by Professor Gary RanceWe all know that talking and listening in large, noisy spaces (like restaurants, shopping centres or concert venues) is tough. Trying to piece together snippets of conversation with background noise is frustrating, exhausting and a definite barrier to communication. Hearing and understanding speech...
Fewer than 1 in 5 students who are behind in Year 3 catch up and stay caught up, report researchers Olivia Groves and Lucy Lu We want all students to finish school with the literacy and numeracy skills they need to take advantage of post-school opportunities...
Jessica Holloway looks at why we need to go beyond the headline figures This year’s national NAPLAN results are out, with the news only two-thirds of Australian students met minimum achievement levels in literacy and numeracy. The headlines are everything we would expect them to be –...
Fees keep climbing, and the Australian consumer watchdog is only halfway through an inquiry into childcare prices, reports Danielle Wood The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s interim report was released on Wednesday. It comes just days after the federal government’s increased childcare subsidies kicked in on...
At this time of year, many parents and carers are asking a familiar set of questions, write Kate Highfield and Victoria Minson Should I send my child to school next year? Are they ready? Would it be better to hold them back? These are complex questions. Here...
Tatachilla Lutheran College has pioneered the introduction of an iFarm, a cutting-edge initiative aimed at advancing agricultural science and STEM education. Developed by innovators Steve and Kate Mansur, the iFarm serves as a fully computerized outdoor farm research station, featuring eight automated garden beds. These...
Children and Media Australia's President, Prof. Elizabeth Handsley, has partnered with Dr Kim Le, child and adolescent psychiatrist, in a new podcast, 'Outside the Screen '. To help parents and families decide what's going to be best for the children and young people in their lives,...
There are more effective options than the pill. But they can be hard to find, report Deborah Bateson and Kathleen McNamee Australians’ access to a range of contraceptive options depends on where they live and how wealthy they are. A recent parliamentary inquiry recommends ways to...
Frances Doyle has 5 expert tips to save the day Book Week is here again. Around Australia, parents of primary school-aged children are coming up with costumes, so their kids can take part in parades. Some kids are going to love wearing costumes and showing them off...
Research hints children under 5 can easily confuse dog emotions, Melissa Starling finds. To most of us, a dog showing its teeth is a pretty clear signal of a threat. In 1872, Charles Darwin first suggested animals showed emotions similar to ours in their body language,...
