Australia's First Eating Disorder Recovery Village Launched

0:00It's April 1st, welcome to Sydney News Today, powered by AI. A Queensland couple just launched Australia's first recovery village for eating disorder survivors, helping them transition back to everyday life. Without slipping back, Mark and Gay Forbes, who run the NEV support service, build this eight-unit spot on the Sunshine Coast for short-term stays after treatment. The Forbes drew from their own experience, guiding their daughters through severe eating disorders, putting a full pathway from residential care to day programs, and now the supported living setup. In Australia, eating disorders claim more lives each year than road accidents, highlighting the urgent need. At the launch, former Olympic swimmer Lisa Curry shared tears, calling it life-changing, and saying her late daughter Jamie would have thrived there. She stressed, it's a vital in between for folks to ill for home, but not needing full hospital care, supporting families too. The village can help up to 60 families a year, with stays up to 90 days in self-contained

1:03homes, offering meal support, yoga, group outings, and telehealth peer help. The state government chipped in $1.9 million, with premiered David Christopher Lee noting it catches those falling through cracks. Staff-like dietician Taylor Clegg, a 26-year-old survivor herself, bring lived experience to teach lifelong management tools. The Forbes hoped this model spreads nationwide, empowering people to walk alongside recovery and live fully.