Following her whirlwind of a journey, University of Wollongong alumni, Kate Cliff is welcoming anyone and everyone to join her as she continues to practice 5000-year-old vedic traditions. While her portfolio is sparkling, in her university days, Ms Cliff pursued a double Bachelor of Law and Communications and Media before going on to receive her Diploma of Legal Practice and eventually, starting her own business. “I’ve created what I wish I had even before university,” said Ms Cliff. Derived from the Ayurvedic Veda, Vedic Meditation is a mantra-based practice that has been passed on between teachers for over five millennia.…
Author: Sarah Pawson
A new support group is being launched across the Illawarra and South Coast to help adults who have lost someone to suicide. Lifeline South Coast has introduced the Support After Suicide Bereavement Group, offering a safe and confidential space for people to connect with others who have experienced a similar loss. Services Manager Helen Matwijiw says the group aims to fill a gap in existing services by providing specialised support for people experiencing suicide bereavement. “There’s definitely a gap, there is a lot of stigma around suicide and losing someone to suicide is unique,” she said. “It can be really…
University of Wollongong Creative Arts Alumni, Hannah Diviney is encouraging students to stop waiting until graduation to pursue opportunities and start making their mark now. She’s a writer, actor and passionate advocate for equality. Ms Diviney has built her career around creativity and advocacy, using her experiences to challenge perceptions of disability and representation. Reflecting on her journey since leaving UOW, Ms Diviney said she still finds it difficult to comprehend how her life has turned out. “I’m just me, chilling in my hoodie and track pants, and thousands of people are paying attention to what I am saying or…
Australia’s housing and rental crisis is making it harder for people to leave domestic violence, as safe and affordable housing becomes increasingly scarce. Domestic violence services report rising demand for emergency accommodation, longer-term housing support and rental assistance amid low vacancy rates and cost-of-living pressures. Women with children are particularly affected, facing financial pressure and limited housing options, with research highlighting safe housing as critical to recovery. RadioU UOW · The Cost of Leaving Domestic violence survivor Joanne Thorne says securing safe and affordable housing after leaving abuse was one of the most significant challenges she faced. “Safe Steps said…
Beyond the cities, rural roads have continued to record a disproportionate share of Australia’s road accidents and deaths, despite carrying far less traffic and having fewer residents than metropolitan areas. Across New South Wales, around 67–69 per cent of road fatalities occur on rural and regional roads, even though only about one-third of the population lives outside major cities. Nationally, the gap is also clear. National Road Safety Strategy data has shown the road fatality rate in rural and regional Australia is about 9.6 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 2.2 per 100,000 in cities. NSW Parliament’s StaySafe Committee Chair,…
The renaming of polycystic ovary syndrome to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) has reignited concerns the condition has long been misunderstood, overlooked and misdiagnosed. The condition’s previous name, PCOS, was criticised for focusing on ovarian cysts despite many sufferers not having them, which experts claim caused confusion and delayed diagnosis. Research shows 33.6 per cent of women wait more than two years for a diagnosis, while nearly half see multiple health professionals, with 47.1 per cent seeing three or more before receiving answers. PMOS sufferer, Charlotte Fisher, 21, said it took four years before she understood what was causing her…
The use of artificial intelligence in journalism is raising questions about how far the technology should be allowed into modern newsrooms, with a University of Wollongong alumna warning AI should support journalists rather than replace them. WIN Television National News Director Stella Lauri said AI could be useful for research and background information, but journalists must maintain editorial control. “We can’t be left behind. The technology is always there, so we have to try and stay a step ahead,” Ms Lauri said. Ms Lauri said using AI for research purposes could be comparable to modern referencing practices. She said journalists…
Casual use of the term ‘OCD’ downplays obsessive-compulsive disorder, a serious mental illness affecting hundreds of thousands of Australians. A World Mental Health Survey of more than 26,000 adults across 10 countries found a 4.1 per cent lifetime prevalence of OCD. In Australia, around 2 to 3 per cent of people are estimated to experience OCD in their lifetime, equating to more than 500,000 Australians, according to Healthdirect Australia. OCD is not always severe, with 47 per cent of cases classified as mild, 27.5 per cent as very mild, 22.9 per cent as moderate, and 2.7 per cent as severe.…
The accelerating use of weight loss drugs globally is sparking concerns of safety, side effects and long-term use, according to The Therapeutic Goods Administration. Medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have seen global demand surge in recent years, with prescriptions for weight management rising nearly 20 times from 2019 to 2024. In Australia, around 2 per cent of adults, nearly half a million people, are now taking GLP-1 medications, reflecting a global rise and the growing share of the pharmaceutical market these drugs now hold. While the promise of rapid weight loss has captured public attention, researchers warn the reality may…
Social media is shaping public perceptions of youth crime in New South Wales, with widely shared incidents creating a sense of reoffending, even as official data suggest overall rates have remained relatively stable. According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the number of young people in custody has grown by around a third in the past two years, reaching 234 by June 2025, up from 175 in June 2023. However, the increase in detention does not necessarily reflect a rise in overall youth offending. BOCSAR Executive Director Jackie Fitzgerald said increases in certain crimes doesn’t mean youth…