Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises that 1 September to 7 September 2014 is National Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week;

(b) notes that in 2012 there were more than 913 000 people in Australia living with a clinical eating disorder, and that more than 1 800 people die each year because of these deadly mental illnesses;

(c) recognises the significant social and economic costs of eating disorders and the strength and contribution of those who care for people experiencing eating disorders; and

(d) calls on the Federal Government to take a lead in prioritising eating disorders as an urgent mainstream health issue in Australia, and to work with all state and territory governments to:

(i) support the development and education of a health workforce proportional to the need, which is able to identify and treat eating disorders,

(ii) fund integrated treatment facilities and programs in hospitals and the community, with appropriate specialist care,

(iii) ensure an appropriate proportion of the health budget is available for the development and establishment of community based recovery support and prevention services, and

(iv) provide funding and support for the necessary education and prevention programs for young people.

Question agreed to.