News
Media literacy and body image education to benefit 100,000 young Australians |
| Spokesperson: | The Hon Kate Ellis MP - Minister for Early Education, Child Care and Youth |
| Date: | Sunday, 27 June 2010 |
| Category: | Education & Training |
| The Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis today announced Australian Government funding of $500,000 to support initiatives that promote positive body image among young Australians. “Young Australians have repeatedly told us that body image is an issue that is of major concern to them," Ms Ellis said. "These new initiatives will help build the self confidence and the resilience of young Australians when it comes to body image pressures.” To help combat this serious issue the Australian Government will provide funding to support a significant expansion of the activities of The Butterfly Foundation, a national charity concerned with eating disorders and negative body image. The Butterfly Foundation will develop training and workshop materials that are tailored to the needs of primary and high school students. These materials will cover issues including media literacy and self esteem and will be disseminated to approximately 2,500 educators and are expected to reach more than 100,000 young people across the country. The Government has also engaged Education Services Australia to develop a poster and supporting materials for school teachers and leaders on encouraging ‘body image friendly schools’. The Government will distribute the poster to all primary and secondary schools in Australia. “Young people today are constantly bombarded with media images and can be vulnerable to feelings of inadequacy and low self esteem,” Ms Ellis said. “Eating and anxiety disorders, depression, social isolation and even self harm are just some of the very serious health consequences of negative body image.” “The Government is determined to take action to make sure that young people are equipped to deal with the Body image is consistently ranked in the top three concerns for 15 to 19 year olds in Australia’s largest survey of young people. More than 75 per cent of teenage girls and 50 per cent of boys report being dissatisfied with their bodies. About half of Australian girls and a third of boys who are in a healthy weight range, think that they are overweight. For further information, including a statement outlining the body image initiatives visit www.youth.gov.au/bodyimage/ |
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