Opinion – SOCIAL MEDIA BANS FOR UNDER-16s: HELPFUL PROTECTION OR HARMFUL RESTRICTION?

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As parents across Australia navigate the increasingly complex digital landscape our children inhabit, the Federal government’s proposed social media ban for under-16s has sparked significant debate. While protecting our children from online harms is a priority we all share, many are questioning whether a blanket ban is the most effective approach. The Good Intentions Behind…

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WELLBEING: HOW YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE SHAPES YOUR WELLBEING

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Whether you are a parent or not, your wellbeing does not exist in isolation. It is influenced and shaped by the numerous interactions with people and events that happen to you, as well as those happening around you. You are not a passive recipient of these influences; your responses also shape the system. Relationships are…

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AUTISM AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

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There are numerous hurdles between waking up and getting out the door on school mornings, whether it is battling with the alarm clock, hunting down the missing (and very important) item or organising a last-minute carpool when the school bus doesn’t show up on time. However, for some families, getting to school can be especially…

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ONLINE GAMING – MAYBE IT’S NOT BAD FOR EVERYONE 

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You know that uneasy feeling you get when your child is gaming, for what seems like hours? In fact, it is hours. Your parenting mind tells you it’s not good for them, and they should be outside running around, talking to real people, or maybe helping you with dinner.  A friend recently recommended that I…

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Parents, Trust Your Instincts: When Something Doesn’t Feel Right at School

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As parents, we develop a finely-tuned radar when it comes to our children’s wellbeing. That gut feeling that something isn’t quite right shouldn’t be dismissed. Parental intuition is remarkably accurate. This intuition isn’t limited to physical health; it extends to all aspects of your child’s life.  When That Feeling Strikes Perhaps your usually chatty child…

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WELLBEING: HOW DO I MEASURE MY OWN WELLBEING- PART 2  

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It can be challenging to get a clear understanding of your wellbeing baseline and of how you are truly doing. You may notice specific symptoms, such as constant fatigue, poor sleep, and issues like joint pain or headaches. Additionally, you might recognise that you’ve experienced several stressful events over the past ten years, such as…

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WELLBEING: WHAT IS IT? IT’S MORE THAN YOU THINK – PART 1

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In today’s world, the word “wellbeing” seems to be everywhere. Schools run well-being programs, podcasts promise to boost it, and wellness brands build entire identities around it. Addressing wellbeing has become a focus in parenting forums, workplace policies, and government strategies. Wellbeing has become a kind of shorthand, often reduced to things like mental health,…

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ADOLESCENCE – what do we take away from this series?

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If you haven’t seen Adolescence, you might want to sit down and see what all the discussion is about. This four-part British series, released on Netflix on March 13, 2025, has quickly become one of the most talked-about shows in recent memory. The idea for the series came from its star, Stephen Graham, after a…

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