Rural housing developments create growth in job opportunities
New housing developments in Goulburn has drawn interest from city dwellers, who work from home, and who are searching for more peaceful lifestyles. Developers have responded to the growing demand by unveiling a series of modern housing estates, each designed to offer...
Alarming decline in literacy rates among young Australians
Statistics have been released highlighting the alarming rate at which young Australians' literacy age has declined. A 2024 report from the Grattan Institute shows that in a classroom of 24 students, eight will struggle to read. With an increasing number of mandatory...
The future of radio in the Illawarra
Radio streaming provides listeners with on-demand access to content and a more personalised experience, but it also allows creators to reach wider audiences, fostering an ecosystem of voices and genres. Radio Host, Kevin Barron, 37, said streaming provided more...
New Wollongong Lord Mayor trolled online by misogynists
The newly-elected Wollongong Lord Mayor has revealed she was targeted by misogynistic online trolls during her successful election campaign. Councillor Tania Brown, the first female Lord Mayor of Wollongong, told students on RadioU at the University of Wollongong...
Introduction of a new games-per-win system for the Illawarra Junior divisions in response to cancellations of games
Illawarra Junior Soccer is introducing a points-per-game system for the divisions that missed games due to weather washouts through the season calendar. Wollongong United FC, under 18s player, Patrick Vaughn has explained how the season changed with the introduction...
Young Australians in rural towns more likely impacted by mental health issues
Warning: This story discusses serious mental health issues Young rural Australians are more likely to face ongoing mental health problems, with less help available, compared to those living in urban environments. A study conducted by The Australian Institute of...
Australia races to halve food waste ahead of 2030 deadline
The 2024 National Food Waste Summit has highlighted both progress and lingering challenges towards Australia's goal to halve food waste by 2030. Australia generates 7.6 million tonnes of food waste each year, costing the economy billions of dollars. Meanwhile, 3.7...
Young people struggle with a casualised workforce
The casualisation of the workforce may offer flexibility, but for some young people the job instability and irregular income can cause uncertainty and anxiety about their future. Year 12 student Sienna Karunarathne has worked in the same entry-level position for the...
Retail workers report a rise in customer abuse
There’s been a rise in abuse of retail workers across the country, with more than 88 per cent of employees claiming to have been verbally and even physically abused in the last year. The statistic comes from a survey conducted by the Retail Association and Shop,...
The lake is the hero in the short film festival
Wollongong City Council's (WCC) inaugural Wollongong Creative Short Film Festival has been held outdoors at Kanahooka’s Lakeside Reserve. Home to many species of protected plants, the lake was brought to life by a lineup of some of the Illawarra's best armateur film...
Unpaid placements push university students into financial hardship
University students completing mandatory, unpaid placements are facing increasing financial pressures, at the same time as struggling to balance academic commitments with the the rise in the cost-of-living. According to the Australian Universities Accord Interim there...
Pressure mounting on Australian Government to lower university student fees
University educators and students are calling on the Australian Government to abolish the current student contribution system which has more than doubled the debts incurred for some degrees. The job-ready graduates package, introduced by the Morrison Government in...