About

Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders 

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. 

Our goals are to: 

  • integrate expertise;
  • facilitate communication and generate, disseminate and encourage evidence-based knowledge and practice;
  • recognise excellence;
  • promote understanding, and
  • advocate on behalf of those living with, and those working with, the eating disorders field

ANZAED is an incorporated not-for-profit association, run by an Executive Committee on behalf of its members. Annual General Meetings are held each year at the August annual conference. 

ANZAED works to address the large number of complex issues in eating disorders at social, community and individual levels. ANZAED holds an invited position on the Steering Committee of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) in Australia and works with partner international organisations, notably our partner organisation the international Academy of Eating Disorders (AED). 

ANZAED has members from all professional disciplines in New Zealand and all states and territories of Australia. Our services are open to members and non-members. 

For further information about ANZAED, see our website. 

National Eating Disorder Collaboration 

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 is a national collaborative platform for experts in lived experience, clinical services, research, and sector leadership to generate unified, evidence-based sector positions and consistent national standards that are translated into practical action for prevention, identification, and treatment. 

For further information about NEDC, see their website. 

The ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential 

The ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential provides clinicians with formal recognition of qualifications, knowledge, training, and professional development activities needed to meet minimum standards for the delivery of safe and effective eating disorders care. 

With the support of the Australian Government Department of Health and by recommendation of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Working Group on Eating Disorders, ANZAED and NEDC partnered to develop the credentialing system. The design and development of the credentialing system began with an in-depth national consultation process during 2019-2020, involving over 900 participants across clinical groups, service leaders, key professional organisations, and people with lived experience and families and supports. The full consultation summary can be found here. 

In the implementation of the Credential, ANZAED and NEDC aim to help people experiencing eating disorders and their families/supports find a clinician with the appropriate knowledge and training to provide safe and effective care. The Credential is designed to support individuals experiencing eating disorders across all diagnostic presentations, from early intervention through to complex and acute presentations, both in public and private settings, and it aims to enhance the effectiveness and consistency of care for eating disorders in Australia.  

Since the launch in 2022, over 1600 dietitians and mental health clinicians have become credentialed in Australia. In 2024, the Credential is being expanded to include general practitioners, recognising their knowledge and training in screening, assessment, diagnosis and referral for treatment. The Credential was developed through funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. 

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 provide 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 five Council members appointed by the ANZAED Executive Committee. This includes the immediate Past President of ANZAED, and four other appointees, including two mental health professionals, one dietitian and one individual with lived experience. 
Sian McLean (Chair)

Dr Siân McLean (she/her) is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at La Trobe University. Her research explores risk and protective factors for eating disorders and investigates novel approaches (e.g., social media literacy interventions, online and e-health app-delivered treatment) for body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. Siân joined the ANZAED Executive Committee in 2017 and is currently Chair of the Credentialing Governing Council.

 

Kim Hurst
Dr Kim Hurst is a Senior Psychologist and the Clinical Lead at Robina Private Hospital’s Eating Disorders Service, she also is in Private Practice. Prior to this Kim was a founding member of the Gold Coast Child & Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS), Eating Disorder Program (EDP). Kim has been delivering eating disorder treatment for over fifteen years and is a credentialed FBT therapist who provides training, supervision and consultation to clinicians across Queensland. Kim has worked across a range of eating disorder treatment settings including psychiatric and medical inpatient units and outpatient services. She has developed specialist eating disorder clinical policies and is focused on service improvement strategies to enhance treatment delivery. Kim is also passionate about early intervention programs and has delivered workshops to school children, guidance officers and teachers on positive body image. Kim was previously the President of ANZAED and has coordinated a national eating disorder conference and smaller workshop events. Kim has a solid record of presenting at local, national and international eating disorder conferences and has several published works within the field. 
Andrew Wallis
Dr Andrew Wallis is a clinical social worker and family therapist. He has been working with adolescents and their families for more than 25 years. Andrew has postgraduate qualifications in Systemic Family therapy and has had specialist training in the UK and USA for Family therapy for Anorexia Nervosa, Multiple Family Therapy and Attachment Based Family Therapy. In 2003 with colleagues at The Children’s Hospital, Westmead, he established the first Family-Based Treatment program in Australia, and Multiple Family therapy for Anorexia Nervosa in 2014. He has been providing training, consultation and clinical supervision in Australia and New Zealand since 2005, helping to support public and private services to implement family therapy approaches to adolescent problems. Andrew has also been involved in a range of research and academic work with more than 30 peer reviewed papers and book chapters including his PhD research on the impact of Family Based Therapy on family relationships during treatment. Andrew’s first book – A Practical Guide to Family Therapy: Structured Guidelines and Key Skills. IP Communications: Melbourne, Australia was published in 2011 and a second book – Multiple Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa: A treatment manual published in 2021 through Routledge: London. Andrew’s current role is Co-Lead of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Eating Disorder Service and Deputy Head of Department of Adolescent Medicine where his more recent focus has been service development, including the first and only tertiary level adolescent eating disorder day program in Australia. In addition to clinical, academic and consultation work Andrew is actively involved at a national level with eating disorder policy and practice initiatives as a member of the National Eating Disorder Collaboration executive committee and more recently on the NEDC Credentialing Expert Advisory Group and Training Providers Reference Group. 
Catherine Roberts
Catherine is a Registered Nurse, with experience working in general practice, mental health, management and administration. Currently she is working for CEED in a Project role. Catherine has co-presented at national and international conferences, drawing on her lived experience to provide a consumer perspective. She is passionate about prevention, early intervention and improving outcomes for those suffering from Eating Disorders. 
Chris Thornton
Chris Thornton is a Clinical Psychologist and the Clinical Director of The Redleaf Practice. Chris has worked with individuals and families with eating disorders for nearly 30 years. Chris has consulted to inpatient, day patient and outpatient treatment services at major centres of eating disorders in both Australia and New Zealand. Chris is a past president of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders and sits on the Steering Committee of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration. Chris has dedicated his career to improving the eating disorder sector in Australia, with his continued efforts culminating in him being awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of eating disorders by the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders in 2020. 
Deanne Harris
Deanne Harris is an Advanced Accredited Practicing Dietitian based in Northwest NSW. She has worked as a dietitian with those living with eating disorders for over 25 years and is passionate about ensuring that rural consumers and their families/carers receive access to excellent care no matter their location. Deanne has a strong interest in credentialing and has been a Member of the Dietitians Association Credentialing Council for the past 6 years. Clinical supervision and skill development are strong interests and she has been involved in the delivering and receiving  of clinical supervision and clinician education around eating disorders for over 20 years. 
Suzannah Robinson
Dr Suzannah Robinson graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2007. She has worked at multiple metropolitan and rural hospitals, receiving her DRANZCOG diploma of women’s health in 2010. She moved to General Practice in 2011 and pursued extra training in the management of Eating Disorders at the Centre for Clinical Intervention in 2016. Since then she has continued to increase her skills in Eating Disorder assessment and management in the Primary Care setting. She currently practices as a GP in Claremont and as an Eating Disorder Clinician at ESUS Centre in Subiaco. Dr Robinson has been involved in planning for the provision of Eating Disorder services, both locally and nationally, with a specific focus on the opportunities  for improvement of care provision in the Primary Care setting. She was a member of the WA panel consulting with the NEDC on the 2023 National Strategy.  Suzannah is especially passionate about furthering the educational offerings for GPs within Australia to increase the number working competently and confidently in this important area of health, especially in Early Intervention.