For Secondary Schools
Educators see the daily impact of low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating on a student’s wellbeing and potential.
BodyKind Schools provides education, training and awareness activities to secondary schools to support body image and create safe and positive environments which are BodyKind. Programs are evidence-based, mapped to the Australian curriculum and flexible to meet the needs of schools
We’re also here to support school communities with more serious issues through our National Helpline and our other support services.
BodyKind Student presentations
We offer a series of engaging and educational presentations directly to students from year 5 up to and including year 12 and in tertiary settings. Our talks are mapped to the Australian Curriculum and explore a range of age and developmentally appropriate themes, which encompass the risk and protective factors for body dissatisfaction. These include:
- Challenging cultural ideals and unhelpful language around appearance
- Using media and social media positively to inspire body confidence
- Deciphering unhelpful and potentially harmful health-related messaging
- Understanding self-esteem, body esteem and celebrating strengths, uniqueness and diversity
- Managing pressures and combating the inner critic
- Encouraging help seeking for self and others
- Debunking myths around eating disorders (for older and tertiary students)
BodyKind Professional Development
School staff are in excellent position to encourage healthy behaviours, spot the early warning signs and support students in their recovery. Themes covered in our programs include:
- The spectrum of behaviours from healthy, unhealthy to disordered
- The importance of healthy body-esteem and knowledge of modifiable risk and protective factors
- How to foster a positive body image environment through education, awareness and policy
- Identification of people at risk of an eating disorder
- Early Intervention and referral support
- Supporting students with eating disorders
Resources for Families
It can be difficult for parents and carers to know how to support their child’s body confidence as they move through childhood and adolescence. Our parent seminars are delivered in a relaxed yet informative way and aim to help answer the following questions:
- Why is developing a healthy body image important?
- What influences my child’s body-esteem?
- How should I respond if my child talks negatively about themselves or others?
- What should I do if my child is showing signs of unhealthy eating and exercise behaviour?
- How can I be a good role model?
- Where can I access further information and support?
Resource Hub
BodyKind August
BodyKind August is Butterfly’s annual body image initiative for schools, families, sporting/activity clubs encouraging people to be kind to their own body and to others. Register to access free learning activities and resources and share strength-based messages to help your students and school be more BodyKind.
Looking for Primary School Resources?
Find out more about Butterfly Body Bright, our strength-based, evidence-informed body image program for primary schools in Australia. Access training for staff, curriculum aligned lesson plans and free resources for families.
Let’s Talk
Find out more about our prevention programs and how we can tailor them to fit the needs of your school.
Email us: education@butterfly.org.au
