Eating Disorder Treatment | Inpatient, Day Program & Virtual (Australia-Wide)
Find compassionate, structured support for eating disorders at Robina Private Hospital. Tailored programs help you rebuild health, confidence, and long‑term wellbeing.
Eating Disorder Treatment & Referral Pathways
Robina Private Hospital provides an integrated eating disorder service — inpatient care, day programs and virtual treatment — for adolescents (16+) and adults with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, OSFED and other presentations. Inpatient and in-person day programs are based on the Gold Coast; our virtual program, Finding Your Path, accepts referrals from anywhere in Australia.
Refer A Patient
Information for GPs, Psychiatrists and Health Professionals
Robina Private Hospital accepts referrals from General Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Paediatricians, Physicians, and hospital teams or community providers.
Patients may be referred for:
Inpatient stabilisation and treatment
Day program participation
Virtual treatment programs
Step-down care following admission
Ongoing outpatient specialist support
Day Program / Private Practice referrals:
phone 07 5665 5155
fax 07 5665 5198
When to Refer a patient
Consider referring a patient when they:
Meet diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, OSFED or an unspecified eating disorder
Have made limited progress with outpatient/community-based treatment
Are medically unstable and require inpatient monitoring
Have a long-standing, treatment-resistant presentation but are medically and psychiatrically stable — a strong fit for Finding Your Path
Would benefit from structured step-down support following an inpatient stay elsewhere
If you're unsure which pathway suits a particular patient, our team is available to discuss options before a referral is submitted: 07 5665 5155.
Our Eating Disorder Programs at a Glance
- Inpatient Unit (10 beds) — Inpatient · Ongoing, round-the-clock · Gold Coast. For medical instability, renourishment, close monitoring.
- Therapeutic Group Recovery Inpatient Day Program — Inpatient · 3 weeks · Gold Coast. For adults/adolescents 16+ needing structured, intensive treatment.
- Empowered Steps — Inpatient · 2 weeks · Gold Coast. For co-occurring mental health challenges; for those who've completed the Recovery Program.
- Eating Disorders Program for Adolescents and Adults — Day Program · 8 weeks · Gold Coast. For patients who don't need inpatient care but need more than outpatient treatment.
- Beyond The Cycle Program for Adolescents and Adults — Day Program · 12 weeks, 3 phases · Gold Coast. For binge eating disorder, 16+.
- Eating Disorder Collaborative Care Skills — Support Program · 3 sessions, 6 hours total · Gold Coast. For family and carers.
- Finding Your Path — Virtual · 8 weeks, one 3-hour session/week · Australia-wide. For severe and enduring eating disorder — referrals accepted nationally.
- Beyond The Cycle — Binge Eating Disorder — Virtual · Group program · Australia-wide. For binge eating disorder, 16+ — referrals accepted nationally.
Inpatient Program
24/7 Inpatient Care
Our 10-bed unit provides round-the-clock care from a team experienced in eating disorder treatment. Suited to patients requiring medical monitoring, renourishment (including nasogastric feeding where required) and comprehensive support.
Therapeutic Group Recovery Program (3 weeks)
- Runs Monday to Friday for adults and adolescents (16+). Program components include:
- Structured, supported meals with social eating opportunities
- Ongoing medical monitoring
- Individual psychiatric input
- Dietetic and exercise physiology support
- Group therapy
- Creative art therapy
Empowered Steps (2-week specialised inpatient program)
- For patients with co-occurring mental health challenges who have previously completed Robina's Eating Disorder Recovery Program. Includes:
- Daily group therapy (distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotional regulation)
- Meal support sessions with nursing/ED clinicians
- Weekly individual dietitian consultations
- Weekend group therapy and regular psychiatric reviews
- Medical monitoring: daily vitals, weekly bloods and ECGs, bi-weekly weigh-ins
- Access to a clinician with lived experience of an eating disorder
- Evidence-based DBT and CBT skills work
Day Programs
Robina Private Hospital's Eating Disorder Day Programs provide structured, evidence-based treatment for adolescents aged 16 years and older and adults living with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, OSFED and other eating disorder presentations. Designed for individuals who require more support than outpatient treatment but do not require inpatient admission, our programs offer a comprehensive pathway towards recovery in a safe and supportive environment.
