The Australian Ballet Body Image and Disordered Eating Guidelines

Organisation / Service

The Australian Ballet and NEDC

The Australian Ballet Body Image and Disordered Eating Guidelines have been developed to support a well-informed, safe and supportive company culture that is committed to the prevention and management of a negative body image, disordered eating and eating disorders. The guidelines aim to achieve this by reducing exposure to risk factors and strengthening support and protective factors. The guidelines are intended to support dancers to feel and perform at their best, mentally and physically, and to provide guidance for addressing concerns related to body image, disordered eating or eating disorders. The guidelines provide best practice and confidential processes for all staff and dancers to follow to support prevention, early identification, and timely access to necessary care, with the provision of ongoing recovery support to facilitate a safe return to dance.

National Strategy Standards and Actions

Prevention

4.5 Eating disorder organisations to partner with industry bodies to develop and roll out workplace initiatives for eating disorder prevention, such as through eating disorder-safe guidelines for workplaces, employee wellbeing programs and staff health/activity challenges

4.6 Sports, fitness and performance organisations at all levels to embed a focus on eating disorder prevention within club/organisation culture, including through culture change programs and efforts to ensure inclusion of diverse bodies. 

Identification

1..5 Organisational/service settings which interact with population groups at higher risk of eating disorders (e.g., LGBTQIA+ services, schools, sporting/performance organisations) to provide evidence-based information about eating disorders appropriate to the audience

Initial Response

2.2 Health services to ensure staff are trained to provide an initial response according to their scope of practice and clinical role