Inquiry launched into ‘failures’ of child protection
The failures of a state's child protection and working-with-children checks will be probed following the jailing of one of Australia's worst pedophiles.
children
Warning ‘discriminatory’ changes target Aboriginal kids
The Northern Territory government has been urged to drop proposed changes that would make it easier to remove Aboriginal children from their communities.
Vow to fight childcare predator’s life sentence appeal
A state government will "forcefully defend its position" as a former childcare worker seeks to appeal his life sentence for hundreds of sexual abuse offences.
Parents shell out billions as back-to-school costs rise
Technology is a major factor in rising back-to-school costs as Australian teachers notice an increase in students without the essentials.
State you crime squad to swoop on youth crime areas
A youth crime task force is set to be bolstered by the addition of 41 officers a month after a state passed tougher laws.
Infants ‘ate food scraps off floor of childcare centre’
A childcare centre will remain closed after allegations of infants eating off the floor, staff scrolling on their phones and other serious issues were aired.
Tried and true names most popular for babies in 2024
Australian parents-to-be are sticking with tried and true names, with Oliver, Noah, Isla and Charlotte topping the baby name charts again.
Investigation as child’s body found after caravan fire
An investigation is under way after the body of a child was found following a caravan fire.
Youth crime ‘revolving door’ as dozens of kids arrested
A debate over youth crime has fired up again after dozens of young people were arrested over armed robberies, car thefts and burglaries over the new year break.
Mum says she reported pedophile 13 years before arrest
A police ethical investigation team is reviewing claims a mother reported abuse by one of Australia's worst pedophiles more than a decade before his arrest.
Tears as whistleblower who exposed pedophile cleared
A whistleblower has burst into tears after she was acquitted following allegations she leaked information about one of Australia's worst pedophiles.
Majority of children in detention are Indigenous boys
The number of children being held in detention has risen, with shocking data laying bare the trend of Indigenous young people being locked up.
‘Treat us like humans’: rise in out-of-home care kids
A report has called for urgent change after finding one state has up to four times as many children in residential care than others.
Theatre boss to stand trial on sex offences charges
A large theatre group's former boss had some child sex offence charges dismissed but will still face trial on 48 offences allegedly committed over 19 years.
Twin babies’ 2021 deaths ‘suspicious’, police say
New information provided to authorities has raised suspicions about the deaths of twin baby boys three years after their bodies were found in north Queensland.
Thousands of families could benefit from free childcare
More than 60,000 families would access three days of free childcare while an access test branded punitive will be scrapped under a Labor policy.
High rates of hearing loss among Indigenous people
Indigenous children, especially in remote areas are being impacted by high rates of severe middle ear infections, which can cause hearing loss a report says.
‘No justice’: teen gets two years for three road deaths
The family of crash victims killed as a result of an angry teen driver's "egregious" behaviour say faith has been lost in the justice system.
Rush to pass social media ban angers experts, MPs
As parliament prepares to stop people younger than 16 using social media, the government has been accused of trying to ram through the laws without scrutiny.
‘Whatever it takes’: child removal floated to tackle DV
Child protection practices will be examined by a government in response to a landmark inquiry into the domestic violence deaths of four women.
‘Knee-jerk reaction’ social media ban set to pass
A proposal to ban children from social media is expected to become law despite experts and politicians arguing it may not make the internet safer for kids.
Baby dies amid unprecedented whooping cough outbreak
A newborn baby is dead and infections are surging as health authorities scramble to contain a worsening national whooping cough epidemic.
Two-year-old girl dies after being found in parked car
Police are investigating after a two-year-old girl found unconscious in a car parked outside a regional town's council office could not be revived and died.
Teen social media ban a step closer despite concerns
A social media ban is looming for Australians aged under 16 after the measure to force restrictions on many platforms cleared its first hurdle in parliament.
Human rights commissioner slams new youth crime laws
The Queensland government has been accused of "plumbing the depths" by pushing through laws that will ensure children face harsher penalties for serious crimes.
‘Irrevocable pain’: parents confront childcare rapist
Some of the many women abused as girls by child care worker Ashley Paul Griffith over 19 years have told a judge they have scars that will never heal.
Social media ban ‘significant risk’ to child’s rights
A blanket social media ban for Australians under 16 has been criticised for limiting rights and not having enough privacy safeguards for all users.
Tech giant concern as social media ban passes
The parent company for Facebook has hit out at a looming ban on under 16s for social media, labelling the process as rushed.
‘Cruel, inhuman’: justice laws to violate human rights
New youth justice laws will likely increase the number of children in detention and put pressure on packed facilities, a state government admits.
Indigenous kids removed from family at growing rates
Governments must get serious in supporting 'woefully underfunded' community organisations as a report reveals the startling rate of Indigenous child removals.
Truckie jailed 20 years after boy killed in hit-and-run
Almost 20 years to the day since a "wonderful" six-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run crash, the driver responsible for his death has been jailed.