True Stories: 1 in 25 Australians have been estranged from their families

1 in 25 Australians have been estranged from their families, writes Marina Deller. True stories about this can make people feel less alone. Have you stopped speaking to one or more of your parents or a sibling? If so, you’re not alone. Family estrangement is a common phenomenon that affects approximately one in 25 Australians. Fictional portrayals...

EDITOR’S PICKS

Keeping Calm in Year 12: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the Final School Year
As children approach their final year of school, keeping a sense of perspective can be useful for students and over-eager parents alike, writes Elizabeth Quinn. Navigating Year 12: Why Parents Need Perspective Too Year 12 can be a trying time for both students and their...
Editor
19 June, 2025
Who Gets the Dog? What New Separation Laws Mean for Families Who have ‘fur babies’
New pet custody rules, stronger financial protections and easier divorces – what Australia’s 2025 family law reforms mean for parents and pet lovers. A major shift in Australia’s family law could affect everything from your finances to who gets to keep the family dog. If...
Editor
12 June, 2025
Travelling with Food Allergies? New Hub Helps Families Plan Safe Holidays
With school holidays approaching fast, here is a timely new website for those who have to navigate a holiday if your child has life-threatening food allergies. Plan well, eat smart and travel safe with Australia’s first Food Allergy Travel Hub For many families living with...
Editor
05 June, 2025
How to Handle Your Child’s Hardest Questions—Without Losing Your Mind
From “Why do people die?” to “Do bees have knees?”, children’s questions can catch us off guard — especially when we’re tired or unsure ourselves, writes Dr Susan White But research shows that how we respond is more important than having all the answers. The...
Editor
29 May, 2025
Why Kids Ask So Many Questions — And Why It Matters
Dr Susan White looks at why young children ask so many questions — and why do they so often catch us off guard at the worst possible times? As it turns out, their constant curiosity is more than a phase. It’s how they learn, grow,...
Editor
22 May, 2025
New ‘Be Internet Awesome’ Program Helps Aussie Parents Teach Kids Online Safety
Google Australia has teamed up with Life Ed and Healthy Harold to launch a new initiative aimed at helping parents and teachers guide kids safely through the digital world. A United Effort to Keep Kids Safe OnlineWith children spending more time than ever online, the...
Editor
15 May, 2025

Celebrating Mothers

What is the long-term impact of Premature babies being given sucrose for pain relief?
New research shows it doesn’t stop long-term impacts on development, reports researcher Mia McLean Infants born very preterm spend weeks or even months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) while their immature brains are still developing. During this time, they receive up to 16...
Editor
20 June, 2025
A new website takes a close look at the evidence behind ‘IVF add-ons’
Many IVF optional extras – or ‘add-ons’ – are not supported by good-quality evidence that shows they are effective or safe, report Dr Sarah Lensen and Sara Attinger. A new website now helps patients navigate these options For many patients, IVF is a stressful and...
Editor
15 May, 2025
Pregnancy and Food Allergies: Research is trying to find the answers
Can what you eat during pregnancy and breastfeeding affect whether your child develops food allergies? Researchers Jennifer Koplin, Debbie Palmer and Desalegn Markos Shifti find some answers. Many questions pop up when you’re growing or raising a new baby. Among them, women often wonder if what they...
Editor
14 May, 2025
Embracing The Moment
Marian O’Connell finds that her response to her son’s bedtime demands turns from severe frustration to serene reflection. There is an almost imperceptible change in breathing and a certain weightlessness that overcomes a child when they finally fall asleep. This is detectable only to the...
Editor
08 May, 2025