NewsMatch Alert: Press Release Summary | 26 November 2024
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Today's highlights
Sexual Assault Services Victoria welcomes the ban on cross-examination of victim survivors in commital hearings
Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic) welcomes the Victorian Government's bill that will ban cross-examination in committal hearings for victim survivors of sexual violence, stalking and family violence, which is being debated in parliament today. SASVic has put together an explainer about the new laws, debunking some of the backlash and criticism of what it sees as a common sense reform of an antiquated system.
Children and young people locked out of housing options by ‘perverse’ youth housing penalty
Home Time Youth Housing Coalition
New research from 悉尼新南威尔士大学 commissioned by the Home Time Youth Housing Coalition has revealed the full extent of systemic financial barriers preventing 16-24 year-olds experiencing homelessness from accessing safe housing options around Australia. Dubbed the ‘youth housing penalty’, these barriers discourage community housing providers from offering tenancies to unaccompanied young people without a home. Providers stand to lose 46% of the possible rental income if they choose a young person over an adult on a higher social security payment.
DV prevention needs to begin in primary school
Despite the NT Coroner’s recommendations following the landmark inquest into the domestic violence deaths of four Aboriginal women in the Northern Territory, Charles Darwin University Lecturer in Early Childhood Dr Toni McCallum says that schools are not part of the conversation. Dr McCallum states, "Evidence suggests that early intervention is crucial in DFSV prevention. We should be starting at primary school with five-year-olds, building resilience in young children and teaching them tools to stand up to coercive and abusive adults in their lives."
NASA calling: New funding to fuel next Indigenous STEM stars
A substantial funding boost from the Australian Government has renewed the Monash University National Indigenous Space Academy’s call for stellar Indigenous STEM students to apply for an internship with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Now in its fourth year, the National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA) – led by Monash's Faculty of Information Technology (IT) and Faculty of Engineering – has received almost half-a-million dollars from the Australian Space Agency .?
Electric aircraft on the horizon as Monash commercialises rapid-charge lithium-sulfur battery technology
Monash University engineers have developed an ultra-fast charging lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery, capable of powering long-haul EVs and commercial drones. Start-up, Ghove Energy, is advancing towards manufacturing and commercial applications of the disruptive battery technology. The breakthrough technology introduces a catalyst inspired by the chemistry of betadine, a common household antiseptic, to accelerate the charge and discharge rates of Li-S batteries.
Is it really possible to address loneliness through AI?
Loneliness has been described as a modern-day epidemic in Australia, doubling someone’s risk of chronic disease, and estimating to cost Australia’s health system $2.7 billion annually. AI characters Richard, Lou, Viv, Sophie, Harry and Willow have been created by a team of researchers at UNSW, led by Professor Jill Bennett, who are harnessing developments in AI to design ‘digital companions’ to support Australians facing a variety of psychosocial challenges, from dementia and ageing, eating disorders and depression, to mental health diagnoses and, of course, loneliness.
Report launch 3PM today at UNSW Sydney - Toxic air, urgent action: Unveiling a methane health crisis
Healthy Futures, a leading health and climate advocacy organisation committed to addressing the health impacts of climate change, will release a groundbreaking report today - "Toxic air, urgent action: Unveiling a methane health crisis." The report details the growing threat climate change poses to Australians' health and the direct link between methane and deadly air pollution known as ground ozone – a dense invisible smog that blankets the land and causes life threatening health conditions.?
World-first tag sheds new light on ‘disordered’ proteins in Parkinson’s
Scientists at La Trobe University have created a world-first method to investigate ‘disordered’ proteins in living cells in breakthrough research that could revolutionise how we understand and treat Parkinson’s disease. Published in Nature Methods, the research used a cutting-edge chemical tag called TME, which binds with the proteins and makes them light up, allowing scientists for the first time to detect and capture them for analysis while in their unstructured or ‘disordered’ state.?
