Alcohol and Other Drugs Workforce Capability Building

The Statewide Eating Disorder Service (SEDS) from Southern Adelaide Local Health Network formed a partnership with local Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) organisations to strengthen workforce capability, improve service integration, and support the implementation of eating disorder safe practices.

SEDS presented to 13 staff from local services to improve understanding of referral pathways and system roles.

Collaborating organisations:

• Mission Australia

• Uniting Communities – Streetlink Health Service

• PsychMed

They subsequently presented tailored eating disorder introductory training to 47 staff to identify, respond to, and safely manage concerns around eating disorders. Participants reported strengthened capability to identify, respond to, and safely manage eating disorders in the community, enabling earlier intervention, safer care, and better outcomes for consumers.

Following on from this SEDS and PsychMed collaborated on the development of psychoeducation modules that included Eating Disorders and a Body Image. The modules were embedded within existing recovery programs, recognising the risks of comorbid eating and substance use disorder. As part of this work the SEDS dietitian also reviewed and updated PsychMed’s existing Nutrition module.

National Strategy Standards and Actions

Identification

Standard 2: Professionals at key entry or referral points (e.g., GPs, emergency department staff, school counsellors, mental health professionals, dietitians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, Alcohol and Other Drug workers, staff in sporting/performance organisations) can recognise eating disorder warning signs and symptoms and provide or support access to an initial response.

Action 2.2: Eating disorder service development and lived experience organisations to disseminate accessible online/face-to-face training, and evidence-based screening tools to support health and mental health professionals in identification. 

Action 2.3: Eating disorder service development, lived experience organisations and Primary Health Networks to disseminate information about service pathways to support system navigation and referral by health and mental health professionals.

Workforce

Standard 4: The education, social and community services workforces are skilled and knowledgeable about eating disorders appropriate to role and function within the system of care.  

Action 4.1: Eating disorder service development and lived experience organisations to partner with the education, social and community services sector to develop and disseminate training and supporting resources in eating disorder-safe principles and support their implementation.

Action 4.2: Eating disorder service development and lived experience organisations to provide professional development opportunities to the education, social and community services sector.