Independent Pilbara probe after child squalor claims
Media claims that more a dozen Indigenous children were living unsupervised in a squalid home has prompted calls for new laws to better protect children.
children
‘It’s always there’: high cost of chronic pain on kids
Kids with chronic pain conditions are struggling to have their symptoms taken seriously, a study has found, despite impacting most aspects of their lives.
From the bush to the Opera House, choir raises the roof
A youth choir program that runs across 80 remote communities is celebrating two decades of changing rural children's lives through the power of music.
US accused of possible war crimes in Iran strikes
UN-commissioned human rights experts have found "reasonable grounds" to believe the US committed war crimes in two strikes in Iran, including on a school.
Children among injures in Russian barrage on Ukraine
Drones and missiles have again bombarded Kyiv and Ukraine has targeted another Russian oil refinery amid stalled efforts to end the years-long war.
Final piece in Labor’s $1b childcare plan in place
Every state and territory has now agreed to a $1 billion plan for new early education centres, aiming to ease morning routines for regional families.
Fresh ‘adult time’ pledge in youth crime crackdown
Adult time for adult crime has been pledged by the NSW opposition in a move that mimics a slogan taken to electoral victory by its Queensland counterparts.
‘Ashamed’: coalition cops blast for social media stance
The coalition's rivals are accusing it of prioritising political gain over laws that would protect Australian children on social media.
Odd couple leads 21‑day push to get Australia moving
An elderly tradie and his 11‑year‑old mate are the unlikely faces of a free challenge aiming to get Australians off the couch and keep them out of hospital.
Residents shocked, quizzed after baby-in-bin tragedy
A resident of an apartment block has spoken of her shock after the body of a baby was found in a nearby rubbish bin as police try to find the mother.
Troubled childcare provider enters administration
A major childcare provider that has run foul of regulators' staffing and food allergy requirements has gone into voluntary administration.
‘Heinous’ alleged rape deepens crisis in state care
A teenage girl has allegedly been sexually assaulted in state care, piling pressure on a system already under intense scrutiny.
Childcare group in the red due to cost, low birth rates
A major childcare centre, which was caught up in an abuse scandal last year, has made an interim loss after deciding to close 40 centres in its network.
Zuckerberg didn’t prioritise child safety: ex-engineer
A former engineer at Meta testified that the CEO was responsible for a culture that may have shirked its responsibility to protect children from harm.
Support cannot ‘disappear’ when homeless women housed
The number of homeless women and girls is on the rise, leading to calls for the federal government to show leadership as it develops two national strategies.
Meta rejects claims it sought to hook kids to platforms
Opening statements have been made in a pivotal trial for Meta where US states are seeking damages for social media harms to children.
Philippine student live-streamed fatal school shooting
The Philippines has been shocked by another school shooting in weeks, as a student videoed himself fatally shooting a classmate before killing himself.
‘Criminal gang’: fraud claims encircle acclaimed school
An academically acclaimed private school being probed over forced labour and abuse claims uses religion as a "camouflage" for fraud, inquiry witnesses claim.
Meta, others to face thousands of addiction lawsuits
An appeals court in the US has permitted thousands of lawsuits to move forward against Meta, Google, TikTok, Snapchat and other social media companies.
Control tactics, abuse ‘rife’ at church private school
Former students and church members have detailed disturbing claims of financial, psychological and social control at a religious private school.
Toy story: Barbie and Ken’s big, plastic body makeovers
For decades, Barbie and Ken had bodies you'd never find in the real world, but Australian researchers say the plastic power couple are finally human‑ish.
Thai school shooting toll rises after girl dies
The death toll from a school shooting in Thailand has risen to eight as a 12-year-old girl died a day after the attack horrified the nation.
Thai teen kills seven, then himself, in rampage
A 14-year-old boy has killed his grandparents before gunning down teachers and students in Thailand's second school shooting of 2026.
‘Your heart just sinks’: horror siege victim pregnant
Police were in "grave danger" before an officer rescued a toddler during a seven-hour siege that left two people dead, including a pregnant woman.
‘Line in sand’: record state-care kid numbers revealed
A state government has laid out its response to a child-safety inquiry report as data revealed a record number of kids in its residential care system.
‘Vindication’: apology for survivors of school abuse
Watching a state government apologise for widespread failings at public schools was surreal but validating, a victim-survivor of child sexual abuse says.
‘Viscerally sick’: child protection reforms under fire
A territory's child protection changes have been heavily criticised amid accusations a five-year-old Aboriginal girl's death has been politicised.
Damning report highlights red flags before girl’s death
Sweeping changes have been recommended for a child protection system after a review found safety threats were missed before a little girl's death.
New laws to force tech giants to unmask online trolls
Social media companies would be compelled to name and shame anonymous online abusers under state-first legal protections to help guard kids online.
System ‘fails’ youth on intimate partner violence
Young men are slipping through the intimate partner violence safety net because of a lack of programs targeting their needs, a roundtable has heard.
Childcare centres struggling with costs, falling demand
Mayfield Childcare has become the third ASX-listed early childhood centre in 2026 to highlight challenging conditions for the industry.