‘Peer support’ is support from a peer worker – someone who has lived experience of an eating disorder. Peer support offers a reciprocal relationship, where you and the peer worker both share your experiences, and can learn together. Peer workers are trained to use their lived experience as professionals, but please note they are not clinicians.

Working one-on-one with a peer worker can be an immensely valuable treatment option. It provides genuine hope, understanding, and the chance to learn news ways of being through the recovery journey.

It is a unique relationship; not friendship or therapy, but filling the gap between the two.

EDV offers three types of individual peer support:

• Peer Single Session: one-off session
• Peer Connect: up to five sessions over three months
• Peer Mentoring: 13 sessions over six months.

For group peer support, visit our community groups page.

All of EDV’s peer support services are free.

“Through [peer support] I can safely express my feelings and emotions, challenge my fear foods in a safe environment, and be provided support and encouragement from someone who has recovered from an ED themselves.”
—Peer Mentoring user

Peer Single Session is our one-hour, one-off support option. Peer Single Session can be suitable for a range of situations where for whatever reason, you want to speak with someone with lived experience.

You could be anywhere from just starting to contemplate recovery, right through to being pretty independent in your recovery but wanting to address a ‘roadblock’.

To book Peer Single Session, contact the EDV Hub.

How does Peer Single Session work?

For this individual peer support option, we focus on connection, hope, and strengthening your sense of agency. With the time we have, it can be suitable to focus on areas like:

• fostering genuine hope
• normalising ambivalence
• connecting and sharing stories
• reconnecting with your strengths and values
• gently broadening your perspective.

The approach we use in Peer Single Session is:

• We assume each session may be the only session, and we focus our time together accordingly.
• We assume meaningful progress can occur in one conversation.
• You are the expert in your own life.
• The peer worker’s role is relational, so there is mutual sharing.

Is Peer Single Session right for me?

It can help to come to Peer Single Session with a specific idea in mind of what you want to talk about — although this isn’t a requirement.

Some examples of things a Peer Single Session can help with include:

• feeling ambivalent about recovery
• experiencing wobbles in motivation, or recent relapse
• moderate body image distress
• feelings of shame or struggling after eating
• preparing for an event – e.g., holidays, eating out
• life transitions – e.g., discharge, return to work or study, relationship changes
• exploring your identity beyond the eating disorder
• early curiosity about support.

Examples of when Peer Single Session is not suitable:

• feeling actively suicidal
• experiencing medical instability
• rapid medical deterioration
• psychosis
• acute substance dependence.

For full eligibility information, please see the FAQs below.

Peer Connect is a service of up to five, one-hour sessions, to be completed over a three-month period. It is a more accessible, entry-level version of our Peer Mentoring Program, which is more intensive.

In Peer Connect we focus on connecting with support people (peers) in recovery and forming a peer relationship.

To book Peer Connect, contact the EDV Hub.

How does Peer Connect work?

In your first session, you and your peer worker will work together through a reflective journal. This journal helps you identify your goals for the service and will guide you through the subsequent weeks.

Peer Connect sessions go for one hour, and they happen over phone or on Zoom. You can book into Peer Connect at any time of year.

Is Peer Connect right for me?

Peer Connect could be a good option if you:

• are seeking short-term peer support,
• feel unsure about the next steps with treatment,
• want to connect with someone who has recovered from an eating disorder themselves,
• are open to exploring recovery, and
• feel you would benefit from the support of a peer worker.

For full eligibility information, please see the FAQs below.

The Peer Mentoring Program (PMP) is our most intensive individual peer support option. You complete 13 sessions over six months, with an EDV Peer Worker who has recovered from an eating disorder.

PMP supports you with the practical parts of recovery. It is designed to enhance clinical treatment, which helps you to sustain better recovery outcomes.

How does PMP work?

PMP runs in rounds. We open applications a few months before the round starts, and fill places on a ‘first in, first served’ basis. If your application is accepted, you will be invited to complete the intake process, and be matched with a Peer Worker.

In the first month of PMP, you and your peer worker will fill in a Mentoring Journal. The journal will help you identify recovery-focused goals to guide the activities you do with your Peer Worker throughout the program. Examples of common goals include getting involved in community life, or developing self-care.

You will meet with your Peer Worker over a six-month period, on a fortnightly basis for a total of 13 sessions.

The activities you do are completely up to you. They focus on strengths, practical support and developing your skills. Common examples include:

• eating socially
• arts and crafts
• gentle movement
• self-care activities
• grocery shopping
• cooking
• attending community events or classes.

Is Peer Mentoring right for me?

Peer Mentoring focuses on genuine connection, and empathetic and non-judgmental relationships. It’s also about exploring your experiences in new ways.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, PMP could be a great option for you.

PMP participants must be:

• aged 18+
• a resident of Victoria
• connected with an active treatment team, including a GP, mental health clinician, and support from family or a friend.

In your application, you will need to provide contact details of:

• your treating GP
• your mental health practitioner (e.g., psychologist, counsellor, clinical mental health social worker)
• a personal/family support person.

How long do sessions go for?

Peer Single Session and Peer Connect sessions goes for one hour. Peer Mentoring sessions can go for one to three hours per session, depending on the activity you do.

Am I eligible for individual peer support?

Peer Single Session and Peer Connect are generally open to people aged 18+. In some cases we can take people aged 16-17, with some additional requirements – please get in touch to discuss.

Peer Mentoring is only for people aged 18+. You also must be connected to an active treatment team (including a GP and mental health clinician).

If you need help accessing a GP, our Hub or telehealth nurses can help.

You must live in Victoria to use any of our services.

What’s the difference between Peer Connect and Peer Mentoring?

Peer Connect is shorter – you get up to 5 sessions. It can be accessed at any time of year.

Peer Mentoring is longer – it runs over 6 months. It also runs in rounds: this means we have set timeframes for when you can apply.

Due to these time differences, Peer Connect is more about ‘dipping your toe in’, while Peer Mentoring goes more in depth.

Do I get to choose my peer worker?

You are welcome to let us know preferences about your peer worker. We do our best to assign peer workers based on suitability and availability, but please note we cannot make any guarantees.

Rest assured no matter who you are paired with, you will be meeting with a kind and welcoming individual who has been professionally trained in peer work.

What if I need help accessing clinical treatment?

We recommend participating in clinical treatment alongside individual peer support. EDV’s telehealth nurses can help you access clinical treatment.

What if English is not my first language?

When you contact us to book, we will ask if you want an interpreter.

We will schedule your appointment for when an interpreter is available. We can offer over 190 languages through phone interpreting.

How do I book?

To book in for Peer Single Session or Peer Connect, contact the EDV Hub.

You can book in for Peer Mentoring via our online form during the application period. Our next application period will open May 2026, for mentoring in July – December.

PMP intake is on a ‘first in, first served’ basis.