Researcher

Biography

Dr Andrew Wallis is a clinical social worker and family therapist. He has been working with adolescents and their families for more than 30 years. Andrew has postgraduate qualifications in Systemic Family therapy and has had specialist training in the UK and USA for Family therapy for Anorexia Nervosa, Multiple Family Therapy and Attachment Based Family Therapy. In 2003 with colleagues at The Children’s Hospital, Westmead, he established the...view more

Dr Andrew Wallis is a clinical social worker and family therapist. He has been working with adolescents and their families for more than 30 years. Andrew has postgraduate qualifications in Systemic Family therapy and has had specialist training in the UK and USA for Family therapy for Anorexia Nervosa, Multiple Family Therapy and Attachment Based Family Therapy. In 2003 with colleagues at The Children’s Hospital, Westmead, he established the first Family-Based Treatment program in Australia, and Multiple Family therapy for Anorexia Nervosa in 2014. He has been providing training, consultation and clinical supervision in Australia and New Zealand since 2005, helping to support public and private services to implement family therapy approaches to adolescent problems. Including a number of years on faculty with the USA based Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders.

Andrew has also been involved in research and academic work with more than 30 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, including his PhD research on the impact of Family Based Therapy on family relationships. Andrew regularly reviews academic papers for a number of journals and is an assistant editor on the Journal of Eating Disorders.

In addition to clinical, academic and consultation Andrew is actively involved at a national level with eating disorder policy and practice initiatives as a member of the National Eating Disorder Collaboration executive committee and more recently on the NEDC Credentialing Expert Advisory Group and Training Providers Reference Group and was recently appointed to the ANZAED Credentialing Governing Council. Andrew was awarded the ANZAED 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award for his contribution the Eating Disorder Sector in Australiasia.

Andrew has been teaching at UNSW in the Masters of Counselling Social Work since 2024. 

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My Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy

Bachelor of Social Work

Master of Family Therapy

Grad.Dip Mental Health

Grad.Dip Psychology

 


My Awards

Australia & New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders Distinguished Achievement Award 2023


My Research Activities

Published Books

  1. Wallis, A., James, K., & Rhodes, P. (Eds.) (2024). A Practical Guide to Family Therapy: Structured Guidelines and Key Skills (2nd Ed.). Routledge, London.
  2. Wallis, A. & Alford. C. (2022). Help your child start to recover from Anorexia Nervosa. The Children’s Hospital, Westmead.
  3. Simic, M., Baudinet,. J, Blessitt, E., Wallis, A. & Eisler, I. (2022). Multi-family therapy for anorexia nervosa: A treatment manual. Routledge: London.
  4. Rhodes, P. & Wallis, A. (Eds.) (2011). A Practical Guide to Family Therapy: Structured Guidelines and Key Skills. IP Communications: Melbourne, Australia.

 

