First of its kind Aboriginal youth eating disorder screening tool gets up and running in the Kimberley

A new culturally grounded eating disorder screening tool for Aboriginal young people is progressing in the Kimberley.

The first of its kind in Australia, ‘Feelings about my body and eating’ marks a significant milestone for community-led and evidence-based healthcare in regional WA. The screening tool has been community co-designed specifically for Aboriginal young people aged 12–24 years.

From the outset, the project has been guided by Aboriginal leadership, cultural governance and community engagement, – in line with the Kimberley Aboriginal Health Research Model – with the project being developed through extensive consultation in country WA.

Over 230 stakeholders, including Aboriginal health professionals, youth services, clinicians, community members and cultural advisors helped shape how concerns about eating and body image are understood and safely identified in Aboriginal contexts.

Engagement in the Kimberley has involved collaboration with Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service, and Wunan Health and Wellbeing (Headspace Kununurra) and reflects a shared commitment to culturally safe early identification, education and referral pathways for young people.

An important workforce milestone for WA Country Health Service is also marked through this project, with the appointment of the first Aboriginal Health Coordinator in a dedicated eating disorders support role.

Lisa Collard has been successful in securing the Senior Project Officer for Aboriginal Health – Eating Disorders role as part of the rollout of this pilot project over the next 12 months.

Lisa explained that the project is very close to her heart.

“The uniqueness of this screening tool drives my passion to upskill in the eating disorders area,” Lisa said.

“I want to help provide quality cultural support and guidance to the project, clinicians and specifically Aboriginal youth and communities throughout all regions.”

As one of four WA Country Health Service programs and one wishlist item that successfully received funding for Telethon grants for 2026, this project aims to drive positive change across the organisation.

This project has attracted strong national interest, with multiple invitations to present in 2026, including at the Aboriginal Health Conference and Australian Eating Disorder Research and Translation’s Think Tank.

Scheduled to commence in the second half of 2026 across selected Kimberley sites, the pilot ‘Feelings about my body and eating’ screening tool will officially launch in Kununurra.

The success of the pilot will determine the roll-out (phase two) to other regions.