You don’t get long in parent-teacher interviews. Here’s how to use the time well
SDI Productions/ Getty Images It’s the time of year when schools and parents typically meet for parent-teacher interviews. These meetings are often short: in high school, usually only five to ten minutes per subject. In primary school, they might go for around 15 minutes with the classroom teacher. With limited time, it’s worth thinking about […]
$50,000 arts degrees look set to stay, despite a new bill trying to slash uni fees
For five years, many Australian university students have been watching the amount they have to pay for their studies with alarm and despair. In response, the Senate is considering a Greens bill to slash high university student contributions for arts, law and business students. The bill proposes to reverse student contribution increases imposed in 2021 […]
‘I don’t believe no screens is possible’: how parents manage devices and little kids
Vanessa Loring/ Pexels Parents are told to avoid screens altogether in the first two years of a child’s life. At the same time, digital devices are part of everyday family life used for communication, work, learning, and at times, simply getting through the day. Our new research talks to first-time parents about how they navigate […]
We studied the bacteria on kids’ sports mouthguards. The results were eye-opening
Galitskaya/ Getty Images Many young Australians are beginning their winter sports season, gearing up for sports such as football, hockey and rugby. Apart from the training sessions, weekend games and oranges at half-time, these contact sports also involve mouthguards. Mouthguards protect the teeth, gums and jaw from serious injury. But while most parents and coaches […]
Taking your child to an Anzac service? Prepare for loud noises and big questions
Tens of thousands of Australians are expected to attend Anzac Day marches and services over the weekend. Many children will also be there with their families or school groups. Anzac events are often very sombre and can provoke serious questions from children. This year, with conflicts raging overseas, and terrorist attacks at home, the questions […]
Pretend play is a magical part of childhood. New research suggests it can also help mental health
Liliana Drew/ Pexels Pretend play is a significant and often magical part of childhood. Children have huge imaginations and use these to turn rocks into spaceships, tables into forts or pens into fairies. They might pretend to be “mum” or to “cook dinner”. Or they may invent their own characters, worlds and concepts that have […]
Australia has access to 20,000 migrant teachers, but is not using them. Why not?
Vanessa Garcia/ Pexels Australia needs more teachers. It ranks among the worst-performing countries in the OECD for teacher shortages. This is particularly so for public schools. As of December 2025, there was a reported shortfall of 2,600 teachers in Victoria and New South Wales alone. A 2024 Australian Education Union survey of 953 primary and […]
Does your school do mental health checks? They should be regular, not just a one-off
Klaus Vedfelt/ Getty Images Students’ mental health is one of the biggest challenges facing schools. In Australia, half of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14. It is also estimated that more than 50% of children experiencing mental health challenges are not receiving professional help. Schools are increasingly being asked to […]
Google promotes ‘teacher approved’ apps for kids. Here’s what parents should know
Ron Lach/ Pexels As school holidays continue around Australia, many parents are looking for educational ways to keep their children entertained. If you own an Android device and have young children, you may find yourself browsing Google Play for educational and age-appropriate apps. If you go to the children’s section, you will be led to […]
Fixating on a ‘magic number’ of childcare hours misses what’s most important for kids’ development
Lisa from Pexels/Pexels Families with kids juggling full-time work may have been alarmed by media reporting this week, suggesting “too much” time in early childhood education and care could harm their child’s development. Data from a major Australian study, the First Five Years project, was released by the Department of Education last December. It tracked […]