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

  1. White, N., Dawson, L., Mitchison, D., & Wallis, A. (2025). Clinician perspectives on the process of change in an adolescent eating disorder Day Program. Journal of eating disorders, 13(1), 289. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01457-x
  2. Alford, C., Wallis, A., Hay, P., & Mitchison, D. (2025). Understanding the child and adolescent eating disorder treatment experiences of autistic people and parents. Journal of eating disorders, 13(1), 128. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01331-w
  3. Levenspiel, C., Dawson, L., Baudinet, J., Mitchison, D., & Wallis, A. (2025). Exploring Interactive Change Processes in Multifamily Therapy for Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa. The International journal of eating disorders, 58(11), 2105–2115. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24505
  4. Ralph, A. F., Brennan, L., Byrne, S., Caldwell, B., Farmer, J., Hart, L. M., Heruc, G. A., Maguire, S., Piya, M. K., Quin, J., Trobe, S. K., Wallis, A., Williams-Tchen, A. J., & Hay, P. (2022). Management of eating disorders for people with higher weight: clinical practice guideline. Journal of eating disorders, 10(1), 121. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00622-w
  5. Hurst, K., Heruc, G., Thornton, C., Freeman, J., Fursland, A., Knight, R., Roberts, M., Shelton, B., Wallis, A., & Wade, T. (2020). ANZAED practice and training standards for mental health professionals providing eating disorder treatment. Journal of eating disorders, 8(1), 58. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-020-00333-0
  6. Heruc, G., Hurst, K., Casey, A., Fleming, K., Freeman, J., Fursland, A., Hart, S., Jeffrey, S., Knight, R., Roberton, M., Roberts, M., Shelton, B., Stiles, G., Sutherland, F., Thornton, C., Wallis, A., & Wade, T. (2020). ANZAED eating disorder treatment principles and general clinical practice and training standards. Journal of eating disorders, 8(1), 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-020-00341-0
  7. Li, A., Cunich, M., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Maloney, D., Madden, S., Wallis, A., & Maguire, S. (2021). Factors related to length of stay, referral on discharge and hospital readmission for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa. The International journal of eating disorders, 54(3), 409–421. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23399
  8. Dawson, L., Baudinet, J., Tay, E., & Wallis, A. (2018). Creating community – The introduction of Multi-Family Therapy for Eating Disorders in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy. 39, 283–293.
  9. Medway, M., Rhodes, P., Dawson, L., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Wallis, A., Madden, S. (2018). Adolescent development in family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa: Patients’ and parents’ narratives. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, DOI: 10.1177/1359104518792293
  10. Wallis, A., Miskovic-Wheatley, J. Madden, S., Alford, C., Rhodes, P., & Touyz, S. (2018). Does continuing family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa improve outcomes in those not remitted after 20 sessions? Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, DOI: 10.1177/1359104518775145
  11. Wallis, A., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Madden, S., Rhodes, P., Crosby, R.D., Cao, Li. & Touyz, S. (2018). How does family functioning effect the outcome of Family Based Treatment for adolescents with severe anorexia nervosa? Journal of Eating Disorders, 5:55 doi.org/10.1186/s40337-017-0184-9
  12. Fink, K., Rhodes, P., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Wallis, A., Touyz, S., Baudinet, J. & Madden, S. (2018). Exploring the effects of a family admissions program for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Journal of Eating Disorders, 5:51, doi.org/10.1186/s40337-017-0181-z
  13. Wallis, A., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Madden, S., Rhodes, P., Crosby, R.D., Cao, Li. & Touyz, S. (2017). Family functioning and relationship quality for adolescents in Family Based Treatment with severe anorexia nervosa compared with non-clinical adolescents. European Eating Disorders Review, 26, 29-37. doi:10.1002/erv.2562.
  14. Wallis, A., Rhodes, P., Dawson, L., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Madden, S., & Touyz, S. (2017). Relational containment: exploring the effect of family-based treatment for anorexia on familial relationships. Journal of Eating Disorders, 5(1), 27. doi:10.1186/s40337-017-0156-0 
  15. White, H. J., Haycraft, E., Madden, S., Rhodes, P., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Wallis, A., . . . Meyer, C. (2017). Parental strategies used in the family meal session of family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa: Links with treatment outcomes. Int J Eat Disord, 50(4), 433-436. doi:10.1002/eat.22647 
  16. Wallis, A., Godfrey, K., & Robertson, A. (2016). Family Meal in Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa: Is It Important? In T. Wade (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Feeding and Eating Disorders (pp. 1-6). Singapore: Springer Singapore. 
  17. Goldstein, M., Murray, S.B., Griffiths, S., Rayner, K., Podkaowka, J., Bateman, J.E., Wallis, A. & Thornton, C. (2016). The effectiveness of family-based treatment for full and partial adolescent anorexia nervosa in an independent private practice setting: Clinical outcomes, International Journal of Eating Disorders,49 (11), 1023-1026, doi:10.1002/eat.22568. 
  18. Madden, S., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Wallis, A., Kohn, M., Hay, P. & Touyz, S. (2015). Early weight gain in family-based treatment predicts greater early weight gain and remission at the end of treatment and remission at 12-month follow up in adolescent anorexia nervosa.  International Journal of Eating Disorders 48, 919-22. 
  19. White, H.J., Haycraft, E., Madden, S., Rhodes, P., Miskovic-Wheatley., Wallis, A., Kohn, M. & Meyer, C. (2015). How do parents of adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa interact with their child at mealtimes? A study of parental strategies used in the family meal session of family-based treatment. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48, 72-80. 
  20. Godfrey, K., Rhodes, P., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Wallis, A., Clarke, S., Kohn, M., Touyz, S., Madden, S. Madden. S. (2015). Just one more bite: A qualitative analysis of the family meal in family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa, European Eating Disorders Review, 23, 77-85. 
  21. Madden, S., Miskovic, J., Wallis, A., Kohn, M., Lock, J., LeGrange, D., Jo, B., Clarke, S., Rhodes, P., Hay, P. & Touyz, S. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa in medically unstable adolescents. Psychological Medicine. Doi: 10.1017/S0033291714001573. 
  22. Murray, S., Wallis, A., & Rhodes, P. (2012). The questioning process Maudsley Family Based Treatment Part 1: Deviation amplification. Contemporary Family Therapy, 34, 582-592. 
  23. Murray, S., Thornton, C., & Wallis, A. (2012). A thorn in the side of evidence based treatment for adolescent Anorexia Nervosa. Australian and New Zealand Journal of psychiatry, 46, 1026-1028. 
  24. Murray, S., Thornton, C., & Wallis, A. (2012). Selective Eating in a Nine Year Old Boy: Family Therapy as a First Line Treatment. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, doi:10.1177/1359104512452418 
  25. Hurst, K., Read, S., & Wallis, A. (2012). Anorexia Nervosa in adolescence and Maudsley  Family Based Treatment. Journal of Counseling and Development, 90, 339-345. 
  26. Wallis, A., Alford, C., Hanson, A., Titterton, J., Madden, S., & Kohn, M. (2012) Innovations in Maudsley Family Based Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa at The Children’s Hospital Westmead – A family admission program. Journal of Family Therapy, 35, S1, 68-81. 
  27. Ellison, R., Rhodes, P., Madden, S., Miskovic, J., Wallis, A., Kohn, M. & Touyz, S. (2012). Essential components of the Maudsley model of Family-Based Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 45, 609- 614. 
  28. Mitchell, P., Rhodes, P., Wallis, A. & Wilson, V. (2013). A Comparison of Milan and Post-Milan reflecting team interventions. Journal of Family therapy, 36, 3, 237-245. 
  29. Rhodes, P., Nge, C., Wallis, A. & Hunt, C. (2011).  Learning and systemic: Exploring the personal effects of family therapy training. Contemporary Family Therapy, 33, 335-347. 
  30. Rhodes, P., Wallis, A. & Nge, C. (2008) Can you teach Compassion?, Context, 97, 24-26. 
  31. Wallis, A., Rhodes, P., Kohn, M. & Madden, S. (2007). Five years of family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa: The Maudsley model at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 19, 277-283. 

