Business woman Melinda Charlesworth has a standard work-life balance. She’s a full-time employee, providing for herself and her children as a single parent. But this wasn’t always the case. In 2016, she took on the challenge of owning a small business. Ms Charlesworth bought a homewares and furniture shop called Nest Emporium, having prior experience as a business advisor for the NSW government she was sure she had things covered. And in the beginning the little shop nestled in Thirroul was profitable. But after seven years of managing her pride and joy, Ms Charlesworth shut down in February. The reason…
Author: Kiara Martin
The University of Wollongong (UOW) will end its carpooling program at the end of the upcoming exam period. A spokesperson said the carpooling initiative would be dissolved due to the demand for car parks on campus. The “3 for Free” initiative allowed students, staff, and visitors free parking if they had three or more people in the car, and was described as a “cost-effective” and “environmentally friendly” travel method by the university. The UOW spokesperson said the carpooling car park (P4) would align with other campus-timed parking spaces and take effect after the exam period on June 22, 2024. “The…
Cumberland City Council has reversed its ban on same-sex parenting books. Cumberland resident Caroline Staples spoke at the meeting, presenting a petition with over 42,000 signatures in favour of the ban being dissolved. University of Wollongong lecturer in Communications and Media, Chris Comerford has welcomed the change. “A library is meant to be a place of learning, and the fact of our reality is that same-sex families are a thing, and they’re a thing that children are a part of,” Dr Comerford said. Councillor Steve Christou proposed the ban during a council meeting earlier this month after local parents were…
The federal government’s proposed digital mental health service for people with low-intensity psychological conditions is a step in the right direction, according to experts. The endorsement comes after the federal government announced it would commit $588 million to establishing a low-intensity mental health digital service to “ensure people can access mental health support before their distress escalates”. University of Wollongong professor and nurse at the Shoalhaven and Illawarra Health District Timothy Wand said the federal government’s approach to mental health has not changed over the last decade. Colorful Modern Business Timeline Infographic Graph by Kiara “There’s been an over-reliance on…
People who have a tertiary qualification aren’t using it in their current job, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Latest figures show that 21 per cent of people have jobs that don’t require their current university or TAFE qualifications, an increase from the 2018-2019 period of 17%. About 38 per cent of Australians aren’t using their highest qualification, but their job is in a similar field. Bachelor of pre-medicine 2023 graduate, Ms Siegert, is one of these Australians. After missing out on a Master of Medicine, Ms Siegert completed her Certificate III in Pathology Collection earlier this…
University students are struggling to pay for team sports without government subsidies, according to a leading academic. The NSW government reduced the $100 Active Kids and $100 Creative Kids vouchers in January this year, combining the two incentives into a $50 benefit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-rbhuuLF7w This benefit only applies to young Australians, whereas 53% of adults participate in paid sports across Australia. Distinguished Professor of Public Health Anthony Okely said the vouchers were a great financial incentive for low socio-economic families. “It’s a great scheme and I would like to, obviously, see it continued and back-up to the levels where it was…
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has updated the NSW Criminal court reports for the 2022-2023 financial year, reporting a 16% rise in assault cases across the country.
The UOW Rover Team has learnt a lot from their first time at the Adelaide Rover Challenge and plan to come back stronger for next year.
Imagine: you’re at the University of Wollongong’s UniBar on a Friday night; you’re seated with a crowd that is warm, welcoming, and oh so very queer; the space is electric — anticipation high for the performances you know are to come — and backstage, Drag Queens, Kings, and Things are getting dressed, doing their makeup, and fixing their wigs. Maybe frantically transferring their music onto a USB at the last second. For the next hour, you and the crowd will whistle, hoot, cheer, and scream “YASSS!” at the top of your lungs, voices hoarse for the rest of the night.…