Butterfly Body Bright

Program description

Butterfly Body Bright is Australia's first body image program targeted at whole of primary school. The program is designed to support positive body image and healthy attitudes towards the body, eating, and physical activity. School staff and parents are supported with information on early prevention and intervention of significant body image issues.

This program is school-led and includes online resources such as school culture guidelines, staff training, lesson plans, and digital resources. The program also includes free online content and optional seminars to support families.

Intended outcomes

• Improved student body image, body appreciation, self-compassion, media literacy skills, confidence to deal with appearance teasing, and intention to seek help
• Reduced incidence of appearance-related teasing, weight stigma, and internalisation of appearance ideals
• Improved educator knowledge of key influences on children's body image and awareness of early identification and intervention
• Enhanced school culture and environment that promotes and protects student body image
• Improved awareness and early identification of the body and/or eating concerns that may arise for children
• Increased parent awareness of body image influences, key risk and protective factors, strategies to promote positive body image in the home environment and early intervention
• Increased parent ability to support their children and positively role model body image.

Program details

Implementation considerations

• Target population: Primary students, their educators and their parents and carers.
• Program adaptability: The program offers broad concepts around diversity and inclusivity to support staff tailor content accordingly to the needs of their students. Content will continually be refreshed and reviewed alongside advances in research on children's body image.
• Staffing: Backfilling may be necessary depending on when staff choose to complete the online and self-paced training.
• Training requirements: The online Staff Training is self-paced and takes approximately 4 hours to complete 5 compulsory modules. To access the staff training and teaching materials, schools will require a computer/device and internet technology. For the delivery of some of the BRIGHT lessons, it is recommended that schools have access to audio-visual equipment (such as a laptop and projector or class TV). Most lessons require printing black and white worksheets.
• Factors to consider: Staff have the flexibility with which lessons they deliver and when. A minimum of six staff must complete the training to be considered as a Body Bright school.
• Australian context: This program has been developed and applied in Australia.

Cost

Item cost

Free

Detailed cost

Butterfly Body Bright was developed, evaluated, and launched with the support of a philanthropic donation. All school program components (including school culture guidelines, staff training, lessons, and online family resources) are currently offered free due to funding support from 2 corporate donations.

The program has secured funding from the Federal Government. Australian primary schools who sign up before 30 June 2023 will have 3 years access to the program from their date of registration. In the absence of further funding the annual registration fee for 12 months, full access to the program will be $412.50 inc. GST.

Butterfly Body Bright registered schools will have the opportunity to book an optional seminar for their parents. This will be charged at a cost of $825 (inc. GST) per session to have unlimited participants and school access to a recording of the session for 2 weeks following the session.