG,
(b) proposed structure and procedures, e.g., selection of a chair, AGM and meetings (how often) and taking of minutes,
(c) proposed activities.
In addition, the SIG Chair is to provide an annual brief summary of SIG activities to the Chair of the Membership Committee.
Co-chairs of SIGs must be ANZAED members and will be elected for two-year terms.
It is proposed that SIG activities will be overseen by the Membership Committee and the Chair of the Membership Committee will provide regular updates on SIG activities to the Executive.
Each SIG would be requested to identify their particular needs for support within ANZAED and ANZAED would where possible would work with the SIG to meet these needs. It would be anticipated that there would be at minimum one meeting a year most likely at the ANZAED conference. However, other possible activities and supports could be:
- SIG listserv managed by chair of SIG (with assistance from DD) to pass on relevant material
- Organise relevant webinars (with assistance of DD)
- Regular space within ANZAED conference to meet (lunch-time meeting, workshop)
- Space in ANZAED newsletter
SIG membership is available to any interested ANZAED member.
(Prepared by Susan Paxton, Beth Shelton and the Membership Committee, Dec 2014)