Society

Arts, Culture and Society

It’s time to face an uncomfortable truth: maybe our pampered pets would be better off without us

by Nancy Cushing - Associate Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Newcastle

Pet-keeping is often promoted for the benefits it brings humans. A close association with another animal can provide us with a sense of purpose and a daily dose of joy.

Arts, Culture and Society

Pope Francis tried to change the Catholic Church for women, with mixed success

by Tracy McEwan School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences and Kathleen McPhillips Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Science

Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. On Easter Sunday, he used his message and blessing to appeal for peace in Middle East and Ukraine.

Busines, Law and Politics

Conservative governments protect more land while socialists and nationalists threaten more species

by Matt Hayward, Professor of Conservation Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Andrea Griffin, Associate Professor in Wildlife Conservation Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, and Jacob Jones, PhD Candidate in Conservation Politics, School of Environmental and Life Sciences

The dire state of biodiversity across the globe suggests not all governments are willing to act decisively to protect nature. Why is that the case, and is a country’s political ideology a factor?

Health and Wellbeing

Should school nurses weigh students? We asked 5 experts

by Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics (University of Newcastle), Fron Jackson-Webb Deputy Editor and Senior Health Editor (The Conversation), Brett Montgomery, Senior Lecturer in General Practice (The University of Western Australia), Natasha Yates, General Practitioner & PhD Candidate (Bond University), Rachael Jefferson, Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead in Human Movement Studies (Health and PE) and Creative Arts (Charles Sturt University), and Vivienne Lewis, Assistant

One in four Australian children aged two to 17 are classified as above a healthy weight, based on their body mass index (or BMI, which is weight divided by height squared).

Busines, Law and Politics

Australia’s first civilian jury was entirely female. Here’s how ‘juries of matrons’ shaped our legal history.

by Alice Neikirk, Lecturer in the School of Law and Justice

It’s hard to imagine now, but for almost 1,000 years, pregnant women in England could avoid the death penalty just by virtue of being pregnant. A pregnant woman sentenced to death would receive a stay of execution until the baby was born.

Busines, Law and Politics

Digital ‘death knocks’: is it fair game for journalists to mine social media profiles of victims and their families?

by Alysson Watson, Associate Lecturer at the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences

The family of Ash Good, one of the Bondi stabbing victims and the mother of the nine-month-baby who was also stabbed, issued a plea overnight for media to stop reproducing photos of Ash, her partner and their baby without consent.

Arts, Culture and Society

Big dreams built through remote community partnership

by Shahni Wellington

The unlikely pairing of outback Menindee and seaside Newcastle have successfully bridged the distance

Education

Teacher transformation scores top marks

by Madelaine Love

A new way of teaching has helped turn the tables at Cessnock High School. The results speak for themselves.

Arts, Culture and Society

Who invented the flat white? Italian sugar farmers from regional Queensland likely played a big role

by Garritt Van Dyk - Lecturer at the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences (History)

Australia’s coffee culture – a source of great national pride – is usually associated with the wave of Greek and Italian migrants who settled in Melbourne and Sydney following the second world war. But it was very likely in regional Queensland that one of Australia’s favourite brews first took root.

Busines, Law and Politics

The ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is exposing older Australians to the risk of financial abuse

by Julia Cook, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at The University of Newcastle, and Peta S Cook, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Tasmania

Young Australians who would have once been locked out of home ownership are increasingly relying on the so-called Bank of Mum and Dad to get a deposit or to guarantee a bank loan.

Busines, Law and Politics

The policing of LGBTQ+ people casts a long, dark shadow. Marching at Mardi Gras must be backed up with real change.

by Justin Ellis, Lecturer in the School of Law and Justice at the University of Newcastle, and Nicole L. Asquith, Professor of Policing in the School of Social Sciences at he University of Tasmania

Public trust and confidence in NSW Police has been sorely tested in the past two weeks. The charging of a police officer with the murders of a Sydney gay couple, Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, has seen shock turn to grief and then anger.

Arts, Culture and Society

How international recognition of cultural practices could be a new way to protect refugees

by Alice Neikirk, Lecturer in the School of Law and Justice, and Ray Nickson, Senior Lecturer of Criminology in the School of Law and Justice

More than 6.6 million refugees live in camps located largely in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. In these camp communities, unique cultural practices can arise.

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