Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has announced new funding to help promote positive body image in young people in Port Fairy.
Ms Tierney announced that Moyne Shire, had received a Victorian Government ‘Go for your life’ Positive Body Image Grant for the Moyne Shire Positive Body Image Initiative project .
Ms Tierney said the Positive body image workshop would develop understanding and skills for students to take back to their schools, involving production of DVD, posters and drama.
She said the Victorian Government was taking the lead on promoting healthy body image and working to reduce the effect unrealistic and unhealthy images in the media can have on young people.
“The Positive Body Image grants of up to $5,000 are offered directly to community organisations to undertake and promote positive body image activities to young people, with a particular focus on those aged 12-16 years,” Ms Tierney said.
The Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, James Merlino said last year’s grant recipients had conducted an incredible and varied range of activities in 2007.
“With a focus on healthy eating, physical activity and self-esteem, the first year of the “Go for your life’ Positive Body Image program has really made a difference,” Mr Merlino said.
“These issues can have devastating effects on young people’s lives so we’re really proud that Victoria is responding with a range of initiatives to tackle them and help teach young people to be happy with who they are.”
The Brumby Government’s Go for your life $2.1 million commitment to positive body image includes community awareness programs in regional and metropolitan Victoria, media and industry awareness partnerships and voluntary media code on body image.
The Victorian Voluntary Media Code of Conduct on Body Image seeks to make the media, fashion and advertising industries more aware of their effect on young people’s self-esteem.
For more information on the Body Image Strategy and Victorian Voluntary Media Code of Conduct on Body Image, visit www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au and www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au
For more information please visit www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au
