An advertisement for an unpaid, full-time physiotherapy position in the NRLW has sparked widespread criticism, highlighting not only ongoing inequities in women’s sport but also the expectations placed on the professionals who support these athletes. In Australia, physiotherapy is a female dominated field with 63% of practitioners identifying as female and 31% identifying as male. Despite this, male physiotherapists are 20% more likely to occupy the field’s management roles. A study conducted by La Trobe University found that the inequality seen on the field is also prevalent behind the scenes- with the findings showing female physiotherapists exposed to a large…
Author: Clemency McRae
It’s 9pm on a Tuesday night. The local supermarket is painfully busy- populated by bored checkout chicks who are spurred on by brimmed baskets. The scene is lit with a florescent glare, and it flickers over customers that remain unimpressed with the weekly specials. At the back of the line, a girl shifts forward in her Ugg boots. Glamorously dressed in pyjamas, accessorised with smudged mascara and a messy bun- the girl clutches at Panadol, chocolate, and a pack of tampons in her right hand. Only the essentials. Out of her items, most people would assume that the most harmful…
Australian youths are at risk of sexual harassment, with peer-on-peer harassment becoming more common, according to an Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS). The ACMS has shown that 1 in 10 Australians have experienced sexual harassment from their peers during childhood. Australian Catholic University (ACU), doctoral student in the Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS), Gabrielle Hunt told the ACU that these findings illustrated the extreme need for action against peer sexual harassment. “For the first time, we have figures that show a significant proportion of young Australians – one in 10 – have been sexually harassed by their peers during…
Australian students have been heavily impacted by the budget as a range of introduced initiatives are set to benefit those in the higher education system. Following the Australian Universities Accord report produced in February, the new budget focuses on the issues of HECS (Higher Education Contribution Scheme)/HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) loan indexation and placement poverty. After a dramatic rise last year, HECS indexation has been adjusted in an effort to lessen the financial pressure placed on students. Education Minister Jason Clare told ABC News that these changes will help many Australian students and override last year’s high indexation rate.…
Following a decline in bulk billing in Australia’s Medicare system, the Albanese government has found success with new incentives aimed at supporting healthcare affordability. The new financial rewards for General Practitioners (GP) who bulk bill, as well as the $6.1 billion committed to strengthening the Medicare system, have seen positive results, causing an additional 950,000 doctor visits in the past five months. Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler has described the public health system as a priority of the Labor government. “After a decade of cuts and neglect from the Liberals, the Albanese Government (is) committed to making…
The Australian summer heat is here to stay and with it, the ever-increasing risk of skin cancer. As global temperatures continue to skyrocket due to climate change, so does the prevalence of this disease, with Illawarra’s extreme forecasted weather promoting unsafe sun exposure. With heat waves predicted well into next year and locals soaking up the sun’s warm rays along the coast, are Illawarra residents arming themselves against the harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays? Sam Marx, a lecturer at The University of Wollongong’s School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, explained that the changes in the Earth’s system and ozone layer forced…
Student stresses are being met with art therapy as universities begin to encourage mental health management through art. Art therapy programs are becoming popular in universities both around Australia, and internationally to encourage more modern, holistic approaches to mental health to break into traditional environments. Head lecturer at the College of Complementary Medicine, Tracey Morrissey, said that art therapy has amazing benefits for students and offers an approach different from traditional therapy. “Art therapy is just a beautiful way of tapping into our own healing. It’s of the philosophy that we can all become, or we all are, our own…
With Christmas just around the corner, retail stores are creating seasonal casual jobs that have potential to develop into permanent sources of income for students. Stores have already begun hiring casual holiday staff to support them during the festive season and beyond, as many brands encourage staff to stay on and retain a permanent position. Erina Chesney is the Store Manager at Lovisa Wollongong, and she believes that the Christmas casual programs will benefit students and help them break into the workforce. “We have a very high retainment rate of Christmas casuals,” Erina said. “I think last Christmas it was…
Illawarra businesses are the latest to reap the rewards of ‘Barbie-mania’, as Greta Gerwig’s 2023 film has continued to break records and increase community engagement. Since the movie was released in cinemas three weeks ago (20 July 2023), the film’s marketing strategies and collaborations with Australian brands have promoted merchandise and contributed to the local economy, which has welcomed crowds that have been absent since before the pandemic. Grill’d Shellharbour employee Jade McEvoy said the Barbie Dreamburger has been a huge success in bringing money back into the region’s hospitality industry. “We have actually had the biggest days that I’ve…