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Positive body image

This program promotes positive body image and encourages students to reflect on physical, emotional, and mental health. The program encourages students to recognise their own values and understand how the messages we receive from media and society can influence how we feel about ourselves, our eating habits and our feelings and thoughts about our bodies.

Description

For Primary Schools

This program was developed as a whole community response to the increase in poor body image and disordered eating that has occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Eating disorders, while more prevalent in girls, are increasing rapidly in boys. 

Working with students of all genders can decrease risk and empower children to disrupt negative thought patterns in their friends. 

The program was developed using the National Eating Disorders Collaboration framework titled 'Eating Disorders: The Way Forward' as a guide for best practice in this area. It takes a strengths-based approach and does not address detailed information about eating disorders.

For Secondary Schools

This program was developed as a whole community response to the increase in poor body image and disordered eating that has occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Eating disorders, while more prevalent in girls, are increasing rapidly in boys. 

Working with students of all genders can decrease risk and empower children to disrupt negative thought patterns in their friends. 

The program was developed using the National Eating Disorders Collaboration framework titled 'Eating Disorders: The Way Forward' as a guide for best practice in this area. 

Year levels, duration and topics covered

Primary School

Years 3-6,
4 x 1-hour sessions  

  • Recharging our bodies (food, rest, recreation) 
  • Gender stereotypes 
  • Celebrating failures 
  • Our inner voices 
  • Messages from the online world 
  • Gratitude 
  • Help seeking

Secondary School

Years 7-12 
5 x 1-hour session 

  • Caretaking, maintenance and decorating of our bodies 
  • Recharging our bodies (food, sleep, and recreation) 
  • Challenging assumptions and media narratives about bodies 
  • Disrupting negative self-talk 
  • Increased self-esteem and self-confidence 
  • Appreciation of bodies and how they function 
  • Resilience in the age of social media 
  • Increased self-respect and respect for others 
  • Awareness of perfectionism and avoidant behaviour 
  • Self-care and care for others  
  • Help seeking 

Parent / Carer

For Primary Schools

1-hour workshop 

This information session helps parents and carers feel confident in their understanding of positive body image and how it takes a strength-based approach to disordered eating prevention.

Parents and carers will be empowered around:

  • Understanding disordered eating  
  • Modelling positive body image and healthy eating 
  • Managing body image messages from outside the family 
  • Gender stereotypes 
  • Celebrating failures 
  • Inner voices 

For Secondary Schools

1-hour workshop 

This information session helps parents and carers feel confident in their understanding of positive body image and how it takes a strength-based approach to disordered eating prevention.

Parents and carers will be empowered around:

  • Understanding disordered eating 
  • Modelling positive body image and healthy eating 
  • Managing body image messages from outside the family 
  • Gender stereotypes 
  • Celebrating failures 
  • Inner voices 
Parent / Carer Workshop

Professional Development

For Facilitators, Teachers and Professionals

For Primary Schools

2-hour workshop 

This professional development training helps educators feel confident in their understanding of the following topics:

  • Understanding disordered eating  
  • Awareness of body needs 
  • Media literacy 
  • Self-esteem enhancement 
  • Responding to internal and external pressure 
  • Skills for children to navigate cognitive dissonance 

This professional development course meets the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST): 1.3, 2.3, 2.6, 3.7, 4.4, 4.5, 6.2, 6.4, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3

For Secondary Schools

2-hour workshop 

This professional development training helps educators feel confident in their understanding of the following topics:

  • Understanding disordered eating 
  • Awareness of body needs 
  • Media literacy 
  • Self-esteem enhancement 
  • Responding to internal and external pressure 
  • Skills for children to navigate cognitive dissonance   

This professional development course meets the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST): 1.3, 2.3, 2.6, 3.7, 4.4, 4.5, 6.2, 6.4, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3

Professional Development

Links & Downloads

Further Information

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