Education Programs and Support Groups

Seeds for Change - education program for people with eating issues
This ten-week program aims to offer the participants the opportunity to learn about and discuss issues that affect them, in a non-judgemental, supportive environment. The focus is on the group as a whole, but each member is encouraged and supported to participate to the level with which they are comfortable. Each session will use simple and enjoyable activities to promote discussion around the week's theme.  Each member will be provided with weekly handouts and a workbook. The group runs twice per year.  Sessions are conducted each Tuesday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. The cost of the program is $100 with a $20 discount for EDA members.

The next group will commence in September.
For more information, please call the Resource Centre on (07) 3394 3661.
 

Eating Disorder Recovery Support Group
If you would like to meet others who are on the journey of recovery from an eating disorder, to share and give support, to share things that work, to find positive ways of living and to explore problem solving, then come along and join this group. The group will run in four week blocks throughout the year. The next group will start on 26 August. Cost is $50 for the four nights with a $10 discount for EDA members. The group consists of people interested in working towards recovery and is supported by professional facilitators. It has an informal, flexible format with input from participants. The format will be regularly evaluated for its effectiveness based on participants' feedback.

To register, please contact the Resource Centre on (07) 3394 3661.
 

Family Information Program
The Eating Disorders Resource Centre offers a six week information and support group specifically for families and friends of people with eating disorders. The group runs twice a year and each session deals with a topic specifically related to dealing with the effects of an eating disorder in the family, including such topics as "What can I do", "What about our other children?" and "Where to from here?". Guest speakers include therapists and professionals from different eating disorder treatment centres and services, parents who have been through the experience, and people who have recovered from their eating issue. The cost of this program for EDA members is $55 for individuals and $75 for families, for non members the cost is $75 for individuals and $95 for families. We are currently taking registrations for the next group.

The next group will commence on 22 July.
To register, please call the Resource Centre on (07) 3394 3661.

Family Support Program
The Family Support Group is for parents, partners and adult family members of people affected by eating issues. It provides an opportunity for the family member to take some time out from the caring role, to look at his/her needs, and to develop skills to self-care, nurture and address issues/needs in his/her own life. The focus is on the participant who both deserves timeout from the demands of the eating issue and needs it in order to regroup to be able to continue supporting their relative who has an eating issue. The group will assist participants to develop ideas on how they can maintain/develop aspects of their life which are not focussed on the eating issue – and model these to the person they care for. Attendance in itself is modelling this. The group will encourage participants to develop natural supports, both from within the group and outside it.

This group is currently on hold while it is being restructured.
To be placed on the waiting list, please contact the Resource Centre on (07) 3394 3661.

The support groups held at the Eating Disorders Resource Centre are not therapeutic groups. We recommend that they should not be used as a substitute for counselling or therapy. As discussions in these groups may raise sensitive issues for individuals we highly recommend participants also seek external individual therapy. Please contact the centre if you would like a referral to an experienced therapist in your area.


New Groups on Sunshine Coast
Self Help / Support group are now available for parents and friends of people with eating disorders in Maleny and Mooloolaba. Their aim is to offer support in strengthening thoughts, feelings and actions to assist in coping. Meetings are held on Thursdays once a month at Mary Cairncross Park in Maleny from 1 to 3pm, and every 3rd Friday at Gloria Jeans in Mooloolaba from 9.30 to 11.30am. Contact Contact Gill on 5478 2854 or Sonya on 0411 530 764 for more information. Both these groups are free of charge.

Last updated on 12/6/2008