There is little evidence AI chatbots are ‘bullying kids’ – but this doesn’t mean these tools are safe
Over the weekend, Education Minister Jason Clare sounded the alarm about “AI chatbots bullying kids”. As he told reporters in a press conference to launch a new anti-bullying review, AI chatbots are now bullying kids […] humiliating them, hurting them, telling them they’re losers, telling them to kill themselves. This sounds terrifying. However, evidence it […]
There are new plans to fix how universities will run. But will they work?
Australian universities enrol more than 1.4 million students per year and employ more than 130,000 staff. They receive substantial public funding – about A$22 billion each year. They have also demonstrated substantial governance failings – or problems with the way they are run. As Education Minister Jason Clare has noted: If you don’t think there […]
Our research shows how screening students for psychopathic and narcissistic traits could help prevent cyberbullying
Mirage C/ Getty Images The federal government has just released an expert review to try and prevent bullying in schools. One of the greatest areas of concern is cyberbullying, which is alarmingly common among young people. As federal Education Minister Jason Clare said over the weekend, […] now it’s just not happening in the playground, […]
Why claims of ‘transformational’ school reading improvement are premature
Getty Images The government has made some bold claims for its school reading policies – including that early results have been “transformational”. But we should be careful about rushing to judgement this early. Following the release of a Ministry of Education report on phonics checks over the first three terms of this school year, Education […]
A government review wants schools to respond to bullying complaints within 2 days. Is this fair? What else do we need?
Over the weekend, the federal government released its rapid review into school bullying. Authored by clinical psychologist Charlotte Keating and suicide prevention expert Jo Robinson, the review received more than 1,700 submissions from parents, students, teachers and school staff. The majority were from parents. Amid ongoing community concerns about the devastating impacts of bullying, what […]
9 ways to help your brain and boost your memory during exam season
Tatsiana Volkova/Getty Images It’s exam season in Australia. Year 12 students are sitting final exams, while university and younger school students also face end-of-year assessments. No doubt, students will be spending time memorising notes and revising past lessons. But memory during exams isn’t just related to how much you study, it’s also about how your […]
Why do kids want to talk about bums and poos all the time?
Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images If you spend time around little kids, you may notice one topic seems to be more interesting and hilarious than any other. Children of all ages love to make comments and jokes about bums and poos (as the many popular books on the topic show). Why do kids love […]
Year 12 are about to start their final exams. Here’s how to keep calm and stay positive
Klaus Vedfelt/ Getty Images Thousands of Year 12 students across Australia are getting ready to sit their final exams. Students may be feeling a lot of things right now – from heightened pressure to excitement it will all be over soon. Families may be seeking strategies to help their young people to feel confident and […]
We tracked 72,000 NSW public school students over a decade and found 19% had been suspended or expelled
Moore Media/ Getty Images Suspending or expelling a student is the most serious disciplinary measure available to schools. Research tells us it can have a negative impact on a students’ learning, their connection to school and mental health. Students who have been suspended are also more likely to go on to have contact with the […]
‘I was 170th on their list’. What are the health impacts for families who can’t access daycare?
Thomas Barwick/ Getty Images Imagine living in a town where three or more families are competing for a single early learning place. This is the reality for many families in regional, rural and remote Australia. Experts call these areas “childcare deserts”. A 2024 study found about 24% of Australians live in a childcare desert. This […]