Five District clinicians were awarded travel scholarships to attend the NSW Statewide Eating Disorders Forum 2025 in Sydney in late July, joining more than 250 delegates from across the state.
The scholarships supported clinicians with a strong interest or experience in treating severe and enduring eating disorders, or in areas such as alternative care pathways, supporting care at home, working with 16- and 17-year-olds and building a skilled workforce.
The forum, hosted by the Ministry of Health Mental Health Branch and the InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders, brought together clinicians, coordinators and researchers to share ideas and strengthen service delivery across NSW.
Dr Deanna Bowen, NNSWLHD Eating Disorder Coordinator, presented in a “Solution Session” focused on workforce development.
Her topic: upskilling nurses in clinical units to deliver best practice care through the District’s Eating Disorder Clinical Resource Nurse/Midwife Program.
“I wanted to attend to help drive local service delivery and improve local services,” Deanna said.
“The learnings I take away from the forum are invaluable in helping to drive change and innovation in a rural and regional setting.”
Deanna’s presentation highlighted the importance of building confidence and capability across the nursing workforce.
“Whilst we’ve come a long way in improving services for people with eating disorders, especially in the child and adolescent space, a key focus going forward is enhancing community care for adults.”
Matinka Carter-Good, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Nurse Educator, said she attended to gain evidence-based skills for supporting people in crisis.
“I was interested in exploring alternative care pathways to the emergency department, given the distress and potential psychological harm ED presentations can cause,” she said.
“Stakeholder collaboration and involving clients in decision-making throughout their journey can reduce harm and improve recovery outcomes.”
Dr David Furrows, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, said he was keen to increase his knowledge in the area.
“I was particularly interested in the management of people who refuse treatment and the development of services for 17- and 18-year-olds,” he said.
“Agreeing to stop treatment is a last resort and will be rare due to issues of patient competence.
“I hope to implement enhanced services for older teenagers and improve communication with adult services.”
Casey James, Acting Head of Department Nutrition and Dietetics for Tweed, Murwillumbah and Byron, said she attended to learn about new models of care.
“Rapid access clinics and Hospital in the Home services provide patient-centred, responsive assessment and intervention, while reducing healthcare-induced trauma and cost for emergency departments and inpatient wards.”
Brent Hall, Child and Adolescent Consultation Liaison Nurse, said patients often wait in ED without treatment beginning. “We need to change that,” Brent said.
Anthony Mowbray, Nursing Unit Manager of C7 Stroke Unit at Lismore Base Hospital, said his team regularly treats eating disorder patients.
“These patients are vulnerable and often carry a lot of trauma," he said.
“We want to grow in confidence and reassure patients they are in the best place with the best staff to support them.”
For Deanna, the forum was also a chance to reflect on the District’s progress.
“I still have a lot to learn,” she said.
“As I was presenting, I wasn’t able to attend some of the workshops I would have liked.
“I look forward to meeting with my colleagues and hearing their key takeaways.”
The event showcased the strength of collaboration across disciplines and locations.
“It’s exciting to see what other LHDs are doing and to think about how we can adapt those ideas locally,” Deanna said.
“We’re building better pathways, and we’re doing it together.”
From left: Anthony, Deanna and Brent.
Pictured:
From left: Matinka, Deanna and Casey.