Rising overdoses prompt sales halt. An international retailer has suspended sales of melatonin gummies and supplements in Australia after a sharp rise in overdoses among children, prompting fresh warnings for parents to focus on safe sleep routines. The US-based store iHerb confirmed it has paused all melatonin...
A new study based on media reports finds young Australian e-scooter riders are much more likely than adults to die in crashes on our roads. Milad Haghani asks, are our kids disproportionately at risk while riding them? Recently, I’ve repeatedly come across tragic news reports of...
Teenagers no longer answer the phone: is it a lack of manners or a new trend? Asks Anne Cordier Teenagers can seem to have their phones glued to their hands – yet they won’t answer them when they ring. This scenario, which is all too familiar...
Nearly 140,000 Australian babies were protected against severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this winter, thanks to the country’s world-first National RSV Mother and Infant Protection Program. Early results show a 30% drop in hospital admissions for infants under six months, including a 33% fall in intensive care admissions,...
Australia has dedicated ministers for aged care and seniors and youth and early childhood education. But there is no federal minister with a sole focus on children. Why? asks Kate Fitz-Gibbon Child safety and wellbeing is never far from the headlines, and no more so than...
Soft plastics recycling looks set to return to supermarkets. Cutting back on plastic would be even better, write researchers Louise Grimmer, Robert Hoffmann and Swee-Hoon Chuah Imagine the weight of three Sydney Harbour Bridges. Between 2022 and 2023, product manufacturers were responsible for 540,000 tonnes (or...
eSafety Report Exposes Industry-Wide Failures, report by the International Justice Mission Australia The Australian Government is being urged to deliver on its promise to legislate a digital duty of care, following a damning new report from the eSafety Commissioner.Transparency notices released in August 2025 reveal that...
Australia’s new social media laws start in December – but experts say mums, dads and carers are still the most important line of defence when it comes to online safety. New Social Media Laws Begin in December From 10 December 2025, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and...
Many families find feeding children a constant challenge. But turning to social media for advice may do more harm than good, write Georgia Middleton, Eloise Litterbach and Emily Denniss SolStock/Getty Image A favourite food is suddenly refused, someone is grumpy after a long day, and siblings fight...
And it could be harming them, write researchers Liz Spry and Craig Olsson Teenagers are increasingly turning to AI companions for friendship, support, and even romance. But these apps could be changing how young people connect to others, both online and off. New research by Common Sense...
