Subsidy boost may do little to improve childcare access
While families have saved thousands of dollars under an expanded childcare subsidy, experts have warned centres may have no option but to hike fees.
education
‘Mum guilt’: parents battle growing school costs
As Australian parents deal with the ballooning cost of school supplies amid other cost-of-living pressures, a minor party is promising relief.
‘Insulting’: trans music tutor sues Catholic schools
A transgender tutor has accused a Catholic schools body of failing to let her work after she transitioned and asking invasive questions about her bathroom use.
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.
A dream inspired by home realised for Indigenous doctor
Driven to practice medicine after witnessing disadvantage in his community, Torres Strait Islander doctor T'kido Titasey hopes to inspire others.
Push to strengthen hate crime laws and tackle threats
The government should make it an offence to threaten marginalised Australians and set up a national database to help combat hate crimes, a committee recommends.
Wanted: one million Aussies, Kiwis to learn AI skills
Microsoft wants to train at least one million Australians and New Zealanders in how to use AI tools over the next two years as part of a worldwide push.
Promises museum won’t shut, despite ditching 2025 slate
A leading university art museum has cut its 2025 program, including a career survey by artist Jemima Wyman. She says she is devastated by the move.
Breaking down period stigma in remote communities
As menstrual health can impact educational outcomes and quality of life, researchers have developed a teaching guide hoping to break down stigma around periods.
Australia-wide study ordered into school bullying
Bullying in Australian schools will be put under a microscope as the federal government looks to tackle the behaviour in the real world.
Migration furore treats foreign students as ‘problems’
As the federal opposition prepares to reveal plans to cap international students, the political debate has left many foreign students feeling unwanted.
Leaps and bounds: program helps Indigenous graduates
Charities will go head to head at a philanthropic pitching event, including one with a program helping Indigenous kids transition from school to university.
Campus-style hubs to aid uni students in city outskirts
University campus-style facilities are set to make life easier for students living on the outskirts of Australia's biggest cities.
Mind check: should schools track kids’ mental health?
Australian schools will have access to a government-funded digital tool to support students' mental health but some question whether it will be effective.
Why Aussie school students are being given an AI grade
An artificial intelligence tool developed in Australia is being tested in classrooms and early results suggest it is helping students improve their answers.
Half of year 12 exams impacted by blunder, boss resigns
Victoria's year 12 exam blunder has claimed its first scalp, after half of the tests were impacted by an error that allowed students to preview questions.
Social media ban passes the test for school principals
Banning under 16s from social media would be critical for the wellbeing of young people, a peak body for school principals says.
Major Australian university launches ‘AI first’ policy
University students will be encouraged to use artificial intelligence programs to complete assignments and research projects under a bold policy change.
Students hopeful as Greens try to outbid Labor on debt
The Greens have called for all student debt to be wiped, saying the party's $74 billion plan will be a negotiating chip for a possible minority government.
History, maths face axe as unis hit ‘world of pain’
The university sector says it is in a world of financial pain and could cut up to 14,000 jobs as it deals with a forced drop-off in international students.
Calls to bring forward PM’s plans for student loan help
The prime minister wants to recalibrate Labor's agenda following controversy, pitching student loan help at graduates juggling cost-of-living pressures.
HECS cut to help fix ‘intergenerational unfairness’: PM
The federal government has unveiled plans to cut HECS debt by one-fifth for university students if it wins the next election.
Mixed response to Labor pledge of student debt relief
The opposition and student union have criticised Labor's pledge to cut student debts by 20 per cent, but universities backed efforts to make the system fairer.
Impact of $16 billion HECS debt cut ‘kind of invisible’
A plan to reduce student debt for millions of Australians will help, but an economist says the impact will be relatively marginal.
Tackling youth crime already a priority: police chief
Queensland's newly elected government vows harsh laws targeting youth offenders but the police chief says crime numbers are already trending down.
Biden apologises for ‘sin’ of boarding school policy
President Joe Biden has formally apologised to Native Americans for the "sin" of a government-run boarding school system that separated families.
Childcare sector ‘sleepwalking’ into market domination
A pay increase will help bolster the childcare sector but there are warnings more must be done to address market concentration and keep costs low for families.
Future AI chatbots may secretly dob on their users
Subtle changes in the words used by generative AI tools could act as a virtual watermark for the text they produce to tip off readers, research has found.
Protect children from online hellholes, spy chief urges
Children are at risk online from "adult strangers in alleyways" and the community must play a role in identifying warning signs, the nation's spy chief says.
Teachers pocket $50k bonus as they move between regions
The state government should ditch their $50,000 incentive to lure teachers to regional Victoria and investigate ways to retain experienced and loyal staff.
Foreign student cap on courses a ‘reserve power’
Education Minister Jason Clare says limits for foreign students taking up individual degrees will only be used as a back up.