Less young people are deciding to become teachers, an Australian Bureau of Statistics study has shown. According to the ABS, the ratio between students and teachers has been slowly declining since 2015. Holy Spirit Primary School vice principal, Christopher Raymond says the school is feeling the pressure of the teacher shortage. “As soon as someone is sick and there is a gap to fill, finding extra teachers to cover that is almost impossible,” he said. Source: Australian Bureau Statistics In 2024, over half of Australian principals have reported a teacher shortage. Source: Australian Education Union (AEU) In 2024, the Labor…
Author: Lachlan Mcinerney
Waiting times for a diagnosis for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments have extended to up to 18 months in Australia. The prevalence of ADHD has increased, with approximately 1 in 20 Australians now living with the disorder. The greatest spike in ADHD diagnosis has come post-pandemic, with the percentage of people prescribed ADHD medication rising 1.3 per cent from 2020 to 2024. Source: Brain Foundation The greatest spike in ADHD diagnosis came post-pandemic, with the percentage of people prescribed ADHD medication rising 1.3 per cent from 2020 to 2024. Although waiting times for new diagnosis have blown out…
Gambling continues to be Australia’s favourite pastime and the harm associated with it remains prevalent, according to a UOW researcher. The Anzac Day long weekend saw record numbers of Australian’s swarm local pubs to play two-up, the one day of the year the game is legal. For some of them, gambling over the weekend was a unique experience, but statistics from the NSW Responsible Gambling fund show, that for many, gambling will remain a significant part of their lives. In 2024, 53 per cent of NSW adults participated in at least one gambling activity in the last 12 months. A…
Live performances remain a first-choice option for many Australians, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevalence of digital alternatives in entertainment. A Live Performance Australia report has shown that since 2020, attendance at live performances including theatre, ballet, dance and live music, have steadily increased. In 2024, audience numbers at live performances hit its highest in 14 years. Source: Live Performance Australia Attendance and Revenue Report, September 2025 Last month the NSW government introduced the second round of the Live Performance Venue Grant Program to support the continued return of major international events and tours to Australia. The program…
University of Wollongong Biology Lecturer Damien Esqueeré has won the British Ecological Society’s annual photography competition. Dr Esquerré’s research combines genetics with ecology and evolutionary biology, with a specific focus on reptiles so it seems appropriate that the photo that won him the 2024 ‘Capturing Ecology’ Photography competition was a of a bearded dragon baking in the Canberra sun. The Dragon and the Sun by Damien Esqueeré Dr Esquerré said in a University of Wollongong press release, that he took the photo on a normal day in Canberra and didn’t ever imagine it could be this successful. “This was just…
The Camden Men’s Shed officially opened its new location on Saturday, after two years of battling the council for approval. The 500-square-metre American barn-style shed is located behind Carrington Aged Care, kitted out with a conference room, woodworking section, metal-working section, fix-it section, kitchen and toilets. After two years of negotiations and rejections by council, President of Camden Men’s Shed David Funnell said it was the community that got the project over the line. “Every door we’ve knocked on there has been help,” Mr Funnel said. “We were given concrete at 60% off, steel at cost. “This building would never…