What is the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential?
The ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential is formal recognition of qualifications, knowledge, training, and professional development activities needed to meet minimum standards for the delivery of safe and effective eating disorder care. 

The ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential aims to help people experiencing eating disorders to find the right treatment at the right time, increasing the chance of early intervention and positive treatment outcomes. It also aims to enhance the effectiveness and consistency of eating disorder treatment in Australia. By providing a clear professional development pathway, the Credential guides clinicians, helping to build a stronger eating disorder workforce. 

What is a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician?
A Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician is a health professional who has been recognised as meeting the qualifications, knowledge, training and professional development activities needed to meet minimum standards for the provision of safe and effective eating disorder care and has therefore been awarded the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential.

Which professions are eligible to apply for the Credential?
The following health professionals, with the required experience, training and knowledge, are eligible to apply:

• GPs 
• Dietitians
• Mental health professionals – including Career Medical Officers in psychiatry counsellors, general practitioners (as providers of Focused Psychological Strategies), mental health nurses, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and social workers.

Why has the Credential been developed?
The Credential is designed to support the management of individuals experiencing eating disorders across all diagnostic presentations, from early intervention through to complex and acute presentations, both in public and private settings. The Credential aims to enhance the effectiveness and consistency of care for eating disorders in Australia.

The Credential has been developed to:

• Help people experiencing eating disorders to identify and access the right care at the right time, increasing the chance of timely intervention and positive treatment outcome
• Support referrers to easily locate a GP, mental health professional and / or dietitian to provide eating disorder care
• Build the eating disorders workforce, promoting workforce development and training
• Enable clinicians to achieve recognition for their knowledge, training and experience.

What is ANZAED?
The Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) is the peak body representing and supporting the activities of all professionals working in the field of eating disorders and related issues in prevention, treatment and research.

ANZAED aims to provide opportunities for collegial interaction, sharing of knowledge and resources, networking and advocacy roles to support researchers, clinicians and others working in the area of eating disorders.

What is NEDC?
The National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) is an initiative of the Australian Government dedicated to developing and implementing a nationally consistent, evidence-based system of care for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.

NEDC synthesizes research evidence, clinical expertise and lived experience in national standards and workforce initiatives to build an effective, equitable and accessible system of care for all Australians.

Who was involved in the development of the criteria for the Credential?
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, ANZAED and NEDC led an in-depth national consultation process during 2019-2020 with over 900 participants to develop the criteria and process for the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential. Participants included clinicians working in regional, rural, and remote areas, general practitioners, psychiatrists, private practice clinicians, early career clinicians, business owners in the private sector, public sector service leaders, eating disorder sector leaders, key professional bodies, and people with lived experience and families and supports. The full consultation summary can be found here.

With support from the Department of Health and Aged Care, the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential was expanded to GPs in March 2024. The Credential for GPs emphasises early identification and initial response for people with eating disorders, encompassing screening, assessment, diagnosis, and referral to appropriate treatment providers.  

What is the role of the Governing Council?
The Governing Council (the Council) is responsible for the strategic guidance of the credentialing application and renewals process, approval of policies and standards, disputes related to credentialing applications and renewals as well as providing ongoing support, understanding and awareness of the eating disorder sector and best practice.

The Council operates with powers delegated by the ANZAED Executive Committee and is responsible to the ANZAED Executive Committee.

The Council consists of seven Council members appointed by the ANZAED Executive Committee. This includes the immediate Past President of ANZAED, and six other appointees, including three mental health professionals, one dietitian, one general practitioner and one individual with lived experience. Read more about the Council members here.

Should I apply under the ‘Private Practice’ pathway or the ‘Other Service Provider’ pathway?

If you are a mental health professional, dietitian or GP working in private practice in any capacity, you must apply for the Credential under the ‘Private Practice’ pathway. This could mean that you work in private practice every day of the week or one day a year. Private practice refers to positions as a sole provider, within a profession-specific clinic (for example, a psychology clinic), or as part of a multi-disciplinary clinic. This pathway is also applicable for any clinician working in a headspace centre.

