Frequently Asked Questions
What services do you provide at endED? We are an adjunct support service with a range of co-designed programs designed to support individuals affected by eating issues or eating disorders. Our services include 1:1 counselling, social connection groups, meal support programs and care navigation. For a full list of our programs, please visit the 'Our Programs' tab.
What are your eligibility requirements? Location: You will need to be a QLD resident [living in QLD for 6 months minimum and able to provide a residential address] to explore support options through endED. Age: Our core programs are available to individuals aged 18 and over. For our Care Navigation service, the minimum age is 16 years old. However, anyone under 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent/carer/guardian during their connection. GP: We ask that all endED participants are regularly engaging with a General Practitioner to ensure their wellbeing and safety is supported during recovery. If you do not currently have a GP, or feel uncomfortable discussing your eating behaviours with your current GP, our Care Navigation team can assist you with finding a supportive treatment practitioner. ED therapist: Following the current NEDC guidelines, we recognise the need for both a GP and ED Therapist at a minimum to engage in endED programs if active eating disorder is present. If you are reaching out from interstate/international or fall outside this age bracket, we encourage you to use the crisis support numbers supplied at the bottom of this web page.
What are the fees for your programs? We understand that finances can often be a barrier to seeking support, therefore we strive to keep our programs and services as accessible as possible. Our core group programs of Connection Group and GatherED, as well as Care Navigation, are free to all participants. We also offer Counselling and EmpowerED at reduced costs to ensure everyone can find the support that fits their needs. If you are currently experiencing financial hardship, we encourage you to reach out and complete a complimentary session with our Care Navigator to ensure you are supported in your recovery.
Do I need to have a diagnosed eating disorder? No, definitely not. We aim to be accessible and inclusive in our program delivery and we encourage anyone who identifies with the need for support for eating issues – diagnosed or otherwise – to reach out for support.
Do I need a referral to access your service? You do not need a GP referral to access endED’s programs, although we do accept referrals from GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other health professionals. We also accept self-referrals from those above 18 years who are seeking support and parent/carer initiated referrals for those aged between 16-18 years of age. We encourage you to read the below FAQ, "What are your eligibility requirements?", for a complete list of requirements before reaching out.
When can I expect a response? We are a small team here at endED and we will do our very best to get in touch within seven days.
Can I reach out on behalf of my loved one? Yes, parents/carers are welcome to contact us on behalf of young people aged 16 to 18 years. However, as endED is a self-referral service, we encourage anyone over the age of 18 years to reach out on behalf of themselves. We believe this fosters a sense of agency, empowerment, and self-determination in the recovery process, while also upholding their right to confidentiality. Please note that should you choose to reach out on behalf of someone over the age of 18 years, we will be unable to discuss any personal information with you.
Do you offer support for parents and carers? Of course. We acknowledge that eating disorders can often impact the whole family and we strongly encourage family members to reach out if you are interested in exploring support options for yourself.
Do you support inpatient discharge planning? If you’re currently in hospital, we want to acknowledge the steps you are taking to support your recovery. As you prepare for discharge, we encourage you to explore the support options provided by your treatment team as part of your discharge plan and connect with your GP for ongoing care. We kindly ask that you reach out to endED following your discharge, as this allows us to best support you in moving forward with your recovery. If it feels helpful, our Care Navigator can provide information to you and your current treating team on our services and eligibility criteria, so that this can be considered during discharge planning. For more information, please direct your treating team to our 'Contact Us' and ask them to follow the steps provided for clinicians.
What treatment professionals work at endED? We have a diverse team of individuals at endED, who bring a variety of personal lived experience and qualifications. Our current team have training in mental health with supportive qualifications in counselling, dietetics, nursing and art therapy and more. To learn more about our team, please visit "Our Team" page.
Can I join the team or volunteer for endED? We are incredibly grateful to have a wonderful team of Lived Experience workers here at endED. Whilst we do not currently have any positions open for staff or volunteers, we thank you for your interest and encourage you to support us by following our social media pages and helping to spread the message of hope.
How can I help support your organisation? We are extremely grateful for the generosity of our sponsors, community members and fundraisers. Every donation goes directly towards program development, supporting our team and maintaining the property at House of Hope. Should you wish to donate or find out more, please visit our 'Donate Today' page.