Family pain as mum jailed for ‘suitcase murder’ of kids
Close relatives of a woman jailed for murdering her children and hiding their bodies in suitcases told a New Zealand court of their deep pain at the tragedy.
parent and child
‘Grandiose fantasies’ consumed killer taekwondo teacher
A taekwondo instructor taken by "grandiose fantasies" before murdering a family of three has been forced to confront the pain of his victim's loved ones.
‘Inconvenient’ childcare close times to keep kids safe
Childcare centres will close early every couple of months for staff to undergo mandatory training in a bid to provide a safer environment for kids.
Shattered families disappointed by coronial findings
The families of two young police officers killed in an ambush at a remote property say they are disappointed by the coroner's recommendations.
Social media ban lacks teeth, former executive warns
Social media giants earning billions in revenue will view penalties under Australia's ban for under-16s as "peanuts", a former Facebook executive says.
Landmark puberty block ban reinstated by government
A transgender teen's mother is set to discuss legal options after a state government reinstated a puberty blocker ban soon after it was overturned in court.
Abuse claims surge against childcare, pre-school staff
Allegations of abuse and misconduct involving childcare workers and early educators are on the rise, a watchdog warns.
More charges loom for father of boy killed in crash
Police are probing domestic violence links to a fatal car crash that killed a three-year-old boy despite desperate attempts by officers to save him.
Teen’s tears for dead baby brother after mum’s cruelty
A mother has walked free from court but will never be forgiven by her oldest son after the devastating death of his baby brother.
‘Inconsistencies’ trigger appeal in toddler death probe
Information given to detectives investigating the death of a toddler has been inconsistent, police say, prompting an appeal for witnesses.
Coroner probes death of newborn baby in hospital
The death of a baby five days after an emergency caesarean is being probed by a coroner to determine if the boy could have been saved.
‘Children over shareholders’: sector grilled for lapses
A childcare inquiry has prompted apologies from publicly listed providers for any harm caused to the thousands of kids under their protection.
‘Utterly heartbreaking’: jail for fatal neglect of baby
A man has been jailed over the "heartbreaking" death of an eight-month-old baby after he was left in a filthy room for almost 24 hours as his carers took drugs.
Shift needed to help young asthmatics breathe easier
A peak body is highlighting National Asthma Awareness Week by driving a cultural shift in how asthma is treated in childhood - from relievers to preventers.
Social media ban no ‘watertight’ fix for child safety
A social media ban is unlikely to completely protect kids from online harms as questions remain over age-assurance technology.
Huge cost of missing early intervention for children
A failure to identify health and development issues in young Australians is costing $22.3 billion annually, described as a "wake-up call" for governments.
No ‘idle threat’: childcare on notice as reforms agreed
Education ministers have agreed to a national CCTV trial in childcare centres, a workers register and mandatory training as providers are warned to shape up.
Childcare reforms count on tech too much to stop abuse
Childcare workers will be placed under greater monitoring and supervision but experts say deeper issues within the sector are enabling predatory behaviour.
Mum’s justice plea for coffee-attack baby as man found
Almost a year after an attack that shocked a nation, the mother of a baby badly burnt by a stranger's coffee is still seeking justice for her recovering son.
‘Standard practice’: summiteers play down Treasury leak
Experts believe there's still hope for reform at an upcoming productivity roundtable after Treasury recommendations arising from the summit were leaked.
Reforms begin to close working-with-children loopholes
An urgent plan to close loopholes in working with children checks will not "reinvent the wheel" but the government is confident it will help protect children.
Fresh abuse case prompts childcare plea for worker info
Childcare providers call for more information about their staff's history to protect kids from predators after another worker was accused of abuse.
‘Gaping hole’ in social media ban as YouTube plugged in
YouTube will be included in a social media ban for children under 16, but uncertainty surrounds how the world-first laws will be enforced.
Worried parents demand national childcare watchdog
Plans to strip funding from childcare operators that fail to meet safety standards could place a greater burden on parents, advocacy groups warn.
Gaza baby starves to death weighing less than when born
The latest child to starve to death in Gaza weighed less than when she was born.
‘We failed’: families seek options after abuse charges
Concerned parents are investigating all options to ensure the safety of their children after a childcare educator was charged with abuse.
Birth trauma preventable yet affects too many women
One in three women experience birth trauma, but experts say it can be prevented by improving access to continuity of midwifery care and antenatal education.
Calls grow to back safety over access in childcare
After shocking allegations of abuse, parents have grown hesitant to send their kids to childcare, prompting calls to prioritise child safety rather than access.
CCTV cameras in childcare amid surge in safety breaches
Allegations about careless childcare centres have triggered extensive new powers including hefty fines and CCTV cameras to monitor how children are treated.
‘Backbone of health’: new plan for rural maternity care
Health groups have backed a rural maternity plan after public inquiries revealed some women are travelling hours to have babies as local birth units shut down.
Influencer accused of harming baby faces ‘complex’ case
Police have yet to confirm whether a social media influencer's DNA was found on a pill in a hospital where she allegedly poisoned her baby to gain online fame.