Financial abuse: the warning signs many women don’t recognise until it’s too late

Financial abuse is one of the most common — and least recognised — forms of domestic and family violence. It often hides in everyday money decisions, quietly stripping women of independence, safety and choice. Experts from UNSW Sydney say financial abuse is frequently invisible — even to the person experiencing it — until a crisis forces finances into...

EDITOR’S PICKS

How to get managers to say yes to flexible work arrangements
According to new research in the modern workplace, by Melissa A. Wheeler, Anne Bardoel, Asanka Gunasekara and Lindsie Arthur, flexible arrangements can be as important as salary for some. For many employees, flexibility is no longer a nice-to-have luxury. It has become a fundamental requirement...
Editor
19 February, 2026
Why are 11% of Aussie students absent on a typical school day?
Is it only just an increase in sick days? How can Australia fix this? ask researchers Jordana Hunter, Amy Haywood and Molly Chapman On a typical school day in Australia last year, about 11% of students were absent. In 2014, the figure was 7%. Two...
Editor
12 February, 2026
Screen Smart Children: Helping Kids Thrive as Australia Limits Social Media for Under-16s
Australia introduced new rules on December 10th, 2025 requiring social media platforms to stop children under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. This extract is from Screen Smart Children, which answers many of the burning questions parents might have. One reason for the new social...
Editor
05 February, 2026
Back to School 2026: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference for Kids
As the new school year approaches, many families feel the familiar mix of excitement, nerves and long to-do lists. From resetting routines to packing lunchboxes and navigating technology, the return to school can feel overwhelming — but experts say it’s often the small, practical changes...
Editor
29 January, 2026
Book Review: Do you know a youngster about to start school?
Do you know a youngster about to start school? There are some great new books available to help ease the introduction. Starting School All About Stating School by Felicity Brooks, illus. by Mar Ferrero, an Usborne Book, pub. HarperCollins, h/b RRP$19.99. Ages 3+ Usborne books...
Editor
22 January, 2026
What makes a good school for your child?
We often see lists of ‘top’ schools. But what makes a good school for your child? Nicole Brownlie and Renee Desmarchelier look behind what makes a good school for your child. Lists of Australia’s “top” schools regularly make headlines. We see this every year with...
Editor
15 January, 2026

Celebrating Mothers

When Your Youngest Starts School: The Quiet Identity Crisis No One Warns You About
When the school gate finally closes behind your youngest child, the emotions can be surprisingly complicated. Chaley Scott reflects on the quiet ache, shifting identity and unexpected question many parents face: what happens now? Everyone said it. “You’ll be fine.” “You won’t have enough hours...
Editor
19 February, 2026
What Parents Are Googling Right Now (And Why We’re All Doing It)
If you’re anything like me, parenting (and pregnancy) has a habit of sending you down some very specific Google rabbit holes, writes Susie Williams From sleep and behaviour to screens and pregnancy worries, parents’ search histories offer a revealing snapshot of what’s really weighing on...
Editor
12 February, 2026
News of a ‘giant’ baby boy is all over TikTok.
News of a ‘giant’ baby boy is all over TikTok. Here’s what women really need to know, reports Hannah Dahlen Baby boy Cassian is an internet sensation. He was born earlier this year in the United States weighing 5.8 kilograms. But after his mum and...
Editor
05 February, 2026
When Starting School Is Harder on Parents Than Children
Starting school was a far bigger wrench for me than it was for my son, writes Cathy Watson “Sending my second child – my ‘soft’ son – into the ruthless world of school was a harsh concept and I struggled with it far more than...
Editor
22 January, 2026