Butterfly wins funding to develop Body Kind Online Education to help strengthen Australian students’ body image on social media

Butterfly Foundation will be tackling body image concerns experienced on social media by high school students head on, thanks to the Australian Government’s $9 million Online Safety Grants Program.

Butterfly CEO Kevin Barrow said that the newly developed ‘Body Kind Online Education’ program was awarded $276,000 to strengthen students’ body image when using social media.

“Butterfly is proud to receive this grant, enabling us to extend our existing body image programs with the creation of an innovative and engaging e-learning program, ‘Body Kind Online Education’, designed with and for secondary school aged students aged 12-16 years

“With this funding we will develop a national program to tackle aspects of online environments which are harmful to body image by equipping young people with the literacy and skills they need to protect themselves and their peers,” Mr. Barrow said.

The project is one of nine initiatives to share in $2.25 million in funding in the third and final round of the grants program, which is led by the eSafety Commissioner and complements its existing education programs.

Minister for Communications, the Hon. Michelle Rowland MP, said the not-for-profit sector plays an important role in supporting government to address complex social issues.

“These grants will help unlock each recipient’s unique expertise to create new channels and content addressing specific issues and age groups, helping us to reach more Australians with vital online safety education.”

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said she is excited to welcome nine new partners in online safety that share her passion for helping Australians to have positive and safe experiences online.

“We need to keep developing fresh ways to reach and educate Australians if we’re to keep pace with technology.

“Working with partners means more voices, more insights and more ways to inspire a generation of young people to scroll with safety online,” Ms Inman Grant said.

To find out more about the Online Safety Grants Program, visit: Online Safety Grants Program

For online safety advice for all Australians, visit www.esafety.gov.au

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About the Online Safety Grants Program:

• The Online Safety Grants Program is a three-year program that supports the delivery of online safety education to children, young people and their communities, or training to those who work with them.
• Grants between $80,000 and $1 million have been awarded to help non-government organisations deliver innovative online safety education projects, especially for at-risk audiences.
• The program is led by the eSafety Commissioner and funded by the Australian Government.

Media Contacts

Alex Cowen, Communications Manager – Butterfly
PH: 0497 008 716
alex.cowen@butterfly.org.au

Editor and producers note: Please include the following support line details in all media coverage of this story and refer to the Mindframe Media guidelines for safe reporting on eating disorders. Please include the following helpline message.

Help and Support

Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact:

• Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or support@butterfly.org.au
• Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23
• For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14