7 red flags your teen might be in an abusive relationship-and 6 signs it’s escalating.

Carmel Hobbs reports that Australian teens need adults to help them recognise red flags for potentially abusive relationships. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates 2.2 million adults have been victims of physical and/or sexual violence from a partner since the age of 15. Almost one in three Australian teens aged 18–19 report experiences of intimate partner violence...

EDITOR’S PICKS

What are the health impacts for families who can’t access daycare?
‘I was 170th on their list’. Marg Rogers, Margaret Sims and Michelle Gossner report on the growing regions in “childcare deserts”. Imagine living in a town where three or more families are competing for a single early learning place. This is the reality for many families...
Editor
16 October, 2025
Australia: HILDA provides insights into a changing Nation
Fewer friends, more time stress: the essential charts from this year’s HILDA survey, writes Inga Lass, Ferdi Botha, Kyle Peyton and Roger Wilkins. Every year, one of Australia’s biggest longitudinal surveys provides a range of insights on how the nation is changing. The Household, Income and...
Editor
09 October, 2025
ADHD: Controversy, Diagnosis, and Critiques
Robert Spillane presents a controversial view that ADHD may be overdiagnosed and over-medicalised. When I was studying clinical psychology in the 1960s, my teachers were adamant that when it comes to children, ‘hands off’. In those halcyon days, children misbehaved; they did not suffer from...
Editor
02 October, 2025
Movie Reviews: Family-friendly movies ready for the Spring school holidays
Enjoy the experience of going to the BIG SCREEN at a cinema near you. It makes great memories and is not the same as watching movies at home! Kangaroo (2025) Rated: PG Runs: 107mins Chris Masterman (Ryan Corr), a disgraced TV weatherman, finds new purpose...
Editor
25 September, 2025
School Holiday Survival Guide: Spring 2025 Edition
These holidays are a great time to get outside, try something new, or mix low-key and special outings so downtime still feels interesting. Fresh air, blossoms, and longer days — Spring school holidays are here! Whether you’re after outdoor adventures, rainy-day escapes, or unique family...
Editor
18 September, 2025
The AI revolution is reshaping learning – but at what cost?
AI in Classrooms: Promise and Risk for Young Learners warn CQUniversity researchers. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming Australian classrooms but CQUniversity researchers warn the tech revolution could be quietly rewiring young brains and not for the better. CQUniversity researchers Dr Ragnar Purje and Professor Ken...
Editor
11 September, 2025

Celebrating Mothers

Holding Onto Childhood—Why Some Memories Stick and Others Fade
Kate Gorringe-Smith considers the qualities of the mental images we hold of our own families, and how others remember our children. Parents see daily change, but it’s relatives who hold vivid snapshots. Why memory works this way—and how to treasure your child’s fleeting stages. The...
Editor
16 October, 2025
Surrogacy Families Left Without Hospital Support, Study Finds
National guidelines are urgently needed to give clarity and consistency to the rules around surrogacy. For many Australians, surrogacy offers a precious pathway to parenthood. In Australia, surrogacy is altruistic only – meaning it’s not paid, beyond covering expenses – and often takes place between close friends...
Editor
19 September, 2025
Managing Gestational Diabetes: Diagnosis, Treatment and Long-Term Risks
In part two, Dr Sam Tormey explains how gestational diabetes is diagnosed, managed, and what it can mean for both mother and baby. How Gestational Diabetes is Detected A routine test often detects these higher-than-usual blood-glucose levels during pregnancy, before they actually cause any symptoms....
Editor
18 September, 2025
Raising a Shy Child: One Mum’s Journey to Nurturing Confidence and Friendship
Katrina Germein writes about her son’s shyness and her efforts to help him socialise. The Lightning-Bolt Realisation A friend once told me that when her son turned three, she realised he wasn’t sporty. He preferred books and indoor play over running and kicking balls. That...
Editor
18 September, 2025