When: Thursday March 8, 2012 at 3:30 pm
What: Launch – Sprouting Seeds, the Tasmanian Eating Disorders Information Line Project Report
Where: Long Room, Parliament House, Hobart.

Cassy O’Connor, Minister for Community Development, will launch Sprouting Seeds, the Tasmanian Eating Disorders Information Line Project Report, today.

The report, on the Hobart Women’s Health Centre’s recently-completed consultation project, clearly demonstrates a need for a well resourced and promoted specialist information line service for the many thousands of Tasmanians directly affected by eating disorders.

The report also documents gaps in service provision, the need for training and sector coordination.

Jen Van-Achteren, the Project Officer said “Implementing the report’s recommendations could save the lives of Tasmanians, desperate for support and information.”

“People living with eating disorders and professionals working in this very difficult field would benefit greatly from the facilitation, coordination and networking of the developing eating disorders sector .”

Speakers at the launch include – Cassy O’Connor, Minister for Community Development; Dr Michelle Williams, RHH Staff Specialist Paediatrician; Jo Cook, sharing her personal journey with an eating disorder and Jen Van-Achteren, Project Officer and author of the report.

Background – prevalence of eating disorders
From the report, around one in 20 Australians has an eating disorder and the rate in the Australian population is increasing. The combined prevalence, meeting the diagnostic criteria for both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, is 4.8% of the female population – equating to approximately 12,000 Tasmanian women living with an eating disorder, which also impacts on the lives of their families and friends. The level of binge eating disorder in the general population is estimated to be 4% , affecting males and females almost equally – or an additional 20,000 Tasmanians, their families and friends.

The phone number for the current Eating Disorders Helpline in Tasmania is 1800 675 028 Tasmania Recovery from Eating Disorders www.tred.org.au Eating Disorders Victoria, Eating Disorder Helpline 1300 550 236 or www.eatingdisorders.org.au

Download: Guidelines_for_Reporting_on_Eating_Disorders_June_2011.pdf
Jen Van-Achteren Health Worker, Hobart Women’s Health Centre