Delayed opening of Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Centre puts lives in jeopardy

Construction on a new multimillion eating disorder clinic in Melbourne’s East has been delayed putting lives at risk, families warn.

Construction on a new multimillion eating disorder clinic in Melbourne’s East has been delayed putting lives at risk, families warn.

Victoria’s first Public Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Centre (RED-TC) in Armadale was due to open its doors in 2024, but the construction timeline has now been pushed back to sometime this year, prompting massive concern from families.

One mother, who requested to stay anonymous, said her adult daughter has ongoing chronic anorexia and relapsed over Christmas but was not eligible for in-hospital treatment at this point.

“We need this centre now,” she told the Herald Sun.

“For someone like my daughter we can’t wait until her weight drops low enough again to be admitted to hospital. That just adds so much more distress and impacts the recovery process.

“I appreciate that it takes time to build it, but we really need this now.”

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister Ingrid Stitt during the press conference at Eating Disorders Victoria. Picture: Tamati Smith

The Labor Government announced the groundbreaking new centre in 2023 acknowledging the worrying increase in eating disorder cases.

Eating disorders claimed the lives of 1273 Australians in 2023 with anorexia nervosa the nation’s deadliest out of all mental illnesses.

More than 1.1 million Australians suffer from an eating disorder, including one in five teenage girls.

Health professionals have also seen a worrying jump in young men impacted, with caseloads jumping by 30 per cent in recent years.

It’s estimated the public health crisis is costing Australia a whopping $67bn a year.

Its understood the state government first flagged there were potential delays in construction in early 2024.

This issue was raised in the Victorian Parliament's Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearings, but no announcements were made publicly.

Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Centre was due to open its doors in 2024, but delays have families concerned. Picture: Supplied

A Victorian Government spokesperson said construction “is nearing completion” and the service was expected to now open sometime in 2025.

“We know that people who experience eating disorders respond best when get the support and care they need early – that’s why we’re partnering with the Commonwealth to deliver Victoria’s first Public Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Centre.”

The centre is the first of its kind to offer help to adults rather than children and reduce pressure on emergency departments.

It will also offer healthcare services with a therapeutic, homelike environment with 24/7 support.

“Alfred Health will run the 12-bed facility, which will be accessible to all Victorians and will be a significant step in delivering treatment and care for people impacted by eating disorders,” the government spokesperson said.

Originally published as Delayed opening of Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Centre puts lives in jeopardy