Charlestown will become home to a new $13 million state-wide Residential Eating Disorders Treatment Centre, the first publicly-funded service of its kind in NSW.

Minister for Mental Health and Regional Health, Bronnie Taylor, said the 12-bed centre would provide specialist support to people with severe eating disorders.

“The centre will provide wrap-around care in a home-like environment to people who require more support than a day program can provide but don’t need to be hospitalised,” Taylor said.

“A multi-disciplinary team of specialists will address all aspects of recovery; the physical, psychological and lifestyle, giving people the best chance of living a full, rich and healthy life.

“The centre will also have the capacity to provide whole-of-family therapy, which is vital to the ongoing treatment and recovery of those experiencing an eating disorder.”

Every quarter per year in NSW, more than 1,600 people living with an eating disorder seek care from a NSW hospital, mental health service or emergency department. 

In 2019, a longitudinal study of more than 5000 students published in the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine found that just over one in five participants aged 12 to 19 experienced a “clinical” or “subclinical” eating disorder during adolescence.

Of the 13 schools that participated in the study, 12 were from the Hunter Region.

Taylor said the NSW Government was stepping up its investment in eating disorder care to better support the people, families and communities impacted by this complex, debilitating illness.

“In 2021 to 22, we’re investing more than $12 million in services and workforce capacity to ensure our residents are receiving the best care in the country,” she said.

“This includes $4 million over four years to support new eating disorders clinicians in every health district and network across NSW.”

The site at Charlestown, owned by Hunter New England Local Health District, was chosen for its residential location and proximity to retail services and public transport links.

Funded through the Commonwealth’s Community Health and Hospitals Program, the centre will accept referrals from Local Health Districts across NSW.

Construction will commence later this year and is anticipated to be completed by mid-2023.

Maia O’Connor