‘Every Participant Improved’: Wandi Nerida marks five years of eating disorder recovery

Australia’s first residential eating disorder treatment facility marks five years of operation at Mooloolah Valley this week, with new figures showing every participant who completed treatment in the past financial year recorded an improvement in eating disorder symptoms.

Wandi Nerida has opened its doors more than 300 times since 2021, treating people with some of the nation’s most complex and enduring eating disorders.

The milestone will be recognised at a special afternoon tea at the Old Gympie Road facility on Wednesday, July 29, attended by parliamentarians, past participants and their families, philanthropists and eating disorder specialists.

New data from the 2025 financial year shows 100 percent of participants who completed treatment experienced a reduction in symptoms between admission and discharge.

Half no longer met the clinical criteria for an eating disorder at discharge, while the remainder showed substantial improvements. The facility said those gains were also maintained after participants returned home, a period often associated with a high risk of relapse.

Wandi Nerida director Danielle Dougherty said participants had, on average, developed an eating disorder at 14 and lived with it for more than 12 years before entering the program.

Many had experienced repeated hospitalisations, trauma and other mental illnesses.

“On average, people coming to Wandi Nerida have lived with an eating disorder for over 12 years. Many have experienced complex PTSD and other co-occurring mental illnesses which can make recovery and responding to treatment that much harder,” Ms Dougherty said.

“We know that we’re treating some of Australia’s most complex and enduring presentations of eating disorders, and we’re so proud that when people are able to access compassionate, person-centred care such as we offer here, it can make a life-changing difference.”

Wandi Nerida was established to bridge the gap between outpatient treatment and acute hospital care, providing intensive treatment in a residential, home-like environment.

Queensland participant Sarah Cox said the program had helped her rebuild her life.

“Living with an eating disorder can feel isolating and all-consuming, and when you struggle to find support that works for you, it can leave you feeling even more hopeless. Wandi allowed me to see my value, heal and gain the skills I needed to support my full recovery,” she said.

Hundreds of Queenslanders have accessed the service free of charge through eight publicly funded beds supported by Queensland Health. Butterfly Foundation chief executive Jim Hungerford said discussions were continuing with the State Government about increasing that allocation. “The Sunshine Coast has become a world-leading environment for eating disorder care, and our partnership with Queensland Health has been instrumental in changing lives,” Mr Hungerford said.

Wandi Nerida also accepts participants from interstate and overseas and is Australia’s only residential eating disorder facility accepting people from the age of 15.

Lived experience is central to the treatment model, with up to three-quarters of staff having recovered from an eating disorder or cared for someone affected.

The program combines psychological treatment with equine-assisted therapy, nature-based groups, drama, art and movement therapy.

Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace, State Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli are expected to attend the anniversary event.

Help and support: Butterfly National Helpline 1800 33 4673, Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline 1300 550 236 or Lifeline 13 11 14.