Welcome to EDFA
We support, educate and empower families affected by an eating disorder.
About Eating Disorders Families Australia
EDFA is an organisation founded by a group of Australian parents who have cared for and treated a young person with an eating disorder.
This passionate group of parents and carers is dedicated to providing lived experience, support, information, validation and education to empower other parents in their journey with their own loved one.
Through nationwide support group strive, education seminars, peer to peer support and events, EDFA empowers parents and carers to advocate for their loved ones’ needs and personal role in the recovery journey.
Why EDFA?
When we talk to parents and carers about their journey with their loved one’s eating disorder, there is always a common thread.
"I feel confused, alone and terrified."
"What are our treatment options? How do I find a supportive clinician?"
"I have no idea what to do... or where to go to get help."
We recognise that many parents and carers struggle to access critical information, support and resources, and are confused about how to navigate a complex system.
Here at EDFA, all our volunteers have cared for someone with an eating disorder. We call it ‘lived experience’. We can offer you the support, confidence, advice, connections and community you will need.
“Eating disorders deeply impact families, often causing emotional and psychological distress for many years without respite. Our volunteers have lived experience, and our organisation supports and up-skills families… helping them through the most challenging journey of their lives.”
David Garvey, Chairman, EDFA
World Eating Disorders Day 2021
Tuesday June 2, 2021 is World Eating Disorders Action Day.
Uniting activists across the globe, the aim is to expand global awareness of eating disorders as genetically linked, treatable illnesses that can affect anyone. The Fith Annual World Eating Disorders Action Day will take place on 2 June 2021 across the globe.
Therapist Maria Ganci has created a song to share to help people struggling with self worth & anxiety, particularly those with anorexia
Young young people to listen to it while they eat to stop the internal voices. It can be used for anyone with other mental health issues as well.
It’s Ok to Just Be Me · Chloe Garrett, Maria Ganci (spotify.com)
strive Carer Support Groups
strive Carer Support groups are run by trained volunteer carers, for carers. They are run in each state across the country, via Zoom.
strive Groups exist to:
- provide a safe, supportive place for carers to meet each month in an environment which allows for both knowledge sharing and peer support.
- provide information and resources to assist parents and carers to understand eating disorders and their integral role in recovery.
- encourage empowerment of carers in their role in the recovery of the person with the eating disorder.
Find your closest strive Eating Disorder Carer Support Group
Education and Information
EDFA runs national education and information seminars bi-monthly, with each seminar hosted by different lived experience or clinical experts in the Eating Disorder field.
We recognise that by educating parents, we are encouraging and empowering them to advocate for their loved one, and for themselves.
Changes to strive Facebook pages - 1st September
One central platform for all parents and carers
Currently, we have over 2000 parents or carers involved with our strive Facebook pages, strive support groups, EDFA membership or education sessions, with our volunteers managing 9 individual statewide strive Facebook pages (including Bendigo, regional Vic) plus the private National strive Australia page & the public EDFA Facebookpage
We have made the decision to unify all our state-based strive pages into the one National strive Australia page from September 1st 2021.
“This will connect parents and carers all over Australia, allowing every member to receive comprehensive National support from a single support page. ” Chris Naismith, EDFA Director
Become a member of EDFA for $25 per year (Australian Carers Only)
EDFA is a proud not for profit, volunteer run organisation.
We invite you to be part of a revolutionary peer support group making positive changes in the Eating Disorder space. Strength in numbers means we are able to affect change and have the collective voice of the carers recognised.
We provide opportunities to connect with other parents and carers who share your experiences… helping you to feel less alone and isolated.
Yearly membership is just $25.
Membership gives access to monthly state-based strive carer support groups, twice monthly education sessions, monthly sibling support, quarterly strive support groups for carers of people with ARFID and Bulimia as well as a group for male carers and access to the members-only National strive Australia page providing connection with & support from fellow parents and carers all over Australia. Members will also receive discounts to eating disorder events and conferences. Daily online support through our striveFacebook pages and the opportunity to connect, share, learn and ask questions is another benefit of being part of our EDFA community.
Your membership helps EDFA with ongoing costs of running a not-for-profit organisation, and importantly, shows Government that families value, need and believe in this type of lived-experience support. Strength in numbers helps EDFA lobby as the collective voice of carers for better services, treatments, access to expert clinicians and specialised ED units, to help our loved ones in their recovery journey and to acknowledge the impact of an eating disorder diagnosis on the entire family unit.
What families say about EDFA
