It is an age-old story for many Australians – the cicadas constantly clicking, the cool water soothing yesterday’s sunburn, and the blissful sting in your lungs making that final lap underwater, without taking a breath. And then comes the head spins when you finally pull up out of the water. You’re determined to do it one better next time. But under the surface, the body’s systems are failing, and the warning signs stop coming. The last seconds are spent silently suffocating underwater, the body doesn’t even call out to remind you to breathe. Member of Shallow Water Blackout Prevention Australia,…
Author: Portia Johnson
A new study has found that parents’ use of technology in front of their children is associated with poorer cognitive and social behaviour outcomes. The study, released in May and published by public health researcher Marcelo Toledo-Vargas from the University of Wollongong has found a strong link between parental screen time and developmental problems for children, including low attention span, tantrums, and poor emotional regulation. Clinical psychologist Ann Bailey said part of the problem comes from parents not realising how being distracted by technology causes children to feel neglected. “Often the parent interprets escalating behaviour as being naughty, disobedient or antagonistic…
The Commonwealth Prac Payment supporting students on unpaid placements is set to aid university students living under the poverty line. The payment plan, which will be launched on July 1, will provide some students up to $331.65 each week to support them on placement on a means-tested basis, or 33 per cent below the Australian poverty line. Western Sydney University occupational therapist student, Jade Higgins said though the payment plan will provide support for some students, it is not enough to cover the costs of placement. “It’s really difficult because the universities notify us of where we’re going and what…
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has announced that it would not change the cash rate again until after the election, but experts have said the rental crisis for students is unlikely to change this year. The RBA held their second annual Monetary Policy Board Meeting earlier this week after the cash rate was lowered for the first time in nearly five years from 4.35 per cent to 4.1 per cent in February. The big four banks have predicted further cuts in the coming months, but local real-estate agent Craig Hyde said that though these cuts will provide relief for…
Frisbee in the Illawarra often means a summer’s day at the beach with the family. You might follow this fun in the sun with a night out dancing, disco balls and loud music a plenty. But for some locals, the globally recognised sports of ultimate flying disc and all star dance are tickets to international success. These two sports produce some of the Illawarra’s most successful athletes, including podium finishes at this year’s world championships. However, although they put in as many hours as any athlete, while their Olympic counterparts walk home with thousands of dollars, these competitors just walk…
Illawarra locals were divided on Monday night after Wollongong City Councillors carried a motion to approve the proposed off-shore wind turbine farm area. The motion was passed in an Ordinary Meeting of Council and would support the federal government’s move to create a wind turbine farm at least 10 kilometres away from the Illawarra coast and approximately one thousand four hundred square kilometres in area. Community speaker at the meeting Neryl East said that the impacts of the wind turbines would be disastrous for the environment, contrary to what the government claimed. “You’d be supporting a project that purports to…
Hundreds of people struggling to find housing gathered outside Sydney Town Hall on Saturday to rally for better living conditions and cheaper rent. The rally was hosted by Get a Room, a campaign from the National Union of Students. Protestors gathered to demand more public housing, rent freezes and stronger renter rights from the Albanese government. Yasmine Johnson, member of the University of Sydney Students’ Representative Council, said that students, particularly international students, are being hit the hardest by the housing crisis. ‘“They come and there are these student housing providers that charge them ridiculous amounts of money, and I…
Local singers featured in a new song project released last week supporting the ‘Yes23’ campaign in the upcoming referendum. The ‘Voice! Song Project’ involved over 700 singers from around the nation, including the Illawarra Union Singers, and has garnered widespread attention for its political ambitions. Creator of the project and singer-songwriter Suze Pratten said that the ‘Voice! Song Project’ was created to inspire the new generation in the upcoming referendum. “Back in 1967, my parent’s generation made a difference, and we can too,” Ms Pratten said. “Eighty three per cent of Aboriginal people want this change, so who am I,…
Dangerous and illegally imported animals were seized from an Illawarra property on Saturday during a biosecurity raid by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Two green iguanas, a rhinoceros iguana, six tarantulas, and other native animals were found in cages and tanks inside the residence south of Wollongong. Threatened species expert Dr Beth Mott said that current legislation does not do enough to protect the environment. “It’s incredibly dangerous for local ecosystems because often times when people have illegal or exotic pets, they just release them into our natural environment, and some of those species can actually thrive…
Wollongong will see millions of dollars in tourism revenue this year after the Chinese government made changes allowing tour groups to re-enter Australia. China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism released a statement last week lifting a ban on tour groups entering Australia that was put into place during COVID-19. According to New South Wales National Parks ranger Ryan Cole, the surge in international visitors will bring more money to local destinations, increasing pressure for workers within the tourism sector. “We used to have a fairly pronounced off-season during the winter months, but since COVID, visitation remains pretty much the same…