It’s lunchtime at any Australian high school, and the hum of a thousand notifications fills the air. Beneath the clatter of opened lunchboxes and playground antics, the talk turns to mobile phones and live location sharing apps – ‘she’s still at home,’ or ‘he left school early—look’, are common threads of conversation. The student’s aren’t guessing, they’re watching the locations of their fellow classmates. Thanks to tools like Snapchat’s Snap Map and Life360, Australian teenagers are navigating their adolescence under a glow of digital surveillance. At any given moment, a friend or parent can open an app and pinpoint exactly…
Author: Finlay Smart
Homelessness in New South Wales is on the rise, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census data revealing a sharp increase in the number of working individuals seeking crisis support. The surge stems from an increase of housing market failures and systemic pressures, driven by soaring rents that have more than doubled since the early 2000s. The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore said the complexities of homelessness at an individual and government level has been worsening. “Sydney’s housing affordability crisis is especially acute in the inner city, driven by high private rental prices, the lack of affordable rental…
Bulli has experienced significant gentrification, as new residents and businesses reshape what was once a coal-driven community. This transformation represents a broader trend affecting many former industrial areas across Australia, where changing economic conditions have altered the fabric of once-working-class neighborhoods. Once defined by its coal mining industry, Bulli’s identity has undergone a profound shift, with the closure of the Bulli Colliery in 1987 marking an end of an era. In the decades since the number of residents working in traditional blue-collar jobs has steadily declined. Long-time resident of Bulli Barry Johnson said that it’s not the same town that it…
As Easter 2024 approaches, Australian consumers are facing notable price increases on traditional holiday staples such as Easter eggs, hot cross buns, and holiday travel. These rising costs are attributed to factors like global supply chain disruptions, inflation, and increased demand during the festive season. For instance, a Cadbury chocolate bunny that was priced at $4.25 in 2021 has seen incremental hikes to $4.50 in 2022, $5 in 2023, and now stands at $6 in 2024. Similarly, a 1kg Lindt bunny is retailing for $120 at some supermarkets, prompting consumer backlash over its affordability. These increases have led shoppers to…
Recently, our attention has been sharply turned toward the high-profile conflicts between Israel and Palestine, and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Graphic and horrifying images have flooded our screens of innocent citizens pleading with the international community to act on the atrocities being committed. However, despite the saturated media coverage of these two conflicts, it would be extraordinarily naive to believe that these are the only wars currently raging around the world. The stark reality is as follows: over 100 conflicts are occurring worldwide, yet the average person may only be aware of a handful. This media spotlight—or…
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 tests in schools, children who can’t read proficiently will fall behind, according to English teacher Brooke Smart. “In order for students to reach their full potential in other aspects of English….reading really forms the building block on which everything else is built,” Mrs Smart said. “Reading allows students to formulate coherent thoughts based on a variety of opinions,…
An historic moment for all sportswomen in the south coast as the Illawarra Women’s Premier League (IWPL) secures WIN Stadium for their grand final. In 2013 the Illawarra Men’s Premier League (IMPL) was welcomed back into WIN stadium, allowing them to play their final series on the iconic pitch, an entire decade before the IWPL was even established. Football South coast women’s council member Stephen Smart has been a strong advocate for the female game and for ensuring equity and equality within this space. “It wasn’t that they weren’t recognised by the governing body as there has been Women’s Football…
The Float to Survive campaign has been relaunched across NSW with the warmer Spring weather just weeks away and Australia’s drowning deaths set to reach a record high for 2024. In 2022 Australia recorded its highest number of drowning deaths in over a decade with 339 fatalities, this year alone that figure is 323, a 14 per cent increase on last year. Wollongong lifeguard and swimming instructor Blake Mckay, who has dedicated his life to water safety, is a strong proponent of the campaign and shares his passion for the ocean and his commitment to teaching the next generation how…