Australia’s fashion, media, entertainment, and advertising industries will be recognised for initiatives that promote positive body image through the first national awards of their kind.
Minister for Youth Peter Garrett today announced the opening of nominations for the 2012 Positive Body Image Awards, acknowledging that young people today are under an unprecedented amount of pressure to conform to a particular appearance. Details of the initiative were issued in a media release, post-ballot, this afternoon . . . .
“The Mission Australia National Survey of Young Australians, conducted annually since 2002, has consistently revealed that young people rank body image as a major concern,” Mr Garrett said.
“Negative body image can affect self-esteem and general well being and can contribute to the development of serious health issues.
“We know that alongside friends and family, the fashion, media and entertainment industries can play a role in influencing young people in relation to how they feel about their bodies.
“The Government has endorsed and released a Voluntary Industry Code of Conduct on Body Image, which outlines principles and goals to guide industries to adopt more body image friendly practices.
“Those organisations that have adopted the principles outlines in the code and provide incentive for others to follow their lead will now be recognised through the Positive Body Image Awards.”
The Awards will focus on initiatives targeted at young people aged 12-25 and will include two main categories:
*Recognition of organisations demonstrating a real and ongoing commitment to body image friendly practices within their business; and
*Recognition of specific body image friendly initiatives or products, this could include a campaign to increase young people’s awareness about digital retouching, a magazine edition or a special body image event.
Young people will also be invited to provide their ideas of organisations they believe are doing great work in promoting positive body image messages, through Facebook, Twitter and through the body image website.
The Assessment and Advisory Panel, chaired by The Australian Women’s Weekly Editor-in-Chief, Helen McCabe, will assess the nominations and recommend finalists and award recipients. Award winners will be able to use the Body Image Award Winner symbol, which will help consumers show support for industry groups or businesses who have taken serious steps to embrace positive body image.
Nominations are open until 23 March and finalists will be announced in May.
For all information on the awards, including eligibility and assessment criteria, go to www.youth.gov.au/bodyimageawards ; on Facebook at the ‘Be Body Positive’ facebook page at www.facebook.com/BeBodyPositive and the @BodyImageAU on Twitter at (http://twitter.com/BodyImageAU)
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