School education needs radical reform if students are to thrive in an increasingly complex world, writes Greg Whitby. For the past 150 years, schooling has remained largely unchanged. For many, the launch of the Federal Government’s Digital Education Revolution initiative in 2008 was the first sign...
Dr Melissa Kang contemplates how sex education is treated in Australian classrooms, homes, media and peer groups. Background History The scientific study of human sexuality in Western societies began just over 100 years ago. Prior to then, societies allowed the church to dictate the purpose, meaning and...
Teachers, parents and particularly other students are responsible for helping to prevent bullying, says Sam Chadwick. "I was only joking, I didn’t mean it!” How many times have I heard that in my 10 years of teaching? These words are so often spoken by children when...
Mary Pearl recalls seeking sweet relief from her toddler’s supermarket tantrums. There was a toddler having a tantrum in my local supermarket. He gulped and he sobbed. He took deep hiccoughing breaths and he shrieked. The shrieks became howls of rage. His cheeks puffed and his...
Amber Hamam finds herself in murky water as she overhears some bath-time whispers. I’m not conservative or a prude, but is it too much to ask that my daughter have an innocent childhood? I was at a children’s party recently, and since it ran late into the...
The roller-coaster ride of parenting becomes more challenging when Amanda McLeod is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I lost friends and colleagues who found it difficult to deal with my highs, lows and erratic behaviour. After 12 months of trying to conceive, I was overjoyed when the pregnancy...
After years of not fitting in, Brooke Lumsden’s son finally finds his feet. Entering the hall, I look around for signs of reassurance. There are only a few children – an upper-primary-age boy practising his spotting, a confident teenager full of rhythm who kicks up his...
Four-year-old Lucy Deerborn has survived two malignant tumours and lives with neurofibromatosis, a congenital condition that has no cure, writes Jane Reid. The first time I talked to Kristy Deerborn*, her daughter Lucy* had been in remission from a malignant tumour for two years. The tumour...
Clinical psychologist Renee Mill explains that the apprehension that many children feel about starting a new school year can be relieved by following some simple strategies. Listening to a message left by Reeva Simons* on my voicemail, I noted some anxiety in her voice. I called back...
Giving of one’s free time reaps rewards for everyone concerned, writes Lucinda Bertram. As Australians, we pride ourselves on our generous nature. While in some countries volunteer fire-fighters and lifeguards are unheard of, the situation in Australia proves that money doesn’t need to be a motivator....
