Victoria Pioneers Cutting-Edge Eating Disorder Programs

As of August 2025, Victoria, Australia is leading the way in providing groundbreaking care for individuals struggling with eating disorders, a deadly yet often overlooked mental health condition. Two new programs, the Eating Disorders Intensive at Home and Ngamai Wilam, the state's first public residential eating disorder center, are revolutionizing the approach to this serious issue.

The Eating Disorders Intensive at Home program, a world-first early intervention service, primarily focuses on 14- to 16-year-olds, the age group when anorexia most commonly emerges. Overseen by Dr. Paul Denborough of Alfred Health, the program offers a comprehensive, responsive approach, with a team of psychiatrists, dieticians, nurses, social workers, and individuals with lived experience providing daily support.

For adults requiring more intensive care, Ngamai Wilam, a thoughtfully designed 12-bedroom treatment center, offers voluntary participation with a focus on weight restoration and therapy. This level of community-based care was previously only available in hospital settings, allowing patients to maintain parts of their daily routines.

These initiatives come at a critical time, as eating disorders are estimated to affect over 1 million Australians, with anorexia having the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Victoria's mental health minister, Ingrid Stitt, acknowledges that eating disorders have not always been treated with the seriousness they deserve, and these new programs aim to address this longstanding gap in the healthcare system.