We provide advice, support, training and education for health professionals.
QuEDS have a Queensland Health webpage dedicated to information for health professionals on accessing QuEDS services and locating further professional development in the field of eating disorders.
How can we help
Further Information
Patient Resources
For individuals experiencing eating disorders and their loved ones for more information on QuEDS services.
Research
We partner with a range of other government and non-government organisations to deliver training, consultation treatment and research.
Resources
Please see our list of resources for further information
Contact Us
Connect with an Eating Disorder Specialist
Recommended medical monitoring and Guidelines for Admission
Medical assessment is always the first recommended response to a suspected eating disorder
This can usually be attended with the GP using the QuEDS statewide guidelines.
Ongoing medical monitoring (including blood tests) should be regularly attended as clinically indicated, preferably with the same clinician each visit for consistency. If you are a GP or clinician treating an eating disorder, please see our resources section for other education tools.
Additional information on medical monitoring for eating disorders is available on the Metro North PHN Health Pathway “Eating Disorders in Adults”.
Advice and consultation services
The QuEDS phoneline - (07) 3114 0809 - is open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 4.00pm normal business days for calls from people affected by eating disorders, treating teams, and/or individual practitioners.
The QuEDS Consultation Service is available to help clinicians statewide in treating people with eating disorders.
QuEDS statewide guidelines have been developed in line with world-wide best practice. Our multi-disciplinary team can help you apply these guidelines to individual cases.
On request, the QuEDS consultation service offer treatment advice for medical and/or psychiatric treating teams in any Queensland hospital or community team to provide assistance with assessment, management recommendations, discharge planning, and where indicated transfer to specialist beds. These services can be provided by video or teleconferencing.
Referral can be made by phone call to 3114 0809 or email to QuEDSConsultationServices@health.qld.gov.au
QuEDS Specialist Assessment Clinic
This clinic provides assessment service and treatment recommendations for referring GPs, located at the Spring Hill Community Mental Health Centre, Brisbane. The QuEDS Referral Form needs to be used for referrals to this service.
Patients are seen by a specialist mental health clinician in the public clinic, with additional access to an on-site dietitian as required. Information and treatment recommendations specific to the patient are then fed back to the GP via correspondence.
Please note that the QuEDS clinic wait time is up to approximately 4-6 weeks, and while on the waiting list, QuEDS Director- Dr Kate Murphy recommends minimum weekly to fortnightly (dependent on clinical risk) medical monitoring by the GP; including BP & HR (lying and standing), temp, weight and bloods (Mg, Electrolytes, LFTS, FBC). The GP is to also ensure bloods are attended within 2 weeks of the clinic appointment and sent to us for our clinic records prior to the appointment.
Attending this program is voluntary and free of cost under Medicare. If the individual does not hold a Medicare card they are welcome to contact QuEDS for further information (i.e. international students often have no out of pocket expense under private health cover). It is available to people with all eating disorder types and BMI ranges.
Clinical support networks
Dietetics QuEDS-led discipline-specific community of practice (CoP) activities are available for all Queensland-based clinicians and may include; annual training and Masterclasses, resource development, online facilitated peer supervision programs and peer support.
- For any Dietetic CoP activities please contact QuEDSDietitians@health.qld.gov.au.
- For all other disciplines, please contact QuEDS@health.qld.gov.au.
Training and education services
QuEDS provides education to health professionals throughout Queensland to facilitate skill development to assess and treat people with eating disorders.
A range of training opportunities are offered throughout the year including regular in-service days on inpatient care, adult outpatient treatments, management in primary care, as well as other dietetic, psychological and nursing care topics on request.
Training is open to workers in the public sector, private practice and community-based professionals. Training can be developed in accordance with the local area or individual service development needs.
QuEDS is staffed by a specialised multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists, psychiatric registrars, psychologists, social workers, dietitians, occupational therapists and mental health nurses. We also regularly consult with carers and consumer representatives.
Please contact QuEDS for training event information at QuEDSEducation@health.qld.gov.au
QuEDS Research
QuEDS has established partnerships with the University of Queensland (UQ), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR). We are happy to collaborate on grant applications and research projects with other organisations or to students on clinical or research placements.
We partner with a range of other government and non-government organisations to deliver training, consultation treatment and research. QuEDS values the expertise of those with lived experience in the planning, development, delivery and evaluation of our services.
QuEDS Outpatient treatment services
The QuEDS Referral Form needs to be used for referrals to these services. Patients may need to be assessed initially through the Specialist Consultation Clinic for suitability. All QuEDS treatment services are time limited.
Outpatient therapies (for 18 years and older)
- QuEDS currently provides two types of evidenced based individual outpatient therapy- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Enhanced (CBT-E) and Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM).
- These time limited therapies require a five to ten month commitment, depending on individual needs and family/carer involvement is strongly encouraged throughout.
- Families can also participate in skills-based programs for caring for a loved one with an eating disorder through Eating Disorders Queensland (EDQ) in collaboration with QuEDS.
QuEDS Day Program (for 16 years and older)
- QuEDS offer a Day Program which runs four days per week, over an eight week period, and includes therapeutic groups and supported meals facilitated by a specialised multidisciplinary team.
- Therapeutic groups focus on practical (e.g. food preparation), psychological (e.g. identifying food rules) and nutritional (e.g. improving variety in eating) aspects of recovery.
- Family and carers are engaged in this process through a family consult information session and are encouraged to be involved throughout the program.
Please see our resources section for more information about these services and the QuEDS referral form (PDF, 126KB).