Kara Maar Specialist Community Eating Disorder Service
Our Kara Maar service provides comprehensive clinical assessment and treatment for individuals aged 16 years and over who have a diagnosed eating disorder, or are experiencing signs and symptoms consistent with an eating disorder diagnosis. As a specialist community service, we support people whose current primary mental health needs relate to an eating disorder.
This service is located at Cockburn and Mandurah and is available to consumers living within the south metropolitan catchment area – refer to the SMHS mental health catchment map (PDF 262KB) to see suburbs that fall within our catchment.
Our services
Services provided by Kara Maar include:
- triage
- assessment
- physical health monitoring in collaboration with the GP
- nutritional education
- meal support
- multidisciplinary outpatient treatment
- peer support.
Collaborative care
Our multi-disciplinary team works closely with consumers, their families/significant others and their treating GP to provide evidence-based and collaborative care to support physical, mental health and functional recovery.
Treatment
All treatment options are evidence based, consider consumer needs and preferences, and are developed within a collaborative treatment plan.
Our team
Our multidisciplinary team includes:
- a psychiatrist
- a medical officer
- mental health nurses
- dietitians
- clinical psychologists
- social workers
- occupational therapists
- lived experience peer workers.
Referral information
A medical practitioner referral is required for Kara Maar. Referrals are accepted from:
- public mental health inpatient services
- medical inpatient services
- community mental health services
- general practitioners (GPs).
For further information regarding the GP referral process please refer to the:
Once a referral is triaged a suitability appointment may be arranged. This provides potential consumers the opportunity to meet with a clinician and peer worker to:
- learn more about the service
- determine if Kara Maar will be a good fit for them and be able to meet their individual needs and treatment goals.
Contact us
For referrals and enquiries please:
- call Kara Maar reception on 6392 1700
- email Kara Maar
- fax 6392 1799.
Locations
Kara Maar services are provided at the following locations:
- Cockburn Health and Community Facility, 11 Wentworth Parade, Success
- Peel Health Hub, 91 Allnutt Street, Mandurah.
Opening hours
8:30am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday.
The name ‘Kara Maar’ was developed in consultation with Elders and Community members as well as the SMHS Aboriginal Health Strategy team.
Kara (the Noongar name for the milkmaid’s plant) represents sustenance as it is a food source, while Maar is the Noongar name for ‘hand’, symbolising support, connection and healing.
Kara Maar therefore means ‘sustaining hands’, illustrating the service’s collaboration with consumers and their supports in the journey towards empowerment and eating disorder recovery.