If you work in private practice, you are required to be a member or registered with your professional registration body. In addition, mental health nurses will need to provide evidence of the ACMHN Credential as awarded by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc., and nurse practitioners will need to provide certification as an endorsed nurse practitioner under the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (AHPRA), General practitioners applying as a Mental Health Professional will need to provide evidence of their registration as a provider of Focused Psychological Strategies.

If you cease working in private practice during the credential year, and solely work in a public health or other setting, you will need to provide ANZAED with evidence of your employment (e.g. letter from your manager or employment contract) as required under the ‘Other Service Provider’ application pathway.

What constitutes employment under the ‘Other Service Provider’  pathway?

The ‘Other Service Provider’ pathway is relevant to clinicians working in all settings that are not private practice. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Public mental health services, for example, CAMHS, CYMHS, AMHS, CMHS
• Hospitals (public and private)
• Eating disorder day programs (public and private)
• Primary Health Networks
• Local Hospital Districts
• Inpatient treatment settings (psychiatric, medical, public and private)

If you are employed to work as a private practitioner and/or claiming through Medicare for your professional services, you should apply under the ‘Private Practice’ pathway.

I work for my local public health service. Do I need to be a member of my relevant professional body to apply?

If you are applying for the Credential under the ‘Other Service Provider’ pathway, you are not required to be a member of your professional body to become credentialed. However, you will need to provide ANZAED with evidence of your employment (e.g. letter from your manager or employment contract).

If you work for your local public health service (or other employer), and also work part-time in private practice, you should select that you practice in ‘Both’ on your application form. You will need to provide evidence of your membership or registration with your professional registration body (i.e. AHPRA, AASW, ACA, DA or PACFA), as well as evidence of your employment (e.g. letter from your manager or employment contract). In addition, mental health nurses will need to provide evidence of the ACMHN Credential as awarded by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc., nurse practitioners will need to provide certification as an endorsed nurse practitioner under the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (AHPRA), and general practitioners will need to provide evidence of their registration as a provider of Focused Psychological Strategies.

I work for my local public health service, but want to start private practice work. Is my credential under the 'Other Service Provider' pathway still valid?

If you commence work in private practice in any capacity (e.g., even if this is one day a month), you will need to provide ANZAED with the additional documentation required for the ‘Private Practice’ pathway.

If you were awarded the Credential under the ‘Other Service Provider’ pathway, you do not need to reapply and pay for a new Credential, but you must provide ANZAED with the additional required information for private practice work and this must be approved by ANZAED. Importantly, when you commence work in private practice, you will need to provide evidence of your membership or registration with your professional registration body (ie. AHPRA, AASW, ACA, DA, or PACFA) to be eligible for the Credential.

If you cease working in private practice during the credential year, and solely work in a public health or other setting, you will need to provide ANZAED with evidence of your employment (e.g. letter from your manager or employment contract) as required under the 'Other Service Provider’ application pathway.

Can I only get the Credential for either the ‘Private Practice’ or ‘Other Service Provider’ pathway?

All applicants are awarded the same ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential, regardless of the application pathway. Your digital badge and post nominal will not include detail of the application pathway you applied under. The different requirements for the application pathways reflect the governance, service policies, and team support and supervision that vary across workplace settings.

If you are unsure which pathway you need to apply under, the determinant will be whether you work in private practice (including headspace) or not. If you work in private practice in any capacity (e.g. one day a fortnight), you must apply under either the ‘Private Practice’ pathway if you solely work in private practice or the ‘Both’ pathway if you work in both private practice and in a public or other employment setting. 

I’m a peer worker, can I get the Credential?

Not at this time. The Credential has initially been developed for dietitians and  mental health professionals (psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, counsellors, psychotherapists, mental health nurses, nurse practitioners, general practitioners, psychiatrists) providing treatment for people with eating disorders who meet the outlined criteria. A further inclusion is for general practitioners who are registered providers of Focused Psychological Strategies and psychiatrists who are providing psychological therapy, rather than in their role as a medical practitioner. This is a first step, and we hope to explore if the Credential can be offered to other professionals in the future.

