NSW 2026 to 27 Pre-Budget Submission
Youth Body Confidence and Wellbeing Education Pack
Submitted by: NaturismRE Pty Ltd
Prepared by: Vincent Marty, Founder
Sydney, NSW
www.NaturismRE.com
Introduction
NaturismRE proposes the development and pilot implementation of a Youth Body Confidence and Wellbeing Education Pack for NSW schools and youth-focused community organisations. This resource is designed to address rising body image concerns, stigma-related anxiety and confidence challenges experienced by young people across the state. The program provides structured, age-appropriate lessons and activities that support body neutrality, emotional resilience, stigma awareness and healthy self-perception.
The proposed education pack complements and strengthens existing wellbeing, resilience and anti-bullying programs by introducing clear, evidence-based tools that are easy for teachers and facilitators to implement. The initiative directly addresses mental health issues that increasingly affect young people and contribute to long-term wellbeing challenges.
Background
Body image concerns among young people have become a significant and well-documented public health issue. Research indicates that negative body perception is closely linked to anxiety, depressive symptoms, bullying vulnerability, social withdrawal, avoidance of community activity and reduced engagement in physical and outdoor recreation. These challenges emerge early and frequently persist into adolescence and adulthood without targeted preventive support.
Schools and community programs provide critical opportunities to deliver early intervention. However, existing wellbeing programs vary widely across NSW and do not consistently provide structured education focused specifically on body neutrality, stigma reduction and confidence building. Teachers often report needing clearer, practical tools that are simple to use and grounded in current psychological research.
A dedicated Youth Body Confidence and Wellbeing Education Pack will fill this gap by offering consistent educational content that strengthens emotional resilience and promotes healthier self-perception across diverse school communities.
The challenge in NSW
Young people in NSW face increasing exposure to social media pressure, idealised imagery and comparison-based messaging. These influences contribute to unrealistic expectations that affect self-worth, belonging and participation. Body image concerns also reduce engagement in school activities, outdoor recreation and community involvement.
Without a structured and widely available education resource, schools rely on inconsistent materials or lack the time to develop their own. This leads to uneven support across NSW, leaving some students without effective early intervention.
The absence of a standardised education pack limits the state's ability to deliver consistent youth wellbeing outcomes and to address body confidence challenges at scale.
Proposal
NaturismRE proposes that NSW fund the creation and pilot rollout of a Youth Body Confidence and Wellbeing Education Pack designed for Years 5 to 12. The pack will include:
lesson modules on body neutrality, confidence, stigma awareness and emotional resilience
teacher guides and classroom resources
media literacy exercises focused on digital imagery and online influence
student activity sheets and reflection exercises
optional nature-based wellbeing activities
digital versions for flexible delivery
The pilot phase would involve selected schools and youth organisations across NSW, with feedback guiding refinement and statewide adoption.
Program design overview
The resource will be organised into five core modules containing short lessons, discussions and practical activities:
Understanding body neutrality
Emotional resilience and confidence building
Stigma awareness and empathy development
Healthy self-talk and media literacy
Optional outdoor mindfulness and nature-connected wellbeing practices
All content will be prepared in collaboration with educators, mental health specialists and youth development experts. No specialised training is required; the materials are designed for ease of implementation.
Implementation model
The program will be delivered in three phases.
Phase one. Development
Creation of content, expert review and digital formatting.
Phase two. Pilot rollout
Implementation in a representative sample of NSW schools and youth programs. Teachers will provide feedback on usability, engagement and curriculum alignment.
Phase three. Evaluation and refinement
Analysis of student and teacher responses to adjust the resource prior to broader rollout.
The final education pack will be available statewide following pilot evaluation.
Expected benefits
Health and wellbeing benefits
reduced body image distress
improved self-confidence and emotional resilience
better emotional regulation and coping skills
stronger school engagement and participation
lower risk of depression and anxiety
Social and community benefits
improved school climate and peer relationships
greater empathy and reduced stigma
enhanced inclusion and reduced bullying
better participation in community and recreational programs
Economic and educational benefits
lower long-term demand for counselling and mental health services
reduced behavioural challenges linked to low self-esteem
more effective use of school wellbeing time and staffing
strong alignment with NSW Health and NSW Education priorities
Alignment with NSW policy priorities
This initiative supports:
NSW mental health and resilience objectives
school wellbeing frameworks
anti-bullying and inclusion strategies
preventive health measures for youth
community participation and engagement programs
It enhances existing programs by addressing a specific, measurable wellbeing need.
Attachments
The following supporting documents accompany this submission and provide additional detail.
Youth Body Confidence and Wellbeing Education Framework
Evidence Brief on Body Image, Stigma and Youth Mental Health
These documents outline the research foundation, program structure and rationale for investment.
Slutsats
The Youth Body Confidence and Wellbeing Education Pack offers a low-cost, evidence-based solution to a significant and growing wellbeing challenge among young people in NSW. By equipping students with tools for resilience, healthy self-perception and stigma awareness, the program supports preventive mental health outcomes and strengthens school and community environments. NaturismRE is prepared to partner with NSW agencies, educators and youth organisations in developing and implementing this initiative.
Kontakt
Vincent Marty
Founder, NaturismRE Pty Ltd
Sydney, NSW
[email protected]
www.NaturismRE.com
+61 494 164 815
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Youth body confidence and wellbeing education framework
Prepared by NaturismRE Pty Ltd
Submitted by: Vincent Marty, Founder
Introduction
The Youth Body Confidence and Wellbeing Education Pack is a proposed educational resource designed to support students with body neutrality, confidence, stigma awareness, emotional resilience and healthy self-perception. This framework outlines the structure, learning outcomes and delivery approach for a program aimed at improving youth mental health and participation in school and community environments.
