Dear Mr Butler (Minister for Health and Aged Care),

This petition of certain residents of greater Australia draws the attention to Mr Butler towards the rising issue in Eating Disorder treatment in our public healthcare system. This has been evident through the disproportionate amount of specialised hospital beds to patients in need of inpatient care, as well as the inconsistent funding towards eating disorders over many years. Although over one million Australians suffer from eating disorders, less than 25% are able to receive treatment. There are currently only 37 public hospital beds available for eating disorder patients. According to Eating Disorders Victoria, the most effective treatment for Eating Disorders is person-centred care, tailored to the individual and their needs. Inpatient care and specialised treatment centres provide critical care in emergency situations, and outpatient therapy to ensure recovery. The lack of treatment and funding in eating disorders not only endangers lives, but contributes to outdated beliefs that those suffering are vain, attention-seeking and not deserving of treatment. Eating disorders are complex and deadly psychiatric illness which require immediate attention and long-term care. These illnesses are never a choice.

Your petitioners therefore request that more funding be placed into the area of Eating Disorders, allowing for more inpatient hospital beds to be available across the country. Funding should be close to equal to that of other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, which affects a similar percentage of Australians, but receives much greater funds, getting $3.4 billion in 2020-2021 while eating disorders got $70 million. The cost of providing eating disorder care is much less than the cost of losing a loved one to the many Australian families grieving for a parents, child or sibling who lost their life to an eating disorder. 

We thank you for taking time to read this petition and consider our argument. 

Our aim is to get between 1000 and 10000 signatures and present this to Mr Butler in Parliament. Please consider signing and sharing this petition. Thank you for your support.