ANZAED 2023 Gold Coast Conference: Oral & Poster Abstracts

Despite ongoing efforts to improve service reach and capacity across Australia, people experiencing eating disorders, their loved ones, and communities report ongoing difficulties in accessing timely, effective care.Problems with accessing care are due in part to a shortage of a skilled workforce large enough in size to meet Lived Experience needs.A framework for upskilling large numbers of clinicians in an evidence-based treatment approach that could help address workforce shortages was developed as part of the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential system.This research aims to determine the effectiveness of the program in relation to participants' perceived skill, confidence, and willingness to provide treatment for people experiencing eating disorders.Methods: Participants include up to n = 200 mental health professionals and dietitians who completed a funded professional development package (PDP) of training and supervision as part of the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential system.Survey data collected prior to participants receiving their PDP and following completion of their PDP will assess changes in perceived competency and attitudes towards provision of eating disorder treatment.Results: Demographic data will be presented regarding key aspects of current clinician practice including work setting, location, diagnostic presentations, and experience providing treatment for people experiencing eating disorders.Finally, data will be presented regarding changes in clinician perceived skill, confidence, and willingness to provide treatment for people experiencing an eating disorder having undertaken the program.Conclusions: Implications for the future workforce and challenges and opportunities for use of large-scale eating disorder workforce development initiatives will be discussed.