Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting families and carers of individuals experiencing eating disorders. Through advocacy, education, and support, we empower families to navigate the challenges of caring for a loved one with an eating disorder.

Nourish, Nurture, Notice (NNN) is a pilot program designed in collaboration with Embrace Kids to provide education for parents and carers, aimed at addressing increasingly high rates of disordered eating among children and adolescents. NNN is an education program to enable early recognition of and response to the modifiable risk factors of disordered eating and/or body image concerns in young people.

NNN offers a 30-minute Masterclass to carers to provide information to carers on whether their loved one’s thoughts and behaviours related to food, body image and exercise are problematic, as well as online drop-in centres for carers who have watched the Masterclass and are concerned with their loved one’s thoughts and behaviours.

NNN’s Carer Peer Workers will facilitate the online drop-in sessions with a paediatric dietitian. This may include providing information and answering questions related to their loved one, and how they can support their loved one to prevent them from developing an eating disorder.

As a national organisation, EDFA programs are delivered remotely. NNN Carer Peer Workers will work remotely and therefore can be located anywhere in Australia.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Co-facilitate drop-in sessions, with other carer peer workers and a paediatric dietitian. Sessions are online for 1.5 hours each and occur fortnightly on Wednesday mornings.
• Provide education to families regarding disordered eating, including discussion around existing or new behaviours related to: food and eating habits, exercise habits, and body image concerns.
• Provide support and guidance to families who may be supporting someone with disordered eating and/or an eating disorder.
• Share lived experience where appropriate.

Training and Supervision

• Attend EDFA Carer Peer Worker training as required.
• Attend monthly group supervision, and regular individual supervision provided by EDFA.

QUALITY AND SAFETY

• Ensure all services and interactions adhere to best practice guidelines, professional standards, and EDFA’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality support to families.
• Identify and report any risks or incidents that may impact the safety, wellbeing, or quality of services delivered to carers.
• Adhere to Commonwealth Child Safe Standards.
• WHS – Demonstrate commitment to the care, safety, and wellbeing of self, carers, and others in the work environment. Comply with safety in the workplace / remote working area and take reasonable steps to prevent risks to health and safety.

REQUIREMENTS - EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential:

• Lived experience as a carer of someone who has experienced, and recovered from, disordered eating or an eating disorder.
• Knowledge of symptoms and presentations of disordered eating, and the progression to an eating disorder.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage empathetically and positively with families and carers.
• Proficiency in using digital platforms such as Zoom/Teams and other online communication tools.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to facilitate fortnightly online drop-in sessions for 1.5 hours each. Sessions are currently scheduled for daytime, however flexibility for schedule changes is required.
• Experience in peer support.
• Ability to provide hope, optimism, and a can-do attitude when it comes to addressing the challenges of disordered eating.

Desirable:

• Relevant qualifications or experience in social work, psychology, counselling, community development, or a related field.
• Training in peer support.

For any questions, reach out to Alex Kisilevich at [email protected] using the subject line: Eating Disorder Carer Peer Worker - Remote / Work from Home enquiry via EthicalJobs.