The racks at Vinnies Wollongong are bursting with donated clothing. Each week, around 40 bin bags of clothes arrive at the store, each representing a consumer trying to give unwanted garments a second life. But while op shopping has become increasingly popular among young Australians, experts have said it is only one piece of a much larger textile waste problem. Australia is the world’s highest consumer of clothing. According to Seamless Australia’s 2024 report, Australians purchased 1.51 billion new clothing items in 2024 alone, an equivalent of 56 garments per person. At the same time, around 220,000 tonnes of clothing…
Author: Evie Allen
Australians are drinking less alcohol overall than they were 15 years ago, but data suggests risky drinking among young women is continuing to rise. Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has shown the gap between young men and women risky drinking is the smallest it has been since 2007. Risky drinking refers to consuming alcohol to the point where it could affect the consumer’s mental and physical health. In 2023, 40 per cent of women aged 18-24 consumed alcohol at risky levels compared to 45 per cent of men. In 2019, the gap was wider with…
University of Wollongong (UOW) students are working longer hours to keep up with the rise in living costs, with many students claiming it impacts their studies. The university recommends that full-time students work 10-15 hours a week to properly manage their study load. However, UOW full-time student, Liam Robinson said he works around 25 hours a week. “If I didn’t, then I just wouldn’t be able to pay for anything. You need a job as well as the study,” Mr Robinson said. National data has reflected this experience. The 2022-2023 Australian and New Zealand Wellbeing Survey has found 86 per…
Influenza has emerged as the leading cause of death among respiratory illnesses in Australia. New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has raised concerns about the vaccination uptake before winter. COVID-19 has been the leading cause of acute respiratory infection related mortality since 2020. In January 2026, influenza overtook COVID-19, marking a shift in Australia’s post-pandemic health landscape. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2026 Health professionals have warned that the public may be underestimating the severity of the virus. Illawarra Pharmacy Dispensary Technician, Cailyn Knill said influenza is often misunderstood. “Anecdotally, people say oh I’ve got the flu. But…
New research has shown that Australian teenagers who have vaped are significantly more likely to take up smoking, putting Australia’s youngest most at risk. The study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health last week determined the association between vaping and subsequent smoking, in young Australians aged 12 to 17. Lead author from the article, Sam Egger, said it’s the first study of its kind in Australia, using Generation Vape survey data from over 5,100 teenagers. “Even after accounting for other factors that could influence the likelihood that a young person would try vapes or tobacco,…
An innovative surfboard recycling initiative has combined environmental sustainability with community art and has been recognised for its success. Mathew King, 34, from Kiama, is the founder of Creative Kooks, a small business that uses surfboards as a creative outlet for people of all ages. The business is one of the finalists at the Illawarra Business Awards in the ‘New Business’ category. “I’m so honoured and so stoked. To be a finalist for me, is a huge achievement,” Mr King said. “Something that was a passion project of mine has now turned into a real job. Like, it’s really emphasised…