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…
Author: Sarah Pawson
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…
University of Wollongong students are feeling the strain as fuel shortages and rising petrol prices disrupt daily commutes, forcing many to rethink how they get to campus. The spike in fuel costs has added significant financial pressure to an expensive university experience for students travelling from regional areas. Some student say they have cut back on non-essential spending to afford petrol, while others have been forced to consider alternative study options altogether. Isla Stephenson, who commutes weekly from Crookwell NSW, said rising costs have become unsustainable. “Before the fuel prices went up, I could fill up my car for $50,…
By Sarah Pawson and Ava Ferguson-Leighton On the edge of Port Kembla, a maze of steel pipes and blast furnaces rises against the skyline. For decades, the Illawarra Steelworks have been the backbone of the suburb, but inside its walls, whispers echo of the men who never made it home. From unexplained explosions to eerie accidents, the question lingers whether the steelworks are dangerous by design, or if something malevolent is buried within, a curse that refuses to die. When the first blast furnace was lit in 1928, it marked the beginning of a new era, one that brought prosperity…
Formula One fans worldwide are reeling following the announcement that Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo will be replaced for the remainder of the 2024 season. The decision follows Ricciardo’s struggles with performance and fitness issues earlier in the season, prompting the Visa Cash App RB team to seek a fresh direction as they aim to improve their standings. Longtime Daniel Ricciardo fan Olivia Medina, expressed devastation over his replacement, feeling the loss of his charisma and racing spirit. “I’m truly devastated, I think it’s very disappointing that Daniel has been replaced as he’s done so much not only for the sport…