Students undertaking placement are nervous about the cost-of-living, despite the Albanese government’s promise to pay students from July next year. The government has pledged to pay students studying teaching, nursing and social work undergoing placement $319.50 per week from July of 2025, but students are feeling the pressure. Nursing student Will George believes the government’s promise should come sooner. “I finish university before the payments are implemented, so I miss out completely,” Mr George said. “You spend four weeks of working all day, every day, and you’re receiving absolutely no money at all. “There’s this mum in my class. She…
Author: Samuel Shillington
Wollongong has come in at second position for the rudest people in Australia, and number 10 for being the worst swearers, a recent survey has found. The recent study by Preply has found that while overall Wollongong residents were seventh for being the most polite, they also ranked number two for being the most rude. Wollongong resident Liam Egan-Richards was surprised to hear that residents in such a beautiful beachside town could be so rude. “I think honestly they’re super polite,” Mr Egan-Richards said “I think living by the beach tends to make people more humble and more laid back.…
Australian parents and educators have supported Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s proposal to ban social media for young people under 14, though enforcement of the policy remains uncertain. Although many parents support the new bill, questions still remain on how the government will implement such a ban, given the accessibility of social media through various platforms and devices. Parent and former educator, Kelly Honeybrook believes social media has only had negative effects for children. “They’re not ready for mature content when they are still trying to grow and develop and understand the world around them,” Ms Honeybrook said. “The easy access…
Southern New South Wales residents have voiced concerns about this year’s fire season following a record-breaking heatwave over late August and early September. Last month, Australia recorded its hottest ever winter day nationwide, with Queensland recording temperatures 15 degrees above average from this time of year. Blue Mountains resident Sia-Rose Campbell said she can feel this summer will be another dangerous fire season. “Feeling the hot wind recently triggers a physical feeling of stress and fear,” Ms Campbell said. “A similar feeling we all had in the 2020 bushfires.” Many fire services across the country have also warned of an…
Australian festival-goers and musicians are singing out over current festival lineups amidst the worsening cost-of-living pressures. Lineups for ‘Beyond the Valley’ and ‘Lost Paradise’ include big industry names such as Ice Spice and Fisher, but many Australian musicians are predicting that big industry names could be doing more bad than good for the music industry. Local Wollongong Drummer William Nott believes the problem stems from major festivals featuring big international names and not prioritising smaller artists. “Supporting festivals with international acts isn’t a good way to keep the Australian music scene vibrant anymore,” said Mr Nott. So far this year,…
Shark nets and drumlines are once again under scrutiny as the NSW Government considers installing the nets across five Illawarra beaches for the summer season. Since 2012, less than 5 per cent of the marine life caught by the nets are considered ‘target sharks’, leaving the other 95 per cent of species captured being turtles, whales, dolphins and non-target sharks. Green’s Lord Mayor cadidate Jess Whittaker has been fighting against the placement of shark nets and drumlines in the Illawarra. “Shark nets are designed to kill wildlife,” Mrs Whittaker said. “It’s a marine life cull basically, that works by reducing…