General News
23 May, 2024
Healthy message for region’s students
STUDENTS from Terang, Mortlake and Cobden joined together last week to learn who you are means a lot more than how you look.
Students from Mortlake College and Cobden Technical School joined their peers at Terang College last Thursday to watch a documentary directed by 2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt.
Mrs Brumfitt has been a vocal advocate for body positivity since a viral photograph she posted in 2013 led to the creation of the Body Image Movement.
She has utilised her platform to empower people of all shapes and sizes to embrace their body, and challenge unrealistic beauty standards.
The documentary, titled Embrace Kids, was shown through a collaborative effort between Terang and Mortlake Health Service health promotion officer Tanya Glossop and school nurses Melissa Benson (Terang, Cobden) and Jenny Goddard (Mortlake).
“Embrace Kids is a documentary film created to address critical issues of body image, self-esteem and mental health among young people. It also covers topics of bullying and pressures of social media for kids,” Ms Glossop said.
“The film includes insights from experts in psychology, education and health with an emphasis on self-acceptance, kindness and celebration of diversity in all forms.
“Embrace Kids is a powerful educational resource for schools, families, and communities, aiming to create a more inclusive and compassionate environment where every child feels valued and confident in their own skin.
“Recent Australian statistics indicate that 22 per cent of adolescents meet the criteria for eating disorders, and 77 per cent are in body image distress.”