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NEDSTAP

Can a Whole-of-Community Approach in the Yarra Ranges Build an Eating Disorder Safe Community?
Development of an Action, Implementation, and Evaluation Template for Communities

The National Eating Disorder Strategy Translation Action Plan (NEDSTAP) is a 10-year initiative aimed at embedding eating disorder (ED) safe practices within the pilot site of the Yarra Ranges community. Utilising standards and principles outlined in the National and Victorian Eating Disorders Strategies, this project is the first attempt to address key issues related to eating disorders, body image and weight bias and stigma through an ED safe lens, informing the development of a whole of Local Community Action Plan. NEDSTAP aims to identify community needs, implement evidence-based practices, and provide a coordinated and strategic template for Yarra Ranges and other Australian communities.

Research and Community Engagement

The project will begin with community engagement and a baseline research phase to understand the current community context, needs, and challenges. This will be followed by a co-design process involving a broad range of stakeholders to develop, implement and evaluate the local Action Plan.​​

Key Activities
  • Engage Stakeholders: Collaborate with schools, sports clubs, parents, community houses, healthcare providers and other professionals to co-design the Action Plan and promote ED safe practices.

  • Identify Community Needs: Baseline data collection to identify specific needs and priorities.

  • Align Existing Interventions: Adapt evidence-based interventions across the Stepped System of Care to suit the local context.

  • Build Capacity: Enhance the skills and confidence of healthcare practitioners and other professionals to support people with EDs.

  • Monitor and Evaluate: Continuously assess the project's impact and make adjustments as needed.

Unique Collaboration

NEDSTAP involves a unique partnership between community organisations from across Yarra Ranges, local government and key organisations, peak bodies, and academic institutions. This collaboration aims to create a model that can be replicated in other communities.

Why is this important?

Body image disturbance and weight stigma contribute to a range of mental health issues, including EDs, depression, anxiety, and self-harm. By promoting a range of ED safe principles and practices, NEDSTAP aims to reduce the prevalence of these issues in the Yarra Ranges community.

Barriers and Challenges

​Currently, there is no clear pathway within local communities to take a strategic and proactive approach to this work. Weight-centric policies and funding models limit local agencies' capacity to address eating disorders and related issues. This leads to data gaps, hindering strategic planning and resource allocation. Body of Wellbeing Limited (BOWL) was established in 2023 to lead ED safe initiatives throughout the Yarra Ranges including the NEDSTAP project.​

The limited data includes:

In 2018-19, the rates of hospital admissions for eating disorders among young people (15-24 years) from Yarra Ranges was 60% above the Victorian average. 

 

By addressing these barriers and leveraging a strategic, whole-of-community approach, NEDSTAP has the potential to create a significant positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the Yarra Ranges community, creating a template for other LGA’s throughout Australia.

References:

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National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC). National Eating Disorders Strategy 2023-33. NEDC; 2023

https://nedc.com.au/downloads/nedc-national-eating-disorders-strategy-2023-2033.pdf

 

Victorian Department of Health (2024) Victorian Eating Disorders Strategy 2024-31

https://www.health.vic.gov.au/practice-and-service-quality/victorian-eating-disorders-strategy

 

Yarra Ranges Council (2021), Yarra Ranges and Victorian data, sourced from customised data on hospital admissions from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (Department of Health)

Written by the NEDSTAP Working Group, November 2024

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Our vision is a community connected with, nurturing, and celebrating bodies of all shapes and sizes.

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Body of Wellbeing Ltd wishes to acknowledge that we live, work and play on Wurundjeri country. 

We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

louise@bodyofwellbeing.com.au

©2023 Body of Wellbeing Limited 

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