Butterfly welcomes continued funding from Tasmania State Government for eating disorder recovery support services
Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, the Hon Jeremy Rockliff MP, yesterday announced continued funding for Butterfly’s Recovery and Care Support Service for eating disorders.
Sydney, Australia – 26th May 2023
Butterfly welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s funding package for community mental health services, including $661,000 which will enable a three-year funding extension for Butterfly’s Recovery and Care Support Service (RSS), a statewide service based in Hobart, for people in Tasmania experiencing eating disorders. This funding will also help address demand for eating disorder support while the new Tasmanian Eating Disorder Service (TEDS) is being developed. An estimated 19,800 Tasmanians are experiencing an eating disorder in any given year.
Butterfly has provided services in Tasmania since 2017, following a merger with the Tasmanian Recovery from Eating Disorders Foundation (TRED). Since its initial state government funding in 2018, Butterfly’s RSS has provided essential initiatives to help Tasmanians living with eating disorders. This includes Butterfly’s 8-week psychoeducational Emerging Program, Collaborative Care Skills Workshop teaching evidence-based carer interventions, monthly recovery and carer support groups, a peer mentor program, Mental Health Professional Network events for eating disorders professionals on a quarterly basis, as well as Butterfly’s peer workers collaborating with the TEDS working group.
Butterfly Interim CEO, Anna Cullinane, says “We applaud the Tasmanian State Government’s strong focus on mental health services in the budget announced yesterday, particularly the ongoing investment in community mental health organisations and the commitment to the residential masterplan. While we had hoped to receive additional funding, the ongoing package will help Butterfly continue the success of our existing recovery programs in Tasmania along with driving person-centred service provision that lies at the heart of Butterfly’s service offerings, aligned with the Tasmanian Government’s mental health reform priorities.”
Anna also highlights the value of Butterfly’s peer work that will continue following this investment, “Our services provide much needed support, including peer mentors who draw on their experiences of recovery to provide empathy, hope, and social support for those engaging in clinical treatment. For carers, our carer support groups are safe spaces providing social support, practical advice and self-care information”.
Butterfly’s continued work in Tasmania also includes sharing learnings to advise the Tasmanian Government on the development of the Tasmanian Eating Disorder Service (TEDS), including operational learnings from Wandi Nerida, Australia’s first residential recovery centre for people with eating disorders opened in 2021 on Sunshine Coast, to support the construction of The Eating Disorder Treatment Centre in St Johns Park.
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Media Contact
Harriet Potter – Communications Manager
Ph: 0451 837 044
E: harriet.potter@butterfly.org.au
Editor and producers note: Please include the following support line details in all media coverage of this story and refer to the Mindframe Media Guidelines for safe reporting on eating disorders. Please include the following helpline message.
Help and Support
Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact:
- Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or support@butterfly.org.au
- Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23
- For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14
