Fill The Gap Counselling Service
Providing FREE essential access to tailored, online, one-on-one counselling support for carers and young supporters (aged 10-17 years) of those with eating disorders, at any stage of the eating disorder journey.
Eating Disorders Families Australia’s (EDFA) Fill The Gap Program is accredited to the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards.
Who the Fill The Gap Program is for
- Adults who are caring for a loved one with an eating disorder. This includes parents, partners, siblings, grandparents, other family members and friends.
- Young supporters (i.e., siblings of a loved one with an eating disorder, children of a parent with an eating disorder, friends, partners, extended family members) aged 10-17 years old, who are not experiencing eating concerns but may need support in navigating the challenges of supporting someone with an eating disorder.
What to expect
- 45-minute one-on-one counselling sessions with qualified counsellors with lived experience as a eating disorder carer
- Online support, accessible to anyone residing in Australia via video conferencing
- Information, education and supportive counselling to help you manage and gain the skills to become a more effective part of the recovery team
- Access to unlimited sessions
- No referrals required
The Fill the Gap service is NOT a crisis service.
If you or someone you know is needing immediate support please call emergency services 000 or Life Line on 13 11 14. For additional support, the Butterfly Foundation offers free and confidential support for anyone in Australia concerned about eating disorders or body image issues, available from 8am to midnight (AEST/AEDT), 7 days a week, via their helpline at 1800 33 4673 or through online chat.
Fill The Gap was developed to address the lack of, or difficulty in accessing, tailored counselling service for those who are caring for someone with an eating disorder. We understand that carers will often sacrifice their own well-being in order to prioritise the care of their loved one, particularly in times of financial strain or when services are in short supply.
However, it is also well known that carers who maintain their own well-being will be more effective supports for the person with the eating disorder. EDFA’s service aims to Fill The Gap by providing free and easily accessible counselling, thus reducing the need for the carer to sacrifice their own mental and physical well-being.
Trigger warning – this video contains references to suicide, violence, and the impact of eating disorder recovery on siblings. Some individuals may find this distressing.
For a confidential chat or to help answer any of your questions, call Administration Assistant Bailey on 03 9125 5670 or email bailey.wightman@edfa.org.au.
