New program tackles top concern from our Youth Survey

The Minister for Schools, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett, today cited findings from Mission Australia’s National Survey of Young Australians to launch a positive body image program for schools.

Mr Garrett referred to results from our 2010 survey of 50,000 young Australians, which revealed body image was one of their main concerns, to announce the Respect Every Body campaign.

“We know that body image is a major concern among today’s young people, with the National Survey of Young Australians conducted each year by Mission Australia consistently finding it to be among the top issues raised by youth,” he said.

Every school in Australia will be provided with new ‘Respect Every Body’ information packs to help promote positive body image and create supportive school environments. The posters and learning resources are being distributed to schools and available online, with students, teachers and parents able to use the information to learn how to tackle the subject of poor body image and related issues.

Each school will receive posters containing vital information on creating a body image-friendly school and a website with ‘conversation starter’ activities to support discussions among students and in the wider school community.
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“We’re also providing some practical ideas on how to develop a body image-friendly school,” Mr Garrett said. “The resources are not an additional part of the curriculum, but can be incorporated into existing subjects such as health or physical education.”

The information packs are on top of the work already being carried under the Australian Government’s National Body Image Strategy, including the $400,000 Free to BE body esteem resources, developed by the Butterfly Foundation.

Mission Australia's annual Youth Survey - the largest of its kind in Australia - has been undertaken each year since 2002. Each year the survey asks young Australians aged 11 to 24 what they value, where they turn for advice and support, what issues concern them, how they are involved with their community and their feelings about their future.

The resulting reports generated from the survey are now keenly anticipated by government, community organisations, schools and the media.

The survey closed in most states on 1 July, although young people in the Northern Territory can still have their say until 29 July. The key findings from the survey will be published in November.

To find our more about our National Survey of Young Australians and read past results:  www.missionaustralia.com.au/daily-news/3302-time-is-running-out-to-have-your-say