Secret documents show silicosis ‘tsunami’ coming for metro tunnellers
Tunnel workers cutting the gigantic passages for Sydney’s Metros have been exposed to toxic silica dust levels far exceeding those working in the engineered stone industry, secret documents show.?Documents obtained by the AWU through freedom of information laws show tunnellers are exposed to cancer-causing dust while building government projects like Metro West, and Metro City & Southwest.
Ending uni boss pay bonanza and wage theft a massive win
The National Tertiary Education Union has strongly welcomed the federal government’s plans to end million-dollar vice-chancellor pay and crack down on wage theft.?The NTEU last week released a damning?report?into university governance, which has now sparked a major announcement from Education Minister Jason Clare MP .?A new watchdog will rein in bulging university executive pay packets and action will be taken on wage theft, which has seen more than 140,000 workers underpaid an estimated $400 million.
New report reveals practical strategies to unlock a workforce of 110,000 skilled job seekers with disability
Businesses can help unlock a talent pool of more than 110,000 jobseekers with disability and do their part in building disability-positive workplaces by making four practical commitments, according to a new report produced by non-profit SSI. At a time when one in three businesses are struggling to fill roles, highly qualified professionals with disability, like accountant Abrahim Darouiche , struggle to break into the workforce.?
Aussie job seekers show growing confidence in AI for recruitment, but questions around over-reliance remain
As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into the hiring process, a new study by Capterra reveals a growing divide between the perceived fairness of AI and the need for a human touch in recruitment. In the research, 64% of Australian job seekers believe they have a better chance of being hired if AI is used in recruitment, with 74% perceiving AI as generally less biased than human recruiters when evaluating candidates. Yet despite Australians' support for AI, 44% may opt to reject an offer from companies that excessively rely on AI and lack a human touch.?
New study explores negative effect of unethical practices on buyer-supplier relationships
According to researchers from Monash University and 美国东北大学 , business customers who conduct unfair and socially irresponsible business practices have been shown to have significantly decreased suppliers’ intentions to continue their business relationships. Published in the Journal of Business Ethics , the study is the first to examine the effect of customers’ unethical practices on their suppliers’ intention to continue their business relationships, offering new insights for businesses seeking to navigate ethical dilemmas.?
NIKE, Inc. appoints Treasure Heinle as executive vice president and chief human resources officer
NIKE, Inc. today announced a change to its Senior Leadership Team (SLT). Treasure Bailey Heinle , Chief Talent Officer, will become the company’s new Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). In her new role, Heinle will be responsible for leading the global HR function and managing NIKE’s People vision and strategy. She succeeds Monique Matheson who has decided to retire from NIKE after 26 years with the company. This leadership change is effective January 6, 2025.
Financing a sustainable future with Australia’s first dedicated circular economy investment fund
Planet Ark have today announced new partnership with Boston Global Group to drive the nation's transition towards a circular economy with the launch of the Circular Future Fund (CFF), a dedicated investment fund focused on catalysing a new way of thinking about resources. The CFF aims to foster a circular approach to the materials economy—one that eliminates waste, keeps resources in use for as long as possible, and regenerates natural systems. The fund aims to support projects and innovations that contribute to these goals, directly benefiting Australian businesses, communities, and the environment. Rebecca Gilling , CEO of Planet Ark, outlined that the fund could have a transformative impact on circularity in Australia.
Dismay at Allan Government’s ongoing failure to deliver new promised national parks
Victorian community and nature conservation groups are furious with the state Labor Government’s inability to legislate new central west national parks in central Victoria. Despite repeated public statements and letters to constituents committing to protect the areas by the end of 2024, there’s no mention of the Wombat-Lerderderg and Mount Buangor national parks on the final sitting week's parliamentary schedule.
Heritage listings to protect Chinatown icons
Three historic buildings are slated to be heritage-listed as part of a proposal honouring the heritage of Chinatown and revitalising the area. The City of Sydney is proposing to list 50-54 Dixon Street, 90-100 Hay Streetand and 75-77 Ultimo Road, all offering a unique glimpse into the history of Chinatown. Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO , said recognising these buildings was particularly important to local communities.
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