Wellbeing 

BodyKind August and Body Image 

BodyKind August is an annual awareness initiative of Butterfly Foundation, Australia’s national charity for eating disorders and body image. It aims to encourage young people, their families and communities to:  

• Be kind to their own body; in how they speak about, nourish, nurture and move their body  

• Be kind to other people’s bodies, online and face to face; and 

• Celebrate and respect the differences and diversity in bodies. 

One of the most influential role models in your child’s life is you. Parents and carers can encourage their children to feel good about themselves and their bodies by: 

• Encouraging your child to talk about what they think and feel about their body- create a safe space for them to share. Puberty can be a worrying time. Reassure your child that their physical changes are normal. 

• Being critical of societal messages and images (social media, television and advertising). 

• Promoting eating for nourishment and pleasure. 

• Avoiding talking about diets and do not encourage your child to diet either. 

• Engaging in regular physical activity and keeping the focus on health, fun and enjoyment. 

• Trying to find a team sport they enjoy. 

• Making informed decisions about sports that have a strong emphasis on thinness or muscular form, e.g. gymnastics and ballet. 

• Teaching your child various healthy coping strategies to help them deal with life’s challenges. 

• Placing value on their achievements, e.g. talents, skills and personality characteristics. 

   

Look out for these signs if you’re worried your child is experiencing negative body image issues: 

• expressing thoughts or feelings about not liking their body or wanting to change their body 

• overly worrying about eating, food, body shape or weight 

• feeling anxious or irritable around the subject of food 

• changes in eating habits 

• frequent dieting behaviour (fasting, counting calories, avoiding food groups, etc.) 

• sensitivity to comments about body shape, weight, eating or exercise habits. 

Where to get support: 

• Well Being Team 

• Your GP (family doctor) 

• Butterfly Foundation https://butterfly.org.au/   

• Eating Disorders Victoria 1300 550 236

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SchoolTV – Body Image:

https://vermontsc.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/body-image 

 Penny Hsiao, Health Promotion Nurse 

The Power of Connection – reflection by a social work student 

One of the greatest strengths of a school community is the connections we build with one another. Whether it’s a smile in the corridor, a conversation with a teacher, or checking in with a friend, these every day interactions can have a lasting impact on a person’s wellbeing.  

As a social work student on placement at Vermont Secondary College, I feel incredibly lucky to have been welcomed in the community and experience firsthand the power connection has in the school environment. Connection isn’t always about solving problems, being someone’s friend or doing something remarkable, it often begins with simply listening, showing kindness and creating spaces where students feel comfortable being themselves. Connection provides people with a sense of belonging and fosters positive wellbeing and every member of our school community plays a role in developing connection, from teachers, support staff, students and families.  

Despite living in a world defined by digital connection through the presence of social media, rates of loneliness and social isolation for young people is soaring. Currently in Australia, 43% of young people report that they feel lonely, with one in seven recording persistent loneliness lasting more than two years. When loneliness persists or isn’t addressed, it can have adverse impacts on wellbeing and health, impacting sleep, affect and motivation.  

As a school we wish for every student to have meaningful connections and strive to ensure there are opportunities for everyone to achieve this. Whether it be through Toastie Thursdays, Drawing Club, Queer Alliance Club or many of the other programs run by wellbeing and the school. These programs provide an opportunity for students to develop friendships and new connections with students and staff in a safe and welcoming space.  

 Connor