Learning within tertiary education represents a prime opportunity for health professionals to gain knowledge and begin to develop core competencies for the prevention and care of eating disorders, and to work safely with people around issues of food, body and eating. Yet the coverage and relevance of eating disorders and associated content in tertiary level training, and mechanisms for embedding this content within the curriculum in Australia is largely unknown.
The tertiary education sector was identified as a key target for action within the National Eating Disorders Strategy (2023), and a need for change in the tertiary sector is also recognized within the Australian National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2023-2033.
To support development of the tertiary sector, the National Eating Disorder Collaboration (NEDC) developed the report: Eating Disorders Training in Tertiary Education Scoping Review and Recommendations. The report was developed under the guidance of an expert advisory group and engaged in a series of consultations and surveying to draw on the expertise of university educators, representatives from professional bodies and subject matter experts.
The Tertiary Education Review and Recommendation Report overviews what is currently being taught within tertiary curricula across 6 key health professional groups* (General Practitioners, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Dietitians, Psychiatrist and Psychologists), perceptions about the core competencies that should be covered within tertiary education, and presents a number of key initiatives to drive the embedding of eating disorders and associated content within tertiary education.
*Note: Information about education of social workers was included in the review, though outside the scope of the main initiatives. This material will be added as an addendum to the main report at a future date. NEDC acknowledges that a number of important professional groups were not included within this revie, due to resourcing limitations.