Learn to live and let live

By Kath Gannaway
AN EXCITING body image program developed at Healesville Living and Learning Centre has been made available to schools and community groups through the wonders of Wikispace.
Happiness In Your Own Skin was conceived in collaboration with a group of Healesville High School students doing VCE/VET studies at the centre, using funding from the Go For Your Life – Positive Body Image Grants program.
One of the strategies was a Blacked Out Mirrors day, which involved blacking out all the mirrored surfaces to capture the reaction of students and teachers.
The activity aimed at raising awareness of positive body image and providing an opportunity for people to engage in conversation about the issues as well as developing strategies for promoting a healthy body image in their own communities.
Healesville Living & Learning Centre program co-ordinator Darren Grainger said the original program came to a halt due to the upheaval of the Black Saturday bushfires.
He, however, felt it was too good an opportunity to let go.
Mr Grainger seconded Dannielle Jakobs, a volunteer at the centre to run the Blacked Out Mirrors day, targeting the VCE/VET students who were asked to comment on the project and complete a survey.
“As the project gained momentum, we realised that all the materials and tools we were developing for the campaign would form a kit that schools and community groups could use to run their own Blacked Out Mirrors day,” Mr Grainger said.
The project made a giant leap forward with the Wikispace development as a central point for groups to compile and discuss the project.
Mr Grainger said the Wikispace program would provide a useful record of the events and initiatives.
“It is a starting point to bring young people and the community together to promote positive body image and empower young people to be happy with who they are,” he said.
Schools and community groups who would like to know more about the centre’s positive body image projects and the Blacked Out Mirrors Campaign, can contact Mr Grainger at Healesville Living & Learning Centre on 5962 5982.