Mooloolah’s healing haven for eating disorders

From left, HR Director Carmel Gurnick, Mayor Rosanna Natoli and CEO Brian Mayahle during a tour of Wandi Nerida.

by Cameron Outridge

Wandi Nerida looks more like a retreat than a hospital – and that’s precisely the point.

Owned and operated by the Butterfly Foundation, Wandi Nerida is a 13-bed private hospital in Mooloolah, dedicated to treating people with eating disorders. 

But it’s not the number of beds or therapies offered that most sets it apart – it’s the people.

“Most of our participants have been through the system before – hospital stays, community treatment, outpatient care – and for many, this place is their last hope,” said CEO Brian Mayahle. 

“They come to us exhausted, sometimes feeling like nothing has worked. And we hear them say: ‘You’ve changed my life.’ That’s what keeps our staff going.”

Wandi Nerida operates under a residential model of care, designed to be the bridge between hospital and home. The approach is holistic and person-centred – a carefully structured program that includes traditional evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT and IPT alongside adjunctive therapies like art, equine sessions, yoga, permaculture and nature-based healing.

The model is supported by staff who understand more than just the clinical framework – they understand the experience. 

“Nearly 50 per cent of our team have lived experience of an eating disorder, and about 75 per cent have lived experience of a mental health condition,” said HR Director Carmel Gurnick.  “That depth of understanding creates a culture of compassion.”

Fundraising Coordinator Joanne Schoenwald agreed. “People here are genuinely invested in recovery. For most of us, it’s not just a job – it’s deeply personal.”

And it works. “Without Wandi, my recovery would not be looking as good as it is now,” said a participant. “I am seeing myself in a completely different way, and I don’t feel like I’m trapped in my eating disorder anymore. 

“Personally outside of Wandi Nerida, I had never met someone who was recovered, and that was one of my draw cards for coming here because I wanted to see someone and to meet someone with that lived experience, to see the hope that they hold for us has been very inspiring and it’s just one of those things that gets you through the very tough days for me. 

“I have been in treatment before and something just hasn’t quite stuck for me, and I felt like I was running out of options. I decided to look into Wandi Nerida because they take a holistic approach to recovery, which is something that I don’t see a lot in the clinical environment.”

Wandi Nerida’s connection was on display last Friday when Mayor Rosanna Natoli visited the facility for the first time – a milestone Ms Schoenwald says signals growing awareness of the hospital’s role in the region.

“It’s taken time to build our profile, but we’re proud to now share more of what we do. The Mayor was genuinely interested and supportive, which was heartening to see.”

Mayor Natoli said she was impressed by the facility and the genuine caring attitudes of the staff. “What really stood out to me was how everyone I spoke with had the wellbeing of the participants at front of mind.  Everyone was kind, generous and people-focussed,” she said.

“So often in clinical settings, it can feel like a medical intervention, where Wandi Nerida feels like a welcoming home with light-filled spaces and a warm atmosphere surrounded by beautiful gardens and bushland. We are so proud to have this kind of facility on the Sunshine Coast providing a service to people who really need it.”

Mr Mayhale agreed. “When you drive in, you feel the difference,” he said. “It’s accredited as a hospital, but it doesn’t feel clinical. It feels like a peaceful, healing home. Working at Wandi Nerida is an incredibly rewarding experience, and myself and the whole team just feel so happy about being able to be a part of something so innovative and successful.”

It’s that blend of environment, expertise and empathy that gives patients something many had lost or never known: hope.

For more information, visit www.wandinerida.org.au.