Although the Credential is not currently available to everyone, ANZAED as an organisation aims to support all professionals working in the eating disorders space, including all clinicians, academics, educators and peer–workers, providing opportunities for collegial interaction, sharing of knowledge and resources, networking and advocacy.  You may like to consider becoming a member of ANZAED to access a range of professional development opportunities, including member-only webinars, reduced rates for conferences, workshops and the online consultation program, special interest groups, and more. If you are interesting in learning more or joining, head to: https://www.anzaed.org.au/membership/

I don’t have evidence of my training, but I have been providing eating disorder treatment for a long time. Can I apply for the Credential?

In recognition that professionals currently practising may not have undertaken training in the mode prescribed or may not have records of having done so, we introduced a Limited Evidence Sunset Clause. Under the Sunset Clause, applicants who applied before 30 June 2022 were able to provide written evidence of their knowledge, skill development and experience across the training requirements in place of having completed the specified training or provide certificates of training.

From 1 July 2022, all applicants will need to have completed the NEDC approved training to become credentialed. You can find a list of NEDC Approved Trainings here.

What is approved training?

From 1 July 2022, all new applicants for the Credential will need to have completed approved training under the new NEDC Training Approvals Process. This is required for both the introduction to eating disorders training and treatment provision training. NEDC commenced approvals for eating disorder trainings relevant to the Credential in January 2022, and all approved trainings are listed on their website. Further information can be found here. 

Do I need to have experience providing eating disorder treatment to become credentialed?

The Credential criteria do not specify a minimum number of years working with people with eating disorders. As you commence work in this area, it is important to develop your annual continuing professional development and supervision plans to reflect your individual learning needs.

What training counts as Introductory Training for mental health professionals and dietitians?

You can find all approved Introduction to Eating Disorders training on the NEDC website.

What training counts as Evidence-Informed Dietetic Practice Training?

Evidence-Informed Dietetic Practice training is built on the ANZAED Practice and Training Standards for Dietitians Providing Eating Disorder Treatment. You can find all approved trainings on the NEDC website.

Can my previous Introductory and Treatment Provision Training count towards my future application?

From 1 July 2022, all new applicants for the Credential will need to have completed approved training under the new NEDC Training Approvals Process. This is required for both the introduction to eating disorders training and treatment provision training. NEDC commenced approvals for eating disorder trainings relevant to the Credential in January 2022, and all approved trainings are listed on their website. Further information can be found here.

Where can I find training and supervision support to become credentialed?

From 1 July 2022, all new applicants for the Credential will need to have completed approved training under the new NEDC Training Approvals Process. This is required for both the introduction to eating disorders training and treatment provision training. NEDC commenced approvals for eating disorder trainings relevant to the Credential in January 2022, and all approved trainings are listed on their website. Further information can be found here.

If you are already credentialed and are seeking continuing professional development opportunities, you can visit NEDC’s Upcoming Training and Events page. This includes trainings that are being run by ANZAED as well as other training providers. If you are looking for a supervisor, you may like to look through ANZAED’s member database filtering by ‘Supervision offered’. If you are seeking group supervision, you can join ANZAED’s Online Consultation Program.

If you would like further information on where to find supervision and CPD opportunities, you can view our webinar: Meeting the Credential’s Ongoing PD Requirements.

What are the ongoing professional development requirements each year?

As an ongoing requirement of the Credential, dietitians and mental health professionals must complete a minimum of 15 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to eating disorders per year and complete a minimum of 6 hours of eating disorder-specific supervision per year, including at least 3 hours in an individual (1:1) format. 

If you would like further information, you can view our webinar: Meeting the Credential’s Ongoing PD Requirements.

Does my supervisor need to be from the same profession as me?

The Credential does not specify the profession of a supervisor. It is important when finding a supervisor that they have expertise in eating disorder treatment and can support you to consolidate your knowledge and skill in providing treatment for people with eating disorders.

Does my supervisor need to be an approved supervisor or have particular qualifications?

Your supervisor is not required to be an approved supervisor or have any particular qualifications, however it is essential that they have experience in eating disorder treatment and can support you through reflective practice approaches and in your eating disorder treatment provision. It is strongly recommended that they are a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician or would have the skills, training and experience to meet the Credential’s criteria.

