A new survey, involving over 3,000 Australian young people has revealed that those who choose trades over university degrees are experiencing both increased wealth and happiness compared to their tertiary educated counterparts by the age of 25. Both trade and post-graduate qualifications are higher in occupation-specific skills or discipline-specific knowledge and the Ai Group’s Centre for Education and Training report highlights work based learning and experience as key factors for early advancement in the workplace. Chief Executive of Ai Group, Innes Willox said that those with focused qualifications, like that of a trade, traineeship or post-graduate are showing stronger…
Author: Stefanie Schultz
Australians aged 16-34 are the most likely to experience high levels of distress, according to the ABS, and as UOW students head into the last weeks of the Autumn session, they have been given the chance to take a breather. Stress Less Week is a welcome reprieve from the load of assessments and looming exams that come at this time of year. https://youtu.be/uYpfFOm62hc Macramé is an ancient textile art, recognisable by it’s knotting technique (as opposed to weaving or knitting), which can aid in the practice of mindfulness. The tactile nature of this art form can help creators focus on…
The number of people completing an official marathon nearly doubled between 2021 and 2022, according to a new study. Strava’s 2022 Year in Sport revealed the running boom that happened during Covid lockdowns has continued across the globe, including the Illawarra. The Wollongong Track Club (WTC) has grown over the last couple of years from a ‘humble’ online group chat into a thriving community, and it continues to welcome runners of all abilities into its crew. Wollongong Track Club co-founder Mitchell Ryan has experienced how running can help manage stress. “We saw through lockdown a lot of people struggle with…
The Labor government has made women in the workforce a priority, according to statements about last night’s federal budget. The budget included measures on childcare affordability and paid parental leave. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said workplace reform in the budget was a “critical first steps” toward women’s economic equality. As of November 2022, the nation’s gender pay gap is sitting at 13.3 per cent, and while this is narrowing, (down from 18.2 per cent in 1984), some female dominated sectors are still facing an uphill battle toward equality. Alongside a pay rise for aged care workers, of which more than…
Australia’s female population is disproportionately represented in depression and anxiety statistics, with almost half (46.6%) of females aged between 16-24 years experiencing a 12-month mental disorder. Monash University’s Health, Education and Research Centre (HER) is looking to address this and has called on the federal government to invest more in female gender-specific mental health research, treatment, and education. RadioU UOW · Calls for investment into gender specific mental health research AUDIO: Stefanie Schultz speaks with Dr. Alexandria Simpson from HER and University of Wollongong’s Assoc. Professor Samara Brown and Professor Kelly Newell about female-focused mental health research. Source: Beyond…
The Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute is searching for participants for a six-month study into the cognitive benefits of eating purple foods. The study, led by the University of Wollongong’s Professor Karen Charlton and associate Dr Vinicius Andre de Rosario, will include 150 participants aged between 65 and 80, who experience memory loss or who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, making this the largest study of its kind worldwide. Professor Charlton is leading the research, which she believes could be crucial to the future development of dementia treatment. “The purpose of the research is to look at…
Women make up just 10 per cent of the engineering workforce in Australia, according to Engineers Australia. The Women in Engineering Society at the University of Wollongong is working to bridge that gap. Society President Kate Menzies and Vice President Jessica Davis were a driving force behind the the Women in Engineering Summit held at UOW earlier this month. The society aims to foster a supportive environment for those enrolled in engineering at UOW and to change the way all young women think about engineering. Ms Menzies said the society was particularly focused on high school students. She said the…