InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders, a partnership between the University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District, will lead a national consortium of partners to develop the Centre and implement the Australian Eating Disorders Research and Translation Strategy.

The Centre will coordinate a national approach to eating disorder research and translate findings into practice, with the goal of reducing the burden on Australians living with an eating disorder and their loved ones.

Eating disorders are common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Whilst the limited evidence is mixed, most studies show that First Nations Australians are at greater risk of disordered eating and eating disorders compared with non-Indigenous Australians and report higher levels of body dissatisfaction.

There is an urgent need for further research, the development of culturally appropriate assessment tools and psychotherapeutic treatments, and we need to better understand the impact of eating disorders on First Nations peoples.

This Key Thinkers Forum was facilitated by Prof Tom Calma AO, FAA, and is a collaboration between the Australian Eating Disorders Research & Translation Centre (AEDRTC), the Djurali Centre for Indigenous Health Education and Research at Macquarie University and InsideOut Institute at the University of Sydney.

This Forum discussed current and emerging food and eating disorder issues within community and the research and translation gaps and priorities that exist currently. It will help guide the development of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research & Translation Strategy as a key activity of the Australian Eating Disorder Research and Translation Centre.

Facilitated by Prof. Tom Calma AO

Panel Members:

• A Prof Boe Rambaldini
• Leilani Darwin
• AJ Williams-Tchen