Body image

Submission to the Australian Government Body Image Advisory Group (2009)

Negative body image is a serious issue for many young people, impacting on their health and wellbeing.

Promoting positive self-image and self-esteem is an important part of our work.  Around Australia, we run a number of programs for young women in particular, which aim to encourage positive, healthy self-image.

The YWCA also runs campaigns on this issue, particularly around International No Diet Day.

This submission recommends the development of a Body Image Code of Conduct for media and industry, amongst other things.

» Read our submission

As well as making a submission, YWCA Australia was also represented on the 12-person National Body Image Advisory Group.

» Find out more about the National Body Image Advisory Group and its report to the Australian Government

Health insurance regulations

Submission to the Health Insurance Regulations Inquiry (2008)

This was a submission to an Australian Government inquiry on a proposal to remove Medicare funding for "Management of second trimester labour, with or without induction, for intrauterine fetal death, gross fetal abnormality or lifethreatening disease".

We were concerned that if this funding were removed, women may be forced to continue pregnancies where their baby was likely to die before or during birth due to a fatal condition or gross abnormality. We were also concerned that removing the funding could jeopardise vital medical care of women with life-threatening illnesses, where that care could damage the fetus.

» Read our submission

Family planning in developing countries

Letter to the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs calling for the Australian Government to remove 'AusAID Family Planning Guidelines' (3 Feb 2009)

YWCA Australia supported the campaign to remove restrictions on AusAID's funding of organisations to provide family planning advice.

We urged the Australian Government to remove the 'guidelines' which banned Australian aid and development funds being used to provide information about unsafe abortions, and abortion services, even in countries where abortion is legal.

Many thousands of women had been dying each year from unsafe abortions as a direct result of these guidelines.

» Read our letter

The guidelines, which was imposed in 1996, were removed in September 2009.