Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this matter of public importance, noting that more than 1 million Australians are currently living with an eating disorder, and up to 25 per cent of people diagnosed will experience a severe and long-term eating disorder. Of Australians with eating disorders, 30,000 have anorexia nervosa, and as a result of the pandemic we know that it has increased significantly, by 63 per cent.

People with eating disorders experience high rates of conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders and, among adults, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue and neurological symptoms. The associated mortality rate is the highest of any mental illness, with suicide risk far greater than that for the general population.

The pathway to diagnosis and treatment is not easy. Eating disorders can only be diagnosed by a clinical psychologist or a medical professional, such as a GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. It's impossible to get in and see a psychiatrist. Once diagnosed, there is access to an eating disorder care plan. On this plan, a patient can access vital support through up to 40 psychological treatment services and 20 dietetic visits each year subsidised by Medicare. While experts agree early support is key, only one in 10 Australians can recognise the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder.

There are solutions. We know our EDs are overwhelmed. We know that they are only taking the most severe cases. We need to properly resource our overworked emergency health professionals. I also call on the government to recognise accredited practising dietitians to be able to access and diagnose early eating disorders. Their training and credentialling demonstrates their competency, but currently only clinical psychologists or medical professionals can approve treatment funded by the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Accredited practising dietitians are trained to recognise early eating disorders, eating disorders in their early stages and those at risk of developing an eating disorder. We should therefore provide those Medicare items. Mission Australia says that young people rank their concerns, and they say that their body image is one of their greatest concerns. I'm aware of the work of Taryn Brumfitt who is helping to promote positive body imagine, and I recommend that everyone in this chamber watches the Embrace Kids movie. It's great for young people and families, and I think it starts that conversation. I'd also like to acknowledge the work of the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, the statewide eating disorder service in my home state of South Australia. Breakthrough say they're working to bring together the best clinical services and the Flinders University research team. They're currently planning but have not yet built a new eating disorders service at the Repat Health Precinct in Daw Park.

Back in the nineties I was a young woman. It was the time of Kate Moss, when we were all desperate to be thin. I'm now nearly 50, and I look at that young woman in her 20s who stood on the scales at 46 kilos and hated herself. I absolutely hated myself because I thought I was fat. I was really fortunately that I had a mum who was a social worker. She saw the early signs and that for me as a young woman my weight was one of the few things I thought I could control. You develop a relationship with food where food is the enemy. It's horrific that we're not doing enough as a nation. Young people today don't just have to just deal with superskinny models but also have to deal with social media—and it's just a nightmare for our children. I talk with mothers. I'm fortunate that we haven't experienced it in our immediate family, but other mums and dads feel so helpless. They don't know how to help their children, the baby that they nurtured from the beginning. They feel helpless in dealing with them when they have eating disorders and they're in their teens or 20s.

I would like to quickly acknowledge the work of the Butterfly Foundation. There is a national helpline. If you are listening to these speeches today and you are concerned perhaps for yourself or for someone you love or you are a teacher, it operates seven days a week from 8 am to midnight. The ED HOPE line is 1800 334673. For young people who don't like to ring, you can chat online or email at the Butterfly Foundation, so butterfly. org.au.

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