Our stories

5 min read

How on-demand buses can transform travel and daily life for people with disabilities

by Ainsley Hughes

People with disabilities arguably stand to gain the most from good public transport, but are continually excluded by transport systems that still aren’t adapted to their needs as the law requires. One in six people aged 15 and over with disability have difficulty using some or all forms of public transport. One in seven are not able to use public transport at all.

Health and Wellbeing 6 min read

How bad is vaping and should it be banned?

by Nicole Lee, Brigid Clancy

Vaping regularly makes headlines, with some campaigning to make e-cigarettes more available to help smokers quit, while others are keen to see vaping products banned, citing dangers, especially for teens.

Education 5 min read

Our study found new teachers perform just as well in the classroom as their more experienced colleagues

by Jenny Gore

The past four decades have seen an endless stream of reviews into teacher education. This comes amid constant concerns teachers are not adequately prepared for the classroom.

Our Communities 4 min read

What Australia learned from recent devastating floods – and how New Zealand can apply those lessons now

by Iftekhar Ahmed

Australia and New Zealand have both faced a series of devastating floods triggered by climate change and the return of the La Niña weather pattern. So it makes sense that Australia has now sent disaster crews to help with the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Arts, Culture and Society 6 min read

Long before the Voice vote, the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association called for parliamentary representation

by John Maynard

The most startling point on the referendum for a Voice to parliament is the fact the majority of people in this country have no idea of history. And I mean both Black and white people.

Health and Wellbeing 4 min read

We got some key things wrong about long COVID. Here are 5 things we’ve learnt

by Peter Wark

In late 2020 as we hid from COVID behind the moat of “fortress Australia”, we started to hear that in some people, COVID symptoms persisted for months. They were called “long haulers” or had “long COVID”.

Environment 4 min read

Why El Niño doesn’t mean certain drought

by Abraham Gibson, Danielle Verdon-Kidd

The Bureau of Meteorology released its latest climate driver update on Tuesday, saying the current La Niña has weakened and is “likely near its end”. Most climate models now point to neutral conditions – neither El Niño nor La Niña – through autumn and a trend towards El Niño in early spring

Environment 5 min read

‘Forever chemicals’ have made their way to farms. For now, levels in your food are low – but there’s no time to waste

by Ravi Naidu

They stop your food from sticking to the pan. They prevent stains in clothes and carpets. They help firefighting foam to extinguish fires. But the very thing that makes “forever chemicals” so useful also makes them dangerous.

Health and Wellbeing 5 min read

6 reasons why it’s so hard to see a GP

by Louise Stone, Jennifer May

The recently released Strengthening Medicare Taskforce report found more people are delaying care or attending emergency departments because they can’t get in to see a GP.

Business, Law and Politics 5 min read

Putin is now implicated in the downing of flight MH17 – so why is the investigation shutting down?

by Amy Maguire

The investigation into the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 has found “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised the supply of the missiles used by separatists to shoot down the plane.

Arts, Culture and Society 10 min read

‘No home to go to, and no means of living’: how colonial vagrancy laws punished the poor

by Catharine Coleborne

Vagrancy – being found in the street without any visible means of support – was a crime in many parts of Australia right up to the final decades of the 20th century. In some jurisdictions, vagrancy laws were only repealed in the early 2000s.

Health and Wellbeing 5 min read

Can chewing help manage stress, pain and appetite? Here’s what the science says

by Clare Collins

Ever feel a bit stressed or need a concentration boost? Research suggests one remedy may be right under your nose. Chewing has benefits for brain function, stress, anxiety, exam performance, pain perception, as well as hunger and food intake.

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