Empowering Educators: The Hide N Seek Eating Disorder Ambassador Program in Australian Schools

Eating disorders are among the most serious and fastest-growing mental health issues facing adolescents in Australia. With hospitalisations for eating disorders in children aged 5-13 increasing by 90% over the past decade, the urgency for school-based intervention has never been greater. Despite their prevalence, eating disorders often go undetected due to stigma, limited awareness, and a lack of understanding - particularly within the school system.

Recognising the critical role schools can play in early identification and support, the Hide N Seek Foundation created the Eating Disorder Ambassador Program - a groundbreaking initiative designed to equip educators with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to support students experiencing disordered eating.

The story behind Hide N Seek
At just 12 years old, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder. While navigating recovery, I saw firsthand the difference that early support and compassionate guidance could make - and just how often it was missing. That experience shaped the creation of the Hide N Seek Foundation, a not-for-profit dedicated to transforming how we talk about eating disorders and ensuring no student suffers in silence.

We exist to break through the silence and shame, replacing stigma with education, action, and connection.

Understanding the Need
Over 1.1 million Australians are living with an eating disorder, and approximately one in five high school studentsengages in disordered eating behaviours. These numbers are rising. Yet many school staff - those on the frontline of student wellbeing - feel unprepared to recognise the signs or provide support.

According to the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC), early intervention significantly increases recovery outcomes. That makes schools a vital setting for identifying concerns early, initiating meaningful conversations, and directing students to the help they need. But this can only happen if educators are informed, confident, and supported.

The Eating Disorder Ambassador Program: An Overview
The Eating Disorder Ambassador Program provides a structured and supportive framework to empower educators to become early responders and advocates within their school communities.

Key components of the program include:
• 2-Hour Foundational Training: Covering how to recognise early warning signs, understand myths and facts, initiate non-judgmental conversations, and navigate referral pathways.
• Ambassador Selection: Schools nominate staff members to serve as Eating Disorder Ambassadors - trained individuals who become accessible points of support for students and families.
• Six Months of Ongoing Mentorship: Monthly webinars and case-based discussions ensure Ambassadors are continuously supported and resourced.
• Tools for School-Wide Impact: Participants receive ready-to-use conversation guides, resource directories, and educational materials to help build understanding across the entire school community.

Impact and Testimonials
Feedback from early adopters of the program shows a significant increase in teacher confidence and preparedness. One Wellbeing Leader from Echuca College shared:
“The training provided me with practical tools and a deeper understanding, enabling me to approach students with empathy and knowledge.”

Schools also report a noticeable shift in school culture - where conversations about body image, self-worth, and help-seeking are becoming more open and normalised.

The Eating Disorder Ambassador Program complements existing national efforts while addressing a key gap: equipping school staff with targeted, practical knowledge to recognise and respond to eating disorders early.

Our long-term vision is to see an Eating Disorder Ambassador in every Australian school - a network of trained, compassionate adults helping young people feel seen, heard, and supported before their struggle becomes a crisis.

Eating disorders do not belong in the shadows - and neither do the students who live with them. Schools have the power to make a lasting difference, and educators deserve the training and support to step into that role with confidence.

The Hide N Seek Eating Disorder Ambassador Program is more than a training - it's a movement towards early action, stigma reduction, and stronger outcomes for our young people. Together, we can ensure that no child is left navigating this alone.

Jaimee Krawitz is a registered counsellor and the Founder and CEO of the Hide N Seek Foundation. Drawing from her lived experience and clinical expertise, she is committed to creating systems of care that support early intervention, foster open conversations, and empower educators across Australia to become changemakers in the lives of their students.