Is it only just an increase in sick days? How can Australia fix this? ask researchers Jordana Hunter, Amy Haywood and Molly Chapman On a typical school day in Australia last year, about 11% of students were absent. In 2014, the figure was 7%. Two in...
How parents shape a child’s pain response matters, writes Joshua Pate It happens in slow motion. Your six-year-old daughter is sprinting across the playground at school drop-off time when her toe catches on uneven ground. She goes down hard. The playground goes silent. She freezes and looks...
More than 20 sunscreens were pulled from the shelves in 2025 after testing showed they were below their advertised SPF rating – so where does this leave us for summer 2026? Asks Sophie Paquet-Fifield In Australia, we are exposed to some of the harshest and most...
If your child falls apart the moment they get home from school, you’re not imagining it — and you’re definitely not alone. Afternoon meltdowns, bedtime blow-ups and tears over seemingly small things are incredibly common in young children, especially during the early primary years. What looks like...
Australia is battling its biggest rise in whooping cough cases in 35 years. So why the surge? Asks Archana Koirala During 2024 and 2025 Australia recorded 82,513 whooping cough cases – the highest number since monitoring began in 1991. Also known as pertussis or the “100-day cough”,...
Australia introduced new rules on December 10th, 2025 requiring social media platforms to stop children under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. This extract is from Screen Smart Children, which answers many of the burning questions parents might have. One reason for the new social media...
New Australian research shows that raising the school-leaving age reduced child maltreatment and emergency hospital visits. Here’s why staying in school matters for vulnerable teens. When staying at school protects children Keeping teenagers engaged in school doesn’t just improve learning outcomes — it can also protect their...
For many families, the holidays mean sleep routines go out the window. Bedtimes drift later, screens stay on into the late evening, sleep-ins become the norm. Researchers Yaqoot Fatima, Danielle Wilson, Jasneek Chawla, and Nisreen Aouira show how to get them back into a sleep...
A government review wants schools to respond to bullying complaints within 2 days. Is this fair? What else do we need? Asks Matthew White and Paul Kidson Recently, the federal government released its rapid review into school bullying. Authored by clinical psychologist Charlotte Keating and suicide prevention...
Why what kids eat at school still matters – and how to keep it realistic The first weeks of a new school year often bring a surprising mix of emotions – and not always from the kids. Many parents feel the pressure most keenly at the...
