The National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC), led by The Butterfly Foundation, brings together experts in the field of eating disorders to progress activities relevant to ongoing service development across Australia. InsideOut has from the outset been involved in advocating for a national approach for treatment and prevention of eating disorders and sits on the NEDC governing committee.

The NEDC’s vision is to ensure that eating disorders are a priority mainstream health issue; that a healthy, diverse and inclusive Australian society act to prevent eating disorders; and that every Australian at risk should have access to an effective continuum of eating disorders prevention, care and ongoing recovery support.

The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan announced in 2017 seeks to establish a national approach to strengthen the mental health system with a collaboration across governments. The plan targets eight priority areas, which for the first time include the treatment and support for people with severe and complex mental illnesses including people with eating disorders.

Australia’s first National Eating Disorder Research & Translation Strategy is being developed through a national consultation process. It will recommend the key strategies and actions for supporting eating disorder research - and the translation of research into real world prevention, early intervention and treatment across community and practice settings nationally.