CARERS &
KEY SUPPORTS

CARERS & KEY SUPPORTS

Carers and key supports play a key role in supporting a loved one’s recovery journey.

A ‘carer’ or ‘key support’ is anyone supporting an individual with an eating disorder. A parent, sibling, partner, best friend, grandparent, health professional, school counsellor, chaplain or other significant person.

Carers and key supports play a key role in supporting a loved one’s recovery journey. Increasing your understanding about eating disorders, learning new skills and strategies around communication, and managing your own emotions and expectations, can assist you in effectively supporting your loved one.

We can guide you towards training or support groups for Queensland carers throughout the state, and provide a referral list of health professionals with eating disorder experience in your local area.

To connect with any of our Carer or Key Support services, please contact EDQ.

Services for Carers and Key Supports

Our Carer & Key Support Team have a range of services and support options for family members, carers and key support people who are supporting a loved one with an eating disorder.

hands at coaching session
Our services include Individual Coaching, Fostering Recovery Workshops, Carer Connect Group, Carer Peer Mentoring and Re-Connect events throughout the year. The intention of our services is to provide information, support, skills, empowerment and connection for family members, carers and key support people.

Our hope is that the provision of these services assists families, carers and key support people in their caring role, whilst maintaining their own health and wellbeing.

For information, resources and Vodcast episodes, please go to our Resource page.

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Fostering Recovery Workshops

The Fostering Recovery Workshop is an evidence-based 1-day workshop that aims to help family members, carers and key support people increase their understanding of eating disorders and ways to support their loved one’s recovery.

This workshop is also provided online for carer statewide. It is based on the work of Janet Treasure and includes:

  • understanding the eating disorder mindset
  • stages of change
  • carer responses
  • meal support strategies
  • communication approaches
  • problem solving strategies.

Feedback about the workshop includes:

“I feel much more empowered after the workshop and have more confidence in my ability to tackle the challenges ahead …” and

“Excellent content & delivery, clear explanations & examples. Use of time for discussion was well managed”.

Carer Connect Group

The Carer Connect Group provides a supportive and collaborative environment for family members, carers and key support people to come together and is facilitated by EDQ Family & Carer Coaches.

The group is run monthly from 6:30pm to 8:30pm (rotating between online and in-person) and focuses on different themes/topics each month related to eating disorder recovery, including guest speakers.

The group aims to be informative and to support families and carers to support their loved ones. The evening is an opportunity to connect with others who are going through a similar journey and to hear different experiences and insights.

Feedback from people who have attended Carer Connect evenings:

“Connection with others who understand”,

“Nice to meet people who have been through the same thing”,

“Everyone is open, caring, supportive, no judgement.”

hands at coaching session

Coaching Sessions

Coaching is provided for carers and key support people via the phone, face-to-face or online. Coaching assists in developing an understanding of eating disorders and ways to support the person with an eating disorder.
Coaching sessions are solution focused and each session aims to collaboratively identify the key issues or challenges a carer is experiencing in supporting their loved one and to provide the carer with practical skills and strategies. Some carers engage in one or two coaching sessions, while others may attend more regularly.
Family Coaching Sessions

Family Coaching Sessions provide an opportunity for a carer and their loved one to collaboratively discuss practical strategies and action plans to enhance the individual’s recovery.

The sessions are provided for carers and loved ones who are both linked in with Eating Disorders Queensland and are Co-facilitated by a  Carer Coach and your loved one’s Eating Disorders Queensland practitioner.

hands holding paper crane

Carer Peer Mentor Program

The Carer Peer Mentor Program connects and matches individuals who are currently supporting a loved one in their recovery from an eating disorder, with a “mentor” who has been through this journey with a loved one, and who would now like to provide connection, support and hope for other carers.

The program follows a strengths-based model and recognises the value of a carer’s lived experience specific to eating disorders, and the skills and knowledge developed as a result of their own caring role. All carer mentors are provided with training and support throughout the duration of the program.

Re-Connect Events

Throughout the year the Family and Carer Team run events tailored to Families, Carers and Key support people to provide information, support and connection.

Our Re-Connect events are themed events that are accessible to past, current Carer clients, or Carers who have not yet linked in with the service.

Donate today

All donations over $2 to Eating Disorders Queensland are tax deductible and give real people access to counselling, practical assistance to support recovery, groups, equipment for the centre and books for our library. You can make a one-off or regular monthly donation. We would love to acknowledge your generosity and support. Please let us know if you would like to be listed as one of our supporters on either our website or in our annual report.

Get involved

Volunteers support our valuable work and goals. We offer a range of volunteering opportunities across a broad range of interest areas, such as event planning, administration tasks, cooking, and gardening. Join our volunteer team or keep an eye out for specific volunteer opportunities via our social media.

Eating Disorders Queensland

We support a vibrant community of individuals recovering from an eating disorder, including people with lived experiences, carers and family members.

LOCATION:
51 Edmondstone Street,
Yuggera Country,
South Brisbane, QLD 4101

CALL: (07) 3844 6055

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