At EDV we work in collaboration with you to ensure that your engagement is meaningful and offers the best possible outcomes. EDV is guided by its values of Connection, Courage, Optimism and Perseverance.

In order to work with you to achieve the best possible outcome, we collaboratively agree to the following:

Reaching out to EDV, in any capacity, can involve you stepping out of your comfort zone and it can be challenging and/or confronting. We are here to support you, and we expect that you will respect us, just like we will respect you.

This means – if we can’t make an appointment/session, we will let you know – and we expect you to do the same. You are the lead of your journey, but we see it as a mutual partnership with active participation for both sides. EDV agrees to talk openly and guide you and you agree to talk openly and consider. You may withdraw your participation at any time by talking to your EDV staff member. In the same way, if EDV feels like your participation is not in your best interest, or in the best interest of others, we will work with you about finding a better fit for your needs right now- that’s not to say we won’t be a good fit another point in time.

EDV need to know that you have a trusted adult on your side, ideally your parent or a trusted adult like teacher or mental health worker. We’ll ask them to sign this document to show their awareness and then work with you to work out the best way to involve them in helping to support you.

EDV values transparency and trust. In most situations we will do our best to keep our conversations between you and your worker.

However, if there is a situation where you or someone else’s safety is at risk and we can’t guarantee your safety, we have a duty of care to respond. We will aim to work with you to agree to next steps and only share information that is relevant to keep you safe.

EDV values working in collaboration. We believe that it is best practice, that if others are involved with working with you, that we share information with them. This might be with another internal worker or program in EDV or with an external worker or team that you are engaged with.

If we believe that you are medically compromised and that your health and wellbeing are at risk – either on site or online – we will engage emergency services for support and intervention.  Again, where possible we will work with you during this time however will act to ensure that appropriate care is received in an appropriate time. 

EDV is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information it collects, holds and administers.

EDV is bound by Victorian Privacy Laws, Health Privacy Act 2001, the Information Privacy Act 2014, as well as other laws and legislation, which impose specific obligations when it comes to handling information. EDV has adopted the respective Privacy Principles contained in the Victorian Privacy Laws as minimum standards in relation to handling personal information. The organisation is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information it collects, holds and administers. We use the electronic storage methods of Salesforce and Halaxy which have secure processes to ensure privacy, their privacy processes can be sent if you want to have a look.

EDV are committed to improving the system for those Victorians experiencing eating disorders, all information we ask about you is de-identified and collated. This information is used to shape our internal services at EDV and also to talk to relevant authorities to improve the wider system. We appreciate that it might feel irrelevant but it’s not, collecting this data has helped us get to where we are now and helps to guide what we need to offer in the future.

Eating Disorders Victoria (EDV) takes a zero-tolerance approach towards violence, aggression and/or violent threats. EDV has an obligation to provide a safe and healthy workplace where people are not subjected to aggression and/or violence.  This policy is in place for both our staff and our community.

In line with Safe Work Australia, violence is defined as:

• Physical e.g. biting, scratching, hitting, kicking, pushing, grabbing, throwing objects, coughing or spitting on someone;
• Psychological e.g. bullying, harassment, threats;
• Verbal, written or online e.g.  abuse, yelling, name-calling, swearing, written correspondence including electronic means or online (such as via social media platforms).
• One off or repeated incidents

Breaching of this policy can lead to the termination of contact with EDV.

There is a lot we don’t know about eating disorders so from time to time we ask you to participate in research or use data you’ve provided us to inform research. Please let us know if you have any questions about research opportunities that we have at the moment.

We are always open to feedback and strive to continuously improve our service offering.  At the end of your sessions, you will be given an opportunity to give us feedback, if you urgently want to talk something through, please speak to an EDV staff member or email feedback@eatingdisorders.org.au.