Staff stood down amid probe of child audiology unit
A review of Townsville Hospital's pediatric audiology services is under way and two staff members have been stood down over concerns about clinical standards.
children
Ditch tobacco vending machines in pubs, lawmakers told
Health groups are urging Queensland politicians to take proposed smoking laws further, but the hospitality industry wants tobacco vending machines left alone.
Qld tobacco and vape amendments ‘too little, too late’
The Queensland government has heard public submissions into the illegal sale of tobacco and rising use of vapes across the state.
Former NSW minister guilty again of abusing minors
Ex-NSW minister Milton Orkopoulos has been found guilty of 26 counts of sexually abusing and supplying drugs to teenage boys.
Cleo kidnapper jailed over little girl’s horror ordeal
The man who admitted abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith from her family's West Australian campsite has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.
Disturbing scale of child abuse delivers ‘wake-up call’
One in three Australian children suffer physical abuse while one in four suffer sexual abuse, according to a new nationwide study.
Fewer kids in detention but more support needed
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare youth justice report shows the number of kids in contact with the criminal justice system is falling.
Children ‘not protected’ due to failures by Qld govt
A Queensland watchdog has found that children have not been protected from harm because their parents weren't provided with state government supports.
Victorian youth crime surge won’t sink age-raise plans
Premier Daniel Andrews isn't letting a spike in youth crime sink plans for Victoria to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10.
Archbishop claims $1.9m altar boy payout ‘excessive’
Archbishop Peter Comensoli is appealing a $1.9 million payout to a victim of a pedophile priest, arguing factors outside the abuse caused some of his injuries.
Premier’s kids’ kitty open to children born interstate
Dominic Perrottet believes his new kids' future fund is great policy, but questions linger over who is eligible and whether it will instead increase inequality.
New laws target illicit tobacco and vapes sold to kids
Laws creating a new tobacco licensing scheme, expansion of smoke-free areas and greater clarity on how rules apply to vaping have been flagged for Queensland.
School kids in hospital after eating unknown substance
More than a dozen children are in hospital after they became sick from eating an unknown substance on a school bus.
Kids in ‘deep loss and grief’ after NSW and Qld floods
Country kids' charity Royal Far West is rolling out wellbeing programs in NSW and Queensland schools to help traumatised children in disaster zones.
Couple mentioned on murder charges for baby’s death
Two people charged with the murder of a baby boy at a caravan park south of Brisbane will return to court later this year.
Man who abused stepdaughters jailed for 28 years
A man will serve up to 28 years behind bars after sexually abusing his three stepdaughters as children in their family home in rural NSW.
‘Inadequate’ staffing on night of girl’s sepsis death
A coroner has found Perth hospital staff missed the signs a seven-year-old girl was dying of sepsis because of the pressures caused by "inadequate" staffing.
More than 30 treated after gas leak at Qld school
More than a dozen students have been taken to hospital after a gas leak at a primary school in St George, Queensland.
Document stoush puts jumping castle inquest on hold
The inquest into a deadly primary school jumping castle incident in Tasmania is on hold because the workplace safety regulator won't hand over its reports.
‘Chilling’ gaps in online child exploitation protection
The taking down of online child exploitation material can take days and one social media giant has no Australian point of contact to handle complaints.
Toddler run down by L-plater left with brain injuries
The boy's mother told a Brisbane court her son's potential in life had been "destroyed" after being run over by a speeding and alcohol-affected learner driver.
Boy, 8, dies after ‘dramatic’ mum’s concerns dismissed
A coroner has found an eight-year-old boy died after concerns of the mother - a registered nurse - were not acted on by staff at a regional Queensland hospital.
Dad unhappy with sentence for kids’ deaths in hot car
Kerri-Ann Conley has been jailed for nine years after her "inexcusable" decision that left her two toddlers to die in a hot car after a night spent socialising.
Qld tour company fined after boys drown on school trip
A Queensland tour company has been fined $250,000 after two Japanese schoolboys drowned when their school group visited K'gari (Fraser Island).
‘Reasonable’ doubts of guilt in Folbigg inquiry
The new inquiry into Kathleen Folbigg's convictions for killing her children has been told evidence would show a reasonable hypothesis inconsistent with guilt.
Concerns for children lead to vapes and tobacco seizure
An alleged illegal tobacco and e-cigarette operation has been disrupted in Queensland after investigations pointed to peak sales before and after school.
‘Delinquent’ mum slept as kids died in hot car
Queensland woman Kerri-Ann Conley has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her two young daughters by leaving them in a hot car for nine hours in 2019.
Inquiry over deaths of Folbigg’s four children resumes
Scientific evidence and Kathleen Folbigg's diaries will be examined in the next hearings of the second inquiry into her convictions for killing her children.
Parents face manslaughter charge over child’s death
A man and woman have each been charged with manslaughter following the death of their child more than six months ago.
Man jailed for ‘virtual carnal knowledge’
Michael James Mercer started having "virtual carnal knowledge" with a 15-year-old girl, exchanging more than 23,000 texts after a break-up, a court has heard.
‘Historic’ plans to combat child abuse and neglect
Two 10-year national action plans aim to reduce the number of children needing child protection services, improve responses to abuse and help close the gap.