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Kate is passionate about contributing to public debate on a wide range of important issues. Here are some of the issues she has touched on in the past.
- Should successful athletes have to pay back the AIS 10 Jun 2009
- Let's give youth voice now for a better future 12 Oct 2008
- Organ donation it's the greatest gift of all 21 Sep 2008
- Is safe sex message falling on deaf ears 31 Aug 2008
- Grassroots funding is key to Olympic glorys 10 Aug 2008
- Easy to overlook big issue of homelessness 20 Jul 2008
- Trailblazer Natasha leaves lasting legacy 29 Jun 2008
- Heavy hitters boost our World Cup hopes 01 Jun 2008
- Youth Forum Discussion Paper 17 May 2008
- We can't take sport for granted 11 May 2008
- Women truly can do anything be anything 20 Apr 2008
- Let the Games begin with all our athletes 30 Mar 2008
- Proud past but future a challenge for women 09 Mar 2008
- Young people will be heard at highest level 17 Feb 2008
- Our nation has changed dramatically in three weeks 16 Dec 2007
- Mobile Phone Towers 23 Sep 2007
- Bradken Foundry 01 Jul 2007
- Full Fees 03 Jun 2007
- Eating Disorders 17 Dec 2006
- Iraq 27 Jul 2006
- Electoral Laws 26 Jun 2006
- Dental 08 Jan 2006
- Make Poverty History 18 Sep 2005
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Media Releases
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 200827 Oct 2009 - Minister Receives Report to Tackle Negative Body Image
The Hon Kate Ellis MP
Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth
27 October, 2009
Media release
Minister receives report to tackle negative body image
Minister for Youth Kate Ellis today received an important report to help the Australian Government address the growing problem of negative body image amongst young people.
The Proposed National Strategy on Body Image was developed by the National Advisory Group on Body Image, which was appointed by Ms Ellis in March this year.
The group is chaired by former Cosmopolitan Editor Mia Freedman and the eleven members include model and television producer Sarah Murdoch, Girlfriend Editor Sarah Cornish, youth representative Amanda Scott and Butterfly Foundation Founder Claire Vickery.
"Negative body image is a serious problem that affects the lives of many young people both men and women," Ms Ellis said.
"Self-esteem, confidence and resilience are so important to growing up happy and healthy and we want to give that precious gift to all young people.
"Young people rated body image as their top concern in Mission Australia's National Survey of Young Australians in 2007 and at third in 2008. It can't be ignored.
"This report will guide us on how we can work in partnership with industry, parents, the community and young people to stem this unhealthy epidemic," Ms Ellis said.
The report encourages advertisers, the media and the fashion industry to promote more positive body image messages.
The report includes a Voluntary Industry Code of Conduct on Body Image which recommends using healthy weight models, realistic and natural images of people and disclosure when images of people have been digitally manipulated.
The report also recommends building resilience in young people through a focus on peer interactions, parenting, and the role of schools and community groups.
"I thank the members of the Advisory Group for their dedication to producing this valuable work. I'll consider the recommendations and their implementation."
As part of the report's release, a workshop involving ACT high school students was held at Parliament House today.
The workshop encouraged students to think about how body image can be tackled in schools and in the online environment, particularly through social networking sites.
For further information and a copy of the report visit the Proposed National Strategy on Body Image page on youth.gov.au.
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