Eating Disorders Day Program (8 weeks)
For anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, OSFED or unspecified feeding/eating disorder, and their families/carers.
Can also support earlier step-down discharge from inpatient care. Structure includes supported meals, medical monitoring, therapeutic groups, dietetic input, and parent/carer participation.
Beyond the Cycle (12 weeks, in-person)
For binge eating disorder, 16+. Runs across three 4-week phases (introduction, action, consolidation).
Includes supported meals, medical monitoring, dietetic input, psychiatric review, therapeutic groups, art therapy, and parent/carer participation.
Eating Disorder Collaborative Care Skills (for families and carers)
A 3-session, 6-hour program teaching communication, problem-solving and self-care skills for supporting a loved one through recovery.
Virtual Day Programs
Our Virtual Eating Disorder Programs provide flexible, evidence-based treatment for adults and adolescents aged 16+ experiencing eating disorders, including binge eating disorder and severe and enduring eating disorders. Delivered online by our experienced multidisciplinary team, these programs offer access to specialised support from the comfort of home, helping individuals build practical skills, improve emotional wellbeing and strengthen recovery.
Through a combination of therapeutic group work, dietetic support, psychoeducation and evidence-based interventions such as CBT and DBT, participants develop strategies to manage symptoms, build resilience and maintain long-term wellbeing. Virtual programs are ideal for those seeking structured treatment while balancing work, study or other commitments.
Available Australia-wide, with referrals accepted from GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and other healthcare professionals.
Finding Your Path
For individuals with a severe and enduring eating disorder (SE-ED). Delivered via Microsoft Teams over 8 weeks, one 3-hour session per week, combining CBT, DBT, creative art therapy, dietetics and exercise physiology. Requires medical and psychiatric clearance prior to enrolment.
Beyond the Cycle — Virtual (Binge Eating Disorder)
Group therapy for ages 16+ with a BED diagnosis, delivered online, building skills to interrupt binge-eating patterns and develop healthier coping strategies.
Eating Disorders Team
Recovery from an eating disorder requires more than a single treatment approach. At Robina Private Hospital, patients are supported by a highly experienced multidisciplinary team that works together to provide coordinated, evidence-based care across every stage of recovery. Our integrated model brings together psychiatrists, psychologists, dietitians, mental health nurses, exercise physiologists and allied health professionals to ensure treatment addresses both physical health and psychological wellbeing.
Meet Our Specialists
Robina Private Hospital's eating disorders service includes experienced clinicians such as Dr Vinay Garbharran, Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist MBBCh (Wits), FRANZCP, Cert.Chld.Adol.Psych, and Dr Kim Hurst, Senior Psychologist PhD, B.Arts Psych, Grad.Dip Psych, B.Soc.Sci Hons , alongside a broader multidisciplinary team dedicated to supporting recovery.
Advancing the Evidence Base
Our clinical team contributes directly to the field, including recently published research on creative art therapy approaches to emotional regulation in eating disorder treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I access treatment?
Patients can be referred by a GP, psychiatrist, psychologist, paediatrician or other treating health professional.
Do I need private health insurance?
Many patients access treatment using private health insurance. Eligibility, waiting periods, excesses and individual fund requirements may apply.
What eating disorders do you treat?
We provide treatment for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, OSFED, unspecified eating disorders and severe enduring eating disorders.
Is treatment available for teenagers?
Yes. Many of our programs are available for adolescents aged 16 years and older.
Do you offer online treatment?
Yes — Finding Your Path and the virtual Beyond the Cycle program are both delivered online and open to referrals from anywhere in Australia, not just the Gold Coast.
Can I refer a patient directly?
Yes. Referrals are accepted from GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, paediatricians and other healthcare professionals.