If you feel like your friendship circle has shrunk in recent years, what can you do about it? Asks Anastasia Hronis, Loneliness is quietly emerging as one of the most significant health issues in Australia, and it can affect people of all ages, backgrounds and life stages. Long-term...
No diagnoses and no gap fees for physios and speechies. What else do we know about Thriving Kids? Asks Helen Dickinson and Molly Saunders. Thriving Kids is back in the spotlight, after the states and territories agreed last week to match the federal government’s A$2 billion...
Some schools now offer breakfast to students before the school day begins — while many others do not. In recent years, a growing number of Australian schools have introduced breakfast clubs or morning meal programs, often supported by community groups and charities. The trend reflects...
If you think your child might have developmental delays, having them assessed early can make a lasting difference. In this personal story, Helen D* reflects on the moment her family stopped wondering — and started seeking support. “Thousands of young children have developmental delays, but it is...
Children’s songs are meant to be comforting, imaginative and timeless. But during one ordinary bedtime singalong, John Hershey realises that some of our most beloved classics might be quietly preparing kids for a world of sealing wax, string… and very low expectations from dragons. A Bedtime...
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 in...
Coffee first entered human lives and veins over 600 years ago, writes Clare Collins. Here’s how much it’s OK to drink. Now we consume an average of almost two kilos per person each year – sometimes with very specific preferences about blends and preparation methods. How...
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 for...
School is back and, with it, the daily task of packing a lunchbox, writes Margaret Murray. If your child is coming home with uneaten sandwiches, you’re not alone. They’re easy to make and transport, but sometimes the last thing kids (or adults) want to eat. The food...
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...
