For World Eating Disorder Awareness Day this year we collaborated with Queensland Alliance for Mental Health and Mental Health Australia. Following a social media campaign and letters sent directly to local ministers, we held an event at Parliament House to speak with Members of Parliament about the necessity of community services such as ours and ask them to pledge a call to action to reduce the burden of eating disorders in QLD. Many members attended and had conversations with EDQ staff and Board members about our services and experiences of eating disorder recovery. Our key asks for WEDAD were for:
-
- Investment in the early onset treatment of eating disorders
- Early intervention around body image, weight stigma and diet culture in schools
- Increased funding for Queenslanders impacted by eating disorder
Pictured from left to right: Belinda Chelius (EDQ) and Joe Kelly; JP Langbroek, Suzannah D’Juliet (EDQ Board), and Rob Molhoek; Amy McMahon and Belinda Chelius (EDQ)
We also had a badge making station for the MPs and guests to write their pledge to action:
We had a lot of fun at the event and enjoyed hearing from our local MPs. It was great to be able to chat with them about our budget asks and inform them of the impact eating disorders have on our community.