Where can I find a supervisor that specialises in eating disorder treatment?

If you are looking for a supervisor, you may like to look through ANZAED’s member database filtering by ‘Supervision offered’. If you are seeking group supervision, you can join ANZAED’s Online Consultation Program.

If you would like further information on where to find supervision and CPD opportunities, you can view our webinar: Meeting the Credential’s Ongoing PD Requirements.

Does peer group supervision discussing eating disorder treatment count towards the supervision requirement?

Yes, but this can only be counted for up to 3 of the total 6 hours supervision requirement and you will still need to complete 3 hours of individual (i.e. 1:1) supervision which can be accessed through telehealth or in person. Reflective practice is a crucial component of supervision, and it is important that peer supervision supports you in your own learning and development goals in the area of eating disorder treatment.

Can reading about eating disorders count as my 15 hours of CPD?

It is important that your CPD Plan adequately reflects your learning and development needs as you expand and grow your eating disorder knowledge and skill. It’s important to consider your own learning needs and undertake CPD activities which support these. The content of CPD should enhance professional knowledge and skill competence.

We recommend learning and development occurs through a variety of CPD activities. Examples of these might include workshops, webinars, conferences, eLearning, ‘in-house’ training, seminars, higher education/courses, clinical forums and reading books and journal articles.

Do I need to submit records of my CPD or supervision activities each year?

No, you do not have to submit records of your CPD or supervision activities before renewing each year. However, a proportion of all Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians will be audited each year to ensure they are meeting their CPD and supervision requirements. Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians must comply with any reasonable request by ANZAED to provide information in relation to the Clinician’s compliance with the Credentialing system’s Terms and Conditions, including if requested participation in audit processes for CPD, Supervision and general compliance purposes. View more information here.

Will my CPD and supervision be audited?

A proportion of all Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians will be audited each year to ensure they are meeting their CPD and supervision requirements. Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians must comply with any reasonable request by ANZAED to provide information in relation to the Clinician’s compliance with the Credentialing system’s Terms and Conditions, including if requested participation in audit processes for CPD, Supervision and general compliance purposes. View more information here.

What are the criteria for becoming credentialed?
The Credential is available to GPs who work and reside in Australia and meet the following criteria:
1. Hold General and specialist registration in General Practice with AHPRA
2. Completed training in either National Eating Disorder Collaborations (NEDC) Eating Disorder Core Skills: eLearning for GPs or InsideOut’s The Essentials: Training Clinicians in Eating Disorders

I am a GP working in New Zealand. Can I apply for the Credential? 
At this stage, with funding support through the Australian Government Department of Health, the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential is only available to health professionals living and working in Australia.

What is the difference between becoming credentialed as a GP and becoming credentialed as a mental health professional?
GPs who are registered providers of Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS) may be eligible to apply for the Credential as a mental health professional and be recognised for their provision of evidence-based psychological therapies. 

GPs credentialed as a GP recognises their role as a medical practitioner, in particular for their skills in screening, assessing, diagnosing and coordinating care for individuals with an eating disorder. 

GPs credentialed as a mental health professional (i.e., who are registered providers of FPS) will automatically be awarded the GP Credential also. If you are Credentialed as both a mental health professional and a GP you will be provided with two post-nominals (I.e., CEDC-MH and CED-GP) and two digital badges to reflect this. 

The criteria for GPs who are applying for the Credential as a mental health professional are different for those applying for the GP Credential. 

Criteria for becoming credentialed as a GP: 
1. Hold General and Specialist registration in General Practice with AHPRA
2. Completed training in either National Eating Disorder Collaborations (NEDC) Eating Disorder Core Skills: eLearning for GPs or InsideOut’s The Essentials: Training Clinicians in Eating Disorders
3. An ongoing requirement of the utilisation of InsideOut Institute's GP Hub when required in practice

Criteria for GPs credentialed as a mental health professional (who are registered providers of Focused Psychological Strategies):
1. Clinical Experience: Two years mental health clinical practice 
2. Introductory Training: Introduction to Eating Disorders for Health Professionals
3. Treatment Provision Training: Evidence-based treatment model for eating disorders 
4. Ongoing requirements of supervision and CPD

Why is medical monitoring and medical treatment not included within the criteria of the Credential for GPs?
Whilst medical monitoring and treatment of medical complications associated with an eating disorder are essential for all patients, the current scope of the Credential for GPs is designed to support the identification and initial response stages of the Stepped System of Care. 

