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AAP
AAP
Politics
Andrew Brown

Body image teacher Australian of the Year

Body positive writer and film director Taryn Brumfitt has been named 2023 Australian of the Year. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Australian writer and film director Taryn Brumfitt has been on a mission to get more people to love the skin they're in.

Brumfitt used her 2016 documentary, Embrace, to examine why people - particularly women - hate their bodies, as well as her own journey of acceptance.

Her work has since been seen in almost 200 countries and watched by millions of people on Netflix.

While many documentary makers look to find their next subject, Brumfitt's efforts to boost body positivity didn't end when the cameras stopped rolling.

She has since released a companion documentary, Embrace Kids, that targets children aged between nine and 14-years-old.

Brumfitt has also teamed up with experts to create a companion parenting book and free research hub.

The director's work on body positivity has led to her achieving her highest accolade yet: Australian of the Year for 2023.

National Australia Day Council chair Danielle Roche said Brumfitt's work had sparked powerful change on a personal level for many Australians and people around the world.

The PM has thanked the 2022 Australian of the Year award winners, including Dylan Alcott. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

"Taryn has inspired millions of women around the world to be comfortable in their own skin," Ms Roche said.

Brumfitt received the honour at a ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday night.

Indigenous human rights advocate Tom Calma was named Senior Australian of the Year, while Socceroos star and refugee advocate Awer Mabil was announced as Young Australian of the Year.

Local Hero for 2023 went to Turbans 4 Australia founder Amar Singh.

"Individually brilliant, Taryn, Tom, Awer and Amar share a common bond - using their life experience as a power for good, helping others around them and making the world a better place," Ms Roche said.

"These are an extraordinary group of Australians of whom we can all be incredibly proud."

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