Tasmanians living with an eating disorder will have access to additional support from the Butterfly Foundation thanks to new funding delivered by the Hodgman Liberal Government.
The Government’s election policy to provide $400,000 funding to the Butterfly Foundation includes a newly created Eating Disorder Coordinator support role for Tasmania, and peer workers to support Tasmanians living with eating disorders.
The Peer workers will work with adolescents and adults, providing support and a dedicated first point of contact and care.
Eating disorders not only impact the person experiencing the disorder, but also their family, friends and community, who will also be supported by the new service.
The Butterfly Foundation will greatly improve the lives of the many Tasmanians impacted by eating disorders, with approximately 10 per cent of Australians experience eating disorders.
Eating disorders are serious chronic illnesses with significant physical, psychological and social impacts.
The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to improving mental healthcare in Tasmania with $104 million of additional funding being provided over six years.
The Australian Government is also supporting Tasmanians by investing in new mental health and primary care initiatives with their recent announcement of $10 million of additional funding to establish an eating disorder clinic in Hobart.
I congratulate the Butterfly Foundation on the roll-out of this important program in Tasmania and look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring to our community.
