Spotlight on: Sarah Rowland
Sarah Rowland is a co-founder and co-chair of EDCS NZ, the Eating Disorders Carer Support network, and a proud Tall Tree, after completing the Rākau Roroa online training this year.
In her work, Sarah sees an urgent need for better recognition of just how much disordered eating is affecting society. "Research In New Zealand is very limited," she says. "But it's important that we recognise that just as in the rest of the world, Aotearoa is significantly affected by disordered eating, across many public systems. That includes not only the health system, but the judiciary, sport and fitness, schools and universities, and throughout our communities."
Sarah sees language and terminology as critical to achieving a cultural shift in the way we think of disordered eating, and the voice of Lived Experience as fundamental to making that change. Completing the Rākau Roroa training was a valuable opportunity for her to re-examine the way she shares her own Lived Experience stories. "Stories connect us," she says. "When we tell our stories, others know they're not alone, and we can bring an authentic message of hope."
EDCS was originally set up in 2018 by Sarah and two other parents, as an informal support hub for all carers of people with eating disorders or disordered eating. It has developed into a registered charitable trust with a strong advocacy presence in the mental health sector, and continues to provide resources and support to parents and other caregivers as its core focus.
Sarah brings her Lived Experience to the work of raising awareness of disordered eating, and the importance of 'joining the dots'. As she explains, "The clinical perspective is important, but the reality is a tapestry of perspectives, and all voices need to be included for us to understand how to make meaningful change."
That change, Sarah says, would include a centralised office to advise other agencies on safe, non-triggering messaging around food and nutrition, starting with better early-childhood education. She sees removing the focus on food ‘morality’ as key, with early education instead encouraging variety, joy and food's place in celebrations, cultural traditions and community connections.
Overall, she says, what’s needed is a wider recognition of the scale of disordered eating in Aotearoa, and a shift in perception. With EDCS, Sarah works tirelessly to raise awareness of disordered eating, with the voice of Lived Experience at the forefront.