Australian Governement - Youth.gov.auFOREWORD BY MINISTER
As Minister for Youth, it is my job to represent and speak up on issues that are important to, and affect, young people.
It is clear from Mission Australia’s National Surveys of Young Australians that body image is a significant concern for young people. The 2007 and 2008 surveys identified body image as one of the top three concerns for people aged between 11 and 24 years old. More than a quarter of the 45,000 respondents in 2008 said that body image was a major concern.
Body image is not a peripheral problem. When you read the literature and talk to young people, you quickly see the difficulties and problems associated with growing up in a culture that presents a homogenised, fake and out-of-reach ideal of beauty. Particularly when this message is closely followed by another – that beauty equals success and popularity.
Cultural messages about body image raise important questions about the type of society we want to live in. I believe that there is an important role for the Australian Government to help address a culture that has a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of our young people.
I want young Australians to be equipped with the confidence and self esteem they need to celebrate who they are – rather than unrealistic and unhealthy aspirations of what they would like to become.
I have established a National Advisory Group on Body Image to provide advice to the Government on what should be included within a National Strategy on Body Image. The Group includes academics who are familiar with the causes of body dissatisfaction and understand how to address this from a mental health perspective; persons from the fashion, advertising and media industries who can provide advice about how to engage with these stakeholders; and young people themselves who can provide insights into Australian youth and how to engage and communicate with them.
Body image is a complex issue. The most effective approach is to work in partnership with young people, the media, fashion and advertising industries, and the health sector. The goal is to develop a strategic national approach to tackle negative body image in a coordinated, targeted and effective way. This consultation process gives you the opportunity to share your thoughts on what should be done. This information will be passed on to the Advisory Group to help inform the development of the strategy.
This work is truly about partnering with non-government organisations and industry. We value our democracy and the freedom and creativity that comes with it. This is not an attack on skinny models or particular industries. It is about equipping and supporting young people to respond to the challenges they face growing up in a modern, technology-based world, and also encouraging responsible and ethical behaviour among industries and people who have a significant influence on Australia’s popular culture.
I look forward to hearing from you about how these goals can be
achieved.
Kate Ellis
Minister for Youth
