Eating disorder researchers, clinicians, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander leaders and the lived experience community are invited to inform the direction of the new Australian Eating Disorders Research & Translation Centre at an interactive co-design workshop at the upcoming ANZAED Conference in Sydney.  

In February 2022, the Federal Government announced funding of $13 million to support the establishment of a national eating disorders research & translation centre.  

A consortium of leading national research and lived experience organisations and individuals, led by InsideOut Institute at the University of Sydney, has established the Centre and will conduct and coordinate a number of key research projects over the course of three years. 

Centre Director Sarah Maguire says the workshop to be held Friday August 12 at the 20th Annual ANZAED Conference in Darling Harbour will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with - and inform - the development of the Centre’s workplan. 

 “We are really hoping the Australian Eating Disorders Research & Translation Centre can set up a new collaborative way of working on research problems, that harnesses all available minds, all forms of expertise and hence brings in new ways of thinking.  

We would dearly love to contribute to some major breakthroughs in understanding eating disorders and interventions,” said Associate Professor Maguire.  

“A foundational principle of the Centre is the concept of co-design - that is, all those who touch and are affected by the research contribute from the outset to its design and execution, including lived experience expertise, clinical expertise, community leaders and groups.” 

“Lived experience is incorporated across all activities of the Australian Eating Disorders Research & Translation Centre – from governance of the organisation right through to the conduct and implementation of research. In this workshop, we will be using a co-design approach to prioritise activities and outcomes relating to the work of the national Centre.” 

Centre Lived Experience Co-Lead Shannon Calvert will outline the Centre's Co-Production program and national mechanisms of engagement.  

"Co-production is more than simply consulting with people who have lived/living experience about research. Co-production means embedding lived-experience expertise in the design and conduct of research as a fundamental process to address some of the major gaps in knowledge that we know exist in the eating disorders field."  

"We want to increase the research-led workforce's capacity by partnering with the lived/living experience community in co-production. The ANZAED workshop will allow participants to understand how, on a national level, the Australian Eating Disorders Research & Translation Centre can support and educate how to ensure lived experience expertise is embedded into research and translation practice." 

First Nations Co CEO Leilani Darwin will give an overview of the intended process to establish the Centre’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eating Disorders Research Strategy. 

“There is so much we don’t know about the experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in relation to eating disorders. We want to hear from communities and start the national discussion about how to make sure that First Nations people’s experience is better understood through research and lived experiences, and this can ultimately improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for our people,” said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eating Disorders Co-Production Co-lead Ms Darwin.