Eating Disorders in Tertiary Education

Tertiary education is a key opportunity for students to build competencies in eating disorder awareness and safe care, relevant across health, community education, and social support sectors. 

Embedding eating disorder education in tertiary curricula is a key action of the National Eating Disorders Strategy (2023), and a priority in the Australian National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2023-2033.  

The NEDC Eating Disorders in Tertiary Curricula Initiative  
NEDC, with funding from the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, assessed eating disorder teaching in tertiary education and is now leading the strategy to embed this content across Australian programs and settings.  
The NEDC Eating Disorders in Tertiary Curricula (EDTC) Initiative oversees the development and implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Eating Disorders Training in Tertiary Education Scoping Review and Recommendations.  
 
Key components of the NEDC EDTC Initiative 
The NEDC Eating Disorders in Tertiary Curricula (EDTC) Initiative comprises several key components to support the embedding of eating disorders within tertiary education programs. Additional components aligned with the recommendations of the scoping paper will be added as the initiative continues over the lifecycle of the National Strategy. 

 
ETDC Expert Advisory Group 
The EDTC Expert Advisory Group (EAG) advises NEDC on embedding eating disorder content in Australian tertiary education. Its goal is to drive lasting change by integrating ED-safe principles, prevention, response, treatment, and recovery support into professional training programs. Members include experts in education, discipline-based learning, industry, and student needs. 
The EAG oversees all aspects of the NEDC Eating Disorders in Tertiary Curricula (EDTC) Initiative. 

EDTC EAG Members 

Dr Sarah Trobe  

(Chair) 

National Director, NEDC 

Honorary Research Fellow, La Trobe University 

Dr Emma Spiel  

(Project Lead) 

Workforce Development Lead, NEDC 

Honorary Research Fellow, La Trobe University 

Kirstin Riedmaier 

(Secretariat) 

Project and Operations Coordinator, NEDC 

Alexandra Murray 

Head of Policy, Australian Psychological Society (APS) 

Bliss Jackman 

Team Leader, Lived Experience, The Victorian Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders 

Prof. Bryn Austin 

 Professor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Boston Children’s Hospital 

Dr Carmel Fleming  

 Adjunct Lecturer, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland 

Chris Basten 

Senior Clinical Psychologist, Basten and Associates Clinical Psychologists 

Dr Claire Burton 

Academic Lead, Workforce Development & Training 

Deanne Harris 

 Allied Health Manager/ Dietitian in Charge/Profession Senior Dietetics HNELHD 

Fiona Sutherland 

 Director, The Mindful Dietitian , APD, CEDC-D 

Genevieve Pepin 

Professor, Deakin University Faculty of Health 

Janet Fountaine 

Nurse Practitioner, WA Eating Disorders Outreach & Consultation Service 

Dr Jenny Conway 

General Practitioner, Get Well Clinic 

A/Prof. Kim Ryan 

Chief Executive Officer at Australian College of Mental Health Nurses 

Prof. Leah Brennan 

Professor, School of Psychology and Public Health La Trobe University 

Dr Mandy Goldstein 

 Director and Clinical Psychologist, everyBody Psychology & Wellbeing 

Michelle King 

 Partner and National Lead, Higher Education, KPMG Australia 

Prof. Philippa Hay 

Chair Mental Health Western Sydney University  

Shannon Calvert 

Independent Lived Experience Educator & Advisor 

Dr Simone Craig 

 Youth Health GP, Clinician Academic at Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Melbourne 

EDTC Tertiary Education Scoping Review and Recommendations 
To support tertiary sector development, NEDC produced the Eating Disorders Training in Tertiary Education Scoping Review and Recommendations 2025 Update. Guided by an expert advisory group and informed by consultations with educators and professionals, the report reviews current eating disorder content across seven key health professions and outlines core competencies and initiatives to embed this content in tertiary curricula. 
Four target areas and associated key recommendations are identified within the scoping review. These underpin NEDC’s Eating Disorders in Tertiary Curricula Initiative.  


View the Eating Disorders Training in Tertiary Education Scoping Review and Recommendations March 2025 Update report. 

Note: Due to resource limits, some key professional groups were not included in this review. NEDC aims to expand the initiative over time to include a broader range of roles vital to eating disorder prevention, identification, and safe care. 

EDTC Collaborative Network 
The EDTC Collaborative Network is a multidisciplinary group of academics, educators, and lived experience experts that advised NEDC on the development of the Eating Disorder Identification Learning Modules. NEDC will continue working with the network throughout the initiative. 

EDTC EAG Collaborative Network Members 

Dr Emma Spiel  

(Project Lead) 

Workforce Development Lead, NEDC 

Honorary Research Fellow, La Trobe University 

Ana Ximena Torres 

(Project Co-Lead) 

Strategy and Policy Lead, NEDC 

Laura Freeburn 

(Nursing) 

Nurse Educator, Mental Health 

Metro North Health QLD  

 

Chloe Lennox 

(Nursing) 

Course Coordinator & Lecturer (Mental Health Nursing), School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Notre Dame Australia.  

Registered Nurse, The Esus Centre  

Hosu Ryu 

(Nursing)  

 

Lecturer & Discipline Lead (Undergraduate Nursing), School of Nursing and Midwifery La Trobe University 

Fiona Sutherland 

(Dietetics) 

Director, The Mindful Dietitian 

 

Dr Christie Bennett 

(Dietetics) 

Senior Lecturer Monash University, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food  

Dr Sian McLean 

(Psychology) 

Senior Lecturer,Department Coordinator Research Industry & Engagement, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University  

Associate Professor Janet Conti 

(Psychology) 

Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology /Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, School of Psychology Western Sydney University  

Sarah Pflanz 

(Social Work) 

Statewide Clinical Education Lead for Social Work – Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs, Queensland Health  

Rachael Duck  

(Social Work) 

Peer Mentoring Program (PMP) Manager at Eating Disorders Victoria 

 

Rachel Knight 

(Occupational Therapy) 

Lecturer (Deakin University)  

Eating Disorders Early Intervention and Integration Lead (Western Health)  

Associate Professor Justin Scanlan  

(Occupational Therapy) 

Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney  

Shannon Calvert 

(Lived Experience Educator) 

Independent Lived Experience Specialist & Advisor – Eating Disorders, Mental Health, Palliative Care, and Workforce Reform  

Dr Matthew Elton (Medicine) 

Staff Specialist Psychiatrist, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry John Hunter Hospital 

Medical Lead for Eating Disorders, Hunter New England Mental Health 

Associate Lecturer University Newcastle  

Dr Elizabeth Rowe  

(Medicine) 

Private GP Mentor and Lecturer  

 

EDTC Eating Disorder Identification Learning Modules for Tertiary Education    
The Eating Disorder Identification Learning Modules equip graduates with an identification skillset specific application to eating disorders, disordered eating and body image concerns. Educators apply to access and deliver the 4 modules, and receive an educator booklet with lecture slides, interactive activities, quiz links, and lived experience videos. 
 
Find out more here.
 
EDTC National Educator Database (COMING SOON)
The NEDC National Educator Database lists educators who deliver eating disorder specific education in University, TAFE and post graduate training settings. All listed educators indicate that they meet educator minimum training standards, to support safe, effective teaching. Search the Database to find an educator to deliver eating disorder educational content within your institution.