Not every parent has family or friends close by, but there are simple ways to create the support network your children—and you—need. Why a Village Matters Parenting can feel overwhelming when you don’t have people to lean on. While some families have grandparents, neighbours and friends close...
Australian children are being robbed of their childhood, according to Barnardos Australia, as new research reveals that more than one in three children in single-parent families are living in poverty. The latest Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey shows that 36.2% of children...
As Australia navigates rising ADHD diagnoses, expanding pharmaceutical interventions, and new support frameworks like Thriving Kids, critical reflection and transparency remain essential. The Therapeutic State: When Morality Becomes Medicine Where people were once judged for simply behaving badly, psychiatry now often treats those same behaviours as medical...
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...
After speaking with many parents who have lost children to suicide, here’s what Debbie Swibel wishes all parents could know. For many parents, the thought of speaking to their children about suicide sparks fear and anxiety. It feels daunting, too confronting, or not suitable for their...
Coercive control: the silent abuse harming children nationwide Barnardos Australia is warning that children across rural and regional Australia are becoming the hidden victims of coercive control — a form of domestic violence that uses intimidation, surveillance and financial restriction rather than physical assault. Although often invisible...
Lisa Burling looks at outdated myths and the new awareness of advanced wound dressings. Every parent knows the routine: a tumble in the playground, a grazed knee, and a dash to the bathroom cabinet. For generations, we’ve reached for a plaster, dabbed on some antiseptic cream,...
Australia set to ban ‘nudify’ apps, writes Nicola Henry. How will it work? The Australian government has announced plans to ban “nudify” tools and hold tech platforms accountable for failing to prevent users from accessing them. This is part of the government’s overall strategy to move towards...
Dr YooMi Byun reports on her study of the association between 8 years of fathers’ psychological problems and children’s social and emotional wellbeing. The Changing Role of Fathers in Children’s Lives The role of fathers has changed significantly in most developed societies over time. As mothers have...
If your child has a FASD diagnosis, or you’re considering getting a diagnosis, it can feel daunting. But a diagnosis unlocks understanding and support. It’s not the end of the journey, it’s the beginning. Diagnosis opens the doors Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), often called a “hidden...
