‘Dirty daddy’: ex-priest’s Christmas hunt for child sex
A former priest who tried to meet three children for sex told someone he shared vile images and video with that there was "no such thing as too young".
children
Woman charged over torture and neglect of young girl
A woman has been charged with torture and failing to provide the necessities of life to a child who has been in intensive care for almost three months.
Accused outback child killer to stay behind bars
A man accused of the horrific murder of five‑year‑old Kumanjayi Little Baby near Alice Springs has been excused from appearing in court via video link.
Author Craig Silvey admits child exploitation crimes
Australian author Craig Silvey has pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child exploitation material, as prosecutors dropped two other charges.
Staff suspended over welfare fears before girl’s death
The alleged murder of a five-year-old girl has led to three child protection workers being stood down amid concerns over how her welfare case was handled.
Dirty dozen list boosts ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws
Sweeping additions to a state's "adult crime, adult time" laws have been introduced while giving police new powers to crack down on anti‑social behaviour.
Magistrate’s son to face trial over child abuse charges
The son of a magistrate will face trial accused of 129 charges including dozens for alleged child sexual offences, a court has ruled.
Survivors leave hospital after inferno killed children
The surviving family members of a house fire that killed two children and hospitalised four siblings and a parent have been discharged from hospital.
Children’s commissioner ignored on laws targeting kids
Legal and policy reforms since a damning royal commission report have continued to breach children's rights, a youth justice inquiry has been told.
Gasps as ex-charity worker avoids jail over abuse book
An author will be placed on the sex offenders register after penning a novel found to describe the sexual abuse of a child through explicit toddler role-play.
‘Deeply concerning’: childcare centre closures attacked
An embattled childcare group rocked by abuse allegations against one of its workers is closing down dozens of centres.
US gunman kills seven of his children and another child
A gunman in Louisiana has killed eight children, including seven of his own, and shot two women in a domestic violence attack.
Roblox’s game-changing safety overhaul under scrutiny
The sweeping changes to the controversial gaming platform came after Communications Minister Anika Wells called for an urgent meeting.
accident (general)
children
death and dying
emergency incident
police
safety of citizens
swimming
water
Schoolgirl drowns at popular swimming spot
A family is in mourning after a schoolgirl drowned at a popular swimming spot.
More young people like social media ban than oppose it
Months after more children were banned from social media, almost half of young people support the change even as they worry about missing out.
Government under fire for ‘cherry-picking’ crime stats
Statistics show "adult crime, adult time" laws are turning the tide on youth offending, a state government says, as it's accused of cherry-picking data.
‘Warning flare’ for high Indigenous kids’ jail rates
Laws sold as a solution to community safety are being used to lock up First Nations youth while fuelling future crime, according to experts.
‘Vaccine-fatigued’ Aussies vulnerable to big flu season
Doctors shell-shocked from 2025's record-breaking flu season are warning another significant round is on the way if vaccination rates stay low.
Child safety sector players buying gold, crypto
Residential care for children in one state has become an outlier, with industry figures spending profits on luxury cars, gold and executive salaries.
Helping sick kids in the bush one flight at a time
A young female pilot is flying solo nationwide to raise funds for sick children in regional areas with her sights set on breaking a Guinness world record.
Tech firms ‘taking the mickey’ on teen social media ban
Despite a compliance report saying a large share of teens are still using social media, the government has hailed its youth ban a success.
Teen accused of violent extremist material granted bail
Counter-terrorism police allegedly found material encouraging politically motivated violence on a 15-year-old boy's electronic devices, a magistrate has heard.
Nation’s youngest killer sought dates with women
Australia's youngest convicted murderer may have only approached a mother and child to ask the woman on a date, his lawyer has told an appeal hearing.
‘No justice’: grieving mum sobs as killer driver jailed
A mother has broken down in tears while lamenting the sentence handed to the driver who smashed into a car, killing her two children.
Girl returned to killer parents despite ‘cult’ warning
A family's extreme religious beliefs against medical treatment were known to authorities years before their "cult" killed a little girl, a coroner has heard.
Parents and carers swarm on sex offender register site
Parents and carers have flocked to check one state's recently launched child sex offender register in huge numbers.
Call to ban kids under 16 riding e-bikes and e-scooters
Children shouldn't be allowed to use e-mobility devices and adults should keep to a 10km/h limit, a state parliamentary committee recommends.
Alleged newborn murder victim had ‘myriad’ injuries
The police case against a father accused of murdering his newborn son involves extensive medical evidence and multiple agencies, a magistrate has been told.
‘Absolute dream’: candidate’s hope for sex abuse reform
As politicians prepare for a hotly contested federal by-election, an independent reveals her hope for big reforms to protect child sexual abuse survivors.
Childcare workers on ‘ick’ alert after abuse scandals
Childcare centre staff have been urged to report uncomfortable incidents as the industry reels from sexual abuse scandals and child-safety concerns.
‘Horrified’: childcare giant’s abuse scandal response
Australia's largest for-profit childcare operator began overhauling hiring even before a former worker was charged with sexual abuse, an inquiry has been told.