Housing, health and complexity hold back early learning
Early learning advocates, service providers and children advocate peak bodies say housing, health and system complexity is holding back kids from early learning
education
Amping up: $45m boost to get women into energy and tech
Women could help to close skills shortages in areas such as cybersecurity, clean energy and construction that pose a threat to Australia's progress.
Kids being kept in cells with adults for weeks
Youth advocates say adults are taking precedence over children at a police watchhouse, leading to kids spending weeks in cold concrete cells.
Uni freezes dance intake amid performing arts audit
The only university in Queensland to offer a dance qualification isn't taking new students. But with the Olympics in 2032, it will need more dancers than ever.
Parents kept in the dark on teacher’s child sex abuse
Trauma created by a teacher's sexual abuse of children was exacerbated by the way an education department mishandled the case, with parents kept in the dark.
Indigenous scholars awarded with ‘overwhelming honour’
Five Indigenous scholars have been awarded the inaugural First Nations Cancer Scholarship, supporting each person to undertake full-time studies or research.
Students to suffer at schools in climate firing line
Extreme heat and disruptions from climate-fuelled floods and fires pose learning setbacks for students that may weigh on their future earnings, a report says.
Students get more power over sexual assault complaints
An independent office designed to help university students escalate concerns about sexual misconduct is expected to handle about 15,000 complaints a year.
Back-to-school chaos comes with mental load for parents
Parents welcoming the start of the school year are also set to be bombarded with more than 1200 tasks related to home, school and extra-curricular activities.
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.
PM caves on school funding after ‘tortuous’ talks
An extra $3.5 billion in federal cash will be ponied up by the Albanese government after protracted public school funding negotiations with two hold-out states.
‘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.
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.