Under-researched, unregulated and overly normalised. The popularisation of vaping has taken a chokehold on young Australians, as many struggle with nicotine addiction. Inside the fruity and colourfully marketed e-cigarettes, researchers have found poison, heavy metals, toxic chemicals and excessive nicotine: new research is now connecting vaping to cancers. Where are the days when children sought after pocket money to buy lollies from the corner store? There’s an array of vibrant colours and flavours – watermelon, mango, blueberry, raspberry. No, it’s not sorbet or sweets – it’s e-cigarettes, like a siren calling on Australian youth. It’s designed just for them. A…
Author: Rachael Gregory
Wollongong’s CBD will host a free micro jazz festival this weekend, bringing a full day of performances across six local venues. Jazz in the City is a music event provided by Wollongong City council to showcase local talent and support businesses in hosting music events for the community. The event takes place this Saturday, June 6 and provides a gig trail where audiences can drop into sets to explore the city and indulge in jazz music. City Centre Place Maker Carla Yamine said she hopes the community will appreciate the wealth of music and venues the city has to offer…
Australian businesses are turning to social media as a mainstream commercial platform, according to a recent economic study. The PayPal 2026 eCommerce Index has revealed that 67 per cent of Australian businesses now sell through social media, reflecting a changing digital marketplace. PayPal Head of Business Marketing, Josh Greech said in a media release that selling through social media platforms has moved from experimentation to expectation for businesses. “With social media now driving more than one in 10 online sales, it has evolved beyond a marketing tool into an integral part of the commerce journey,” Mr Greech said. “When consumers…
Heart Foundation has partnered with TAL life insurance provider to educate young people on the importance of how their lifestyle choices can impact their heart health during national heart week. Heart foundations State of Heart 2025 Survey found young Australians aged 18 to 34 believe heart disease is not something they need to worry about, despite evidence showing heart disease which presents later in life often begins developing as early as teenage years. The partnership busts common heart health myths to help young people understand that protecting their heart health starts now. Heart Foundation Head of Clinical Evidence Dr Danni…
Landmark findings have revealed eating two servings of seafood per week could significantly improve health, with experts now urging Australians to adopt a simple habit called Two4life. Research conducted by Dr Wendy Hunt and Professor Alexandra McManus shows adopting the food routine can reduce risks of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s by 30 per cent and lower dementia risks by 10 per cent. Prof. McManus said the findings highlight the important role seafood plays in long-term health outcomes and improvements. “Overall, it shows that if we eat two servings of seafood a week, with one of them being an oily fish,…
A former journalist and UOW Alumni has encouraged prospective students to jump on every opportunity available. Speaking on the University of Wollongong’s Alumni Stories: From Here On, UOW alum Keiran Deck encouraged show hosts Rachael Gregory and Thomas Panayiotou and their fellow journalism students to approach stories with a human first methodology. “People bring their own narrative, their own story that they like to tell, and so your job is to get curious and dig deeper under the surface,” Mr Deck said. “The better you know yourself, the better you know who you are, the better you like yourself, the…
Youth Homelessness Matters Day has raised awareness about the realities of children and young people experiencing and at risk of homelessness. Yfoundations senior policy officer Shai Mikus said organisations are reporting family breakdown and domestic violence as the main reasons young people are seeking assistance. “For young people needing to leave the family environment to find and maintain their own housing in the current system is impossible,” Ms Mikus said. “What’s happening with these young people is that if they are coming across child protection, it may be ascertained there is not enough risk in the home for them to…
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling for urgent blood donations as reserves face significant pressure following the Easter break. More than 13,000 blood donations are required between March 31 and April 10 to ensure blood is readily available for accidents and emergencies and for thousands of ill patients. Lifeblood spokesperson, Jemma Falkenmire said that blood and plasma is especially needed leading up to public holidays as blood donors usually take a break. “We only have three per cent of the population who donate regularly so it’s not a large number of people. At the same time, we often see demand…
It’s 6:10 am and the sky is sweating colours of oranges, pinks, and purples. Georgie and I lock eyes as another cocky guy saunters to mingle with fellow runners. Rhythmic waves lap against the rocks and shore, mocking my steady heartbeat. The motto ‘Win the morning, win the day’ hangs thick in the air, and I take in a deep breath, in a futile attempt to oxygenate my blood. I roll my head and hop awkwardly on the spot, in a silly performative manner to front as an avid runner. I look over my shoulder at the guy: it looks…
The seaside town of Kiama has come alive in spring with a series of cultural events including art exhibitions, music festivals, farmers markets and fundraisers. The school holidays has seen the town welcome an influx of tourists with plenty of family friendly events. Kiama has hosted the Shellharbour Arts Society’s art exhibition, the Shine Car Show and the Australian Body Surfing Classic. Kiama Mayor Neil Reilly said that council is always seeking to uplift local talent. “We do a fair bit to positively encourage and reinforce the arts in our area,” Mr Reilly said. “We have a cultural grant program…