An individual with an eating disorder will generally require reviews on a regular, ongoing and as-required basis. 

Where can I find further training and/or support?
If you are seeking continuing professional development opportunities, you can visit NEDC’s Upcoming Training and Events page. This includes trainings that are being run by ANZAED as well as other training providers. 

Is there a requirement to use the InsideOut Institute GP Hub?
As an ongoing requirement of the Credential, GPs are required to utilise the InsideOut Institute’s GP Hub when and as required. When applying, you must agree that you commit to using the GP Hub when and as required in your clinical practice. 

The GP Hub is a digital tool for GPs to assist in screening, assessing and care planning for people with eating disorders at any point in their presentation. 

The InsideOut Institute’s GP Hub includes: 

• An eScreener and EAssessment 
• A clinical decision support tool to aid diagnosis and inform treatment prescription that matches stage of illness and individual need 
• Information about complex care support and escalation guidelines 
• A Practice Management Toolkit 
• An option to link patients with InsideOut’s eTherapy platform for pure self-help treatment accessible immediately 

I’m a GP registrar. Can I apply for the Credential? 
Unfortunately the Credential is only available to GPs with full registration with AHPRA. 

I am experiencing an eating disorder and want to get help. Which professional should I see?

Seeking help is the first step towards recovery – you should be proud of taking this step.

Everyone’s experience of an eating disorder is unique – meaning the treatment you require is dependent on your symptoms and stage of recovery. We recommend connecting with your local GP to talk about your experience and treatment options. More information about treatment options can be found on the Pathways to Treatment page or on the NEDC website.

You can also find information about available services in Australia by contacting the Butterfly Foundation Helpline on 1800 33 4673, which is specifically dedicated to eating disorders. You can also read about other organisations providing eating disorders support on our website under Eating Disorder Organisations.

If you are worried about yourself, and need to speak to someone urgently now, we encourage you to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Emergency Services on 000.

I know someone who is experiencing an eating disorder and I want to help them connect to support. What type of professional should they see?

People experiencing eating disorders will require different treatment dependent on their diagnosis and stage of recovery. We recommend connecting with your local GP to talk about your experience and treatment options.

If you have not raised your concerns with the person you are worried about, and would like guidance on how to start a conversation or best support them, we encourage you to contact the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673.

I cannot find a professional in my local area, what can I do?

ANZAED and NEDC are working hard to grow the eating disorder workforce across Australia through training opportunities. We understand that you may need support in your local area now. If you cannot find a professional near you, we recommend searching for a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician who can provide telehealth services on the Find a Treatment Provider page. Telehealth is available for mental health, dietetic and medical appointments and so you may be able to connect with clinicians that offer this service and don’t necessarily practice in your area.

You can also contact the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 – they provide eating disorder and body image issues counselling support over the phone and online. For options in your local area, your GP may be able to assist, or you can contact one of the eating disorder organisations listed here.

My regular psychologist isn’t on here. Does that mean they do not meet the minimum standards for the Credential?

No. The Credential is new, which means it may take a while for clinicians to apply and appear in the treatment finder section of this website. Additionally, the Credential is not compulsory – some clinicians who meet the criteria may choose not to apply. If you are currently seeing a clinician who you think should be on the treatment finder database, we encourage you to share the website and information with them, so they can apply for the Credential.

Were people with lived experience involved in the development of the Credential and this website?

Yes. We held an in-depth national consultation process with over 900 people to develop the criteria and process for the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential. Approximately 30% of the participants involved in the consultation were people with lived experience of eating disorders, their families and support networks.

Throughout our extensive consultation with people with lived experience of eating disorders, their families and support networks, we heard that finding a clinician who understands eating disorders is often a very difficult and long process. People with lived experience told us a system of credentialing will increase the chances of a positive first contact with treatment providers, which is important in helping people to keep taking steps towards wellbeing and recovery.