Our Organisation
Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) was founded by a passionate group of parents who have cared for, and are caring for, young people with eating disorders. Our focus has now grown to include all carers and families of those of all ages with eating disorders, including partners, siblings, grandparents, and friends.
Through leadership, education, and research, EDFA improves the lives of eating disorder
carers. We work to create stigma-free communities where eating disorder carers are
recognised for their vital role and receive the assistance they need. We achieve better
outcomes for those with eating disorders by helping their carers to navigate the complex
healthcare system.
Families and carers impacted by an eating disorder are recognised, supported, educated, and
empowered.
To enable families and carers to be effective supports and recognised as a central member of the recovery team for a loved one with an eating disorder.
Hope – Underpinning everything we do is a strong belief we can make a difference to the lives of carers. We know recovery is possible for those living with eating disorders.
Empathy – We are best placed to support families and carers guided by our own lived experience journeys.
Innovation – We are focussed on continuous improvement – in our activities, in supporting carers, and evidence-informed services for those living with eating disorders.
Respect – We are member and carer-focused, respectful, and compassionate.
Collaboration – We collaborate with stakeholders, we are inclusive, we embrace the value of diversity, and we create and faithfully represent our constituency.
Integrity – We are credible, a sound investment, honest, transparent, and reliable. We embrace research-informed, quality methods.
Our Logo
EDFA is the only national organisation providing support, EDucation, advocacy, and counselling SOLELY for carers and families impacted by an eating disorder. Our logo represents the core of why we do what we do: to ensure eating disorder carers are not alone. It represents our commitment to stand with, protectand nurture carers through every part of their journey in caring for a loved one with an eating disorder.
The EDFA logo features the lowercase letters “edfa” in bold black type, in front of a vertical purple rectangle. The rectangle represents the tower of strength that is an EDFA carer. They are behind their person in the same way as it sits behind our organisation’s name. Its solid form also reflects the durability and resilience that is needed to bolster their person and withstand the challenges. The four corners symbolise the four pillars of care EDFA provides: support, counselling, education and advocacy.
Supporting someone with an eating disorder requires care from many pathways, and carers are essential to recovery. Carers are the frontline. They are at the core of treatment, not just an adjunct. Without the steadfast support of carers, recovery takes longer and is more challenging.
The grounded, solid form of the rectangle also reflects EDFA’s resolute, empathetic and supportive approach shaped by knowledge and lived experience, and inclusive of all caring and recovery journeys.
“Thank you for providing the service you do. It means the world to know there are people there supporting the parents and carers on the front line!” a carer says.
Would you like to order EDFA brochures?
Are you a clinician or allied health practitioner?
To request 50 printed copies of EDFA’s brochure, please fill out the form via the button below.
An e-version is also available to download below.
Other EDFA brochures:
Fill The Gap Counselling Service
Fill The Gap Counselling Service &
Online Support Groups
Young Supporters (aged 10-17)
Counselling Service
Nourish, Nurture, Notice Early Identification & Intervention Program
Interpreter-Supported Counselling Service
Resources for siblings
Toolkits for parents, siblings, and parents and siblings
Online Support Groups & EDucation Webinars
EDFA believes in the power of lived experience and sharing our knowledge with others to provide reassurance, social connection, and most importantly, hope. We believe that recovery is possible.
EDFA is the only national eating disorder organisation that focuses solely on supporting families and carers of people with eating disorders. EDFA was created by families and carers for families and carers. We are committed to supporting anyone caring for a loved one with an eating disorder to be the most informed and effective carer they can be.
We understand eating disorders. As expert parents and carers, there’s not much we haven’t seen or experienced first hand. We ‘get it’ because we lived it, we survived it, or are surviving Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant/restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID, OSFED and more.
We are committed to supporting anyone caring for a loved one with an eating disorder to be the most informed and effective carer they can be.
Recovery is not always straightforward and there is much to consider and understand.
EDFA is passionate about supporting the effective involvement of families and carers in treatment programs.
Family and carer involvement is an important aspect of treatment for people with eating disorders and can improve the likelihood of treatment success.