 

Book Chapters

  1. Eisler, I., Wallis, A., & Dodge, L. (2015). What’s new i old and what’s old is new: The origins and evolution of eating disorders family therapy. In K.L Loeb, D. Le Grange & J. Lock (Eds.). Family Therapy for Adolescent Eating and Weight Disorders: New Applications. Routledge: New York.
  2. Wallis, A. & Rhodes, P. (2011). The First Session. In: Rhodes, P. & A. Wallis (Eds.).  A Practical Guide to Family Therapy: Structured Guidelines and Key Skills. IP Communications: Melbourne, Australia.
  3. Rhodes, P. & Wallis, A. (2011). Deviation Amplifying: The Second Session. In: P. Rhodes & A. Wallis, (Eds.) A Practical Guide to Family Therapy: Structured Guidelines and Key Skills. IP Communications: Melbourne, Australia.
  4. Rhodes, P. &  Wallis,  A. (2009). The Maudsley Model of Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa: History, Practice and Future Directions. In Paxton, S. & Hay, P. (Eds.) Interventions for Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorders: Evidence and Practice. Ip Communications.
  5. Wallis, A., Rhodes, P., Kohn, M. & Madden, S. (2009). The family based treatment of anorexia nervosa at The Children’s Hospital Westmead: Implementation, experience, and practice challenges, In Bennett, D. L., Towns, S.J., & Elliott, E.J. (Eds.) Challenges in adolescent health – An Australian perspective. Nova: Sydney
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Location

Arts, Design & Architecture
Australia

Contact

+61403004423

UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia Telephone +61 2 93851000
Authorised by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
UNSW CRICOS Provider Code: 00098G ABN: 57 195 873 179

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