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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
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Media Releases
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 200828 Jun 2010 - Media Literacy and Body Image Education to Benefit 100,000 Young Australians
THE HON KATE ELLIS MP
MINISTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION,
CHILD CARE AND YOUTH
MEDIA RELEASE
27 June 2010
Media literacy and body image education to benefit 100,000 young Australians
The Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis today announced Australian Government funding of $500,000 to support initiatives that promote positive body image among young Australians.
"Young Australians have repeatedly told us that body image is an issue that is of major concern to them," Ms Ellis said.
"These new initiatives will help build the self confidence and the resilience of young Australians when it comes to body image pressures."
To help combat this serious issue the Australian Government will provide funding to support a significant expansion of the activities of The Butterfly Foundation, a national charity concerned with eating disorders and negative body image.
The Butterfly Foundation will develop training and workshop materials that are tailored to the needs of primary and high school students. These materials will cover issues including media literacy and self esteem and will be disseminated to approximately 2,500 educators and are expected to reach more than 100,000 young people across the country.
The Government has also engaged Education Services Australia to develop a poster and supporting materials for school teachers and leaders on encouraging 'body image friendly schools'. The Government will distribute the poster to all primary and secondary schools in Australia.
"Young people today are constantly bombarded with media images and can be vulnerable to feelings of inadequacy and low self esteem," Ms Ellis said.
"Eating and anxiety disorders, depression, social isolation and even self harm are just some of the very serious health consequences of negative body image."
"The Government is determined to take action to make sure that young people are equipped to deal with the
Body image is consistently ranked in the top three concerns for 15 to 19 year olds in Australia's largest survey of young people.
More than 75 per cent of teenage girls and 50 per cent of boys report being dissatisfied with their bodies. About half of Australian girls and a third of boys who are in a healthy weight range, think that they are overweight.
For further information, including a statement outlining the body image initiatives visit www.youth.gov.au/bodyimage/
Minister Ellis' media contact: Jamila Rizvi 0438 644 603
DEEWR Media: media@deewr.gov.au Non-media enquiries: 1300 363 079