The pack is designed for use across NSW schools, youth programs and community organisations. It supports existing mental health and wellbeing initiatives by providing structured, age-appropriate content that addresses body image concerns early and consistently.
Purpose of the education pack
The resource aims to:
teach body neutrality and realistic body understanding
reduce stigma related to physical appearance
improve emotional resilience and confidence
provide tools for managing social pressure
support healthy self-talk and self-perception
strengthen school and community wellbeing programs
It is designed to complement existing anti-bullying, resilience and mental health materials used in NSW schools.
Core educational modules
The program consists of five modules.
Module one. Understanding body neutrality
Students learn that bodies vary naturally and that worth is not determined by appearance. This module reduces internalised comparison and self-judgment.
Module two. Confidence and emotional resilience
Activities help students build realistic self-belief, manage negative thoughts and practice emotional regulation strategies.
Module three. Stigma awareness and social pressure
Students explore how stigma forms, how it affects others and how to reduce harmful behaviours through empathy, inclusion and perspective-taking.
Module four. Healthy self-talk and media literacy
Students examine the influence of social media, advertising and online environments on body expectations. They learn practical ways to identify unrealistic portrayals.
Module five. Optional nature-based wellbeing lessons
Outdoor mindfulness, sunlight awareness, gentle movement and grounding exercises introduce students to accessible, non-competitive wellbeing practices.
Learning outcomes
Students will:
develop healthier self-perception
recognise stigma and respond with empathy
understand media distortion and comparison pressure
practice resilience-building techniques
increase confidence in school and community environments
engage in simple wellbeing activities that reduce stress
These outcomes support NSW mental health, education and wellbeing priorities.
Teacher and facilitator resources
The pack includes:
lesson guides
classroom conversation prompts
age-appropriate activity sheets
short videos or visual aids
follow-up reflection exercises
optional outdoor wellbeing activities
No specialised training is required. Schools can implement the program flexibly according to their wellbeing schedule.
Delivery model
The program is designed for:
primary years 5 to 6
secondary years 7 to 10
youth community programs
Delivery options include:
four-week learning blocks
integrated wellbeing lessons
small-group workshops
whole-school wellbeing days
Evaluation and pilot testing
The proposed pilot phase will:
collect feedback from teachers
measure student engagement
identify areas for improvement
assess changes in self-reported confidence and wellbeing
Findings will guide statewide refinement for broader NSW adoption.
Slutsats
The Youth Body Confidence and Wellbeing Education Pack provides NSW with a structured, accessible and research-informed resource to support student mental health. It fills a gap in existing wellbeing programs by addressing body neutrality and stigma awareness directly. The pack is low-cost, easy to implement and aligned with NSW educational and health priorities.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Evidence brief on body image, stigma and youth mental health
Prepared by NaturismRE Pty Ltd
Submitted by: Vincent Marty, Founder
Introduction
Body image concerns affect a significant proportion of young people in NSW and Australia. These concerns are linked to reduced confidence, avoidance of school or community activity, anxiety, depression and increased vulnerability to bullying. This evidence brief summarises research supporting the need for a structured body confidence education resource for NSW youth.
Body image and mental health
Research shows that body dissatisfaction is associated with:
higher rates of anxiety
lower self-esteem
increased depressive symptoms
emotional withdrawal and social isolation
avoidance of physical or community activity
These effects can appear early in adolescence and continue into adulthood if not addressed through preventive education.
Stigma and social pressure
Stigma related to appearance affects how young people participate in school, sport, outdoor spaces and social environments. Stigma contributes to:
fear of judgment
self-consciousness
reduced help-seeking behaviour
susceptibility to bullying or exclusion
Addressing stigma early helps prevent its long-term emotional and behavioural impacts.
Media influence on youth perception
Social media plays a significant role in shaping unrealistic appearance expectations. Studies show that frequent exposure to idealised bodies increases:
comparison pressure
insecure self-evaluation
feelings of inadequacy
belief that appearance determines value
Teaching media literacy helps students interpret images critically and protect their emotional wellbeing.
Importance of resilience and emotional regulation
Resilience-building programs reduce the impact of negative self-talk and improve coping capacity. Teaching emotional regulation skills helps students manage stress and pressure arising from appearance-based concerns.
Effective resilience education is associated with:
better mental health outcomes
improved school engagement
lower anxiety
greater ability to manage social pressure
Outdoor wellbeing as supportive intervention
Outdoor activities contribute to:
improved mood
stress reduction
healthy emotional regulation
increased confidence in social environments
These simple practices are easy for schools to include and beneficial for students who experience classroom pressure or emotional overload.
Why NSW needs a dedicated education resource
NSW has wellbeing programs, but none focused specifically on body neutrality, stigma reduction and confidence building. A structured resource can:
provide consistency across schools
reduce emotional distress linked to body image
equip teachers with ready-to-use tools
support youth wellbeing and mental health strategies
contribute to a more inclusive school culture
Slutsats
Body image concerns and appearance-based stigma are significant contributors to youth mental health challenges. Research shows clear benefits of early education on body neutrality, media literacy, confidence and resilience. A Youth Body Confidence and Wellbeing Education Pack will help NSW strengthen preventive mental health supports while providing students with practical, evidence-based wellbeing tools.