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Despite some key milestones since 2000, Australia still has a long way to go on gender equality

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Australia has a gender problem. Despite social, economic and political reform aimed at improving opportunities for women, gender gaps are increasing and Australia is falling behind other countries.</p> <p>The World Economic Forum currently places Australia 24th among 146 countries, down from 15th in 2006. At the current rate of change, the forum suggests it will take <a href="https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2024/">more than 130 years</a> to achieve gender equality globally.</p> <p>Australia has taken important steps forward in some areas, while progress in other areas remains painfully slow. So how far have we come since 2000, and how much further do we have to go?</p> <h2>The good stuff</h2> <p>There are now more women in <a href="https://www.aigroup.com.au/resourcecentre/research-economics/factsheets/factsheet-gender-and-the-australian-labour-market/#:%7E:text=Female%20labour%20market%20participation%20was,gender%20participation%20gap%20of%208%25.">the labour market</a>, in <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/measuring-what-matters/measuring-what-matters-themes-and-indicators/cohesive/representation-parliament">parliament</a>, and leading <a href="https://www.forbes.com.au/lists/people/women-of-the-asx/">large companies</a> than at any other time.</p> <p>Over the past 25 years, there have been major social and political milestones that indicate progress.</p> <p>These include the appointment of Australia’s first female governor-general in 2008 and prime minister in 2010, the introduction of universal paid parental leave in 2011, a high-profile inquiry into workplace sexual harassment in 2020, and new legislation requiring the public reporting of gender pay gaps in 2023.</p> <h2>Timeline of equality milestones</h2> <ul id="timelineList"> <li> <h2>2000</h2> <p>Child Care Benefit introduced, subsidising cost of children for eligible families</p> </li> <li> <h2>2008</h2> <p>First female Governor-General (Dame Quentin Bryce)</p> </li> <li> <h2>2010</h2> <p>First female Prime Minister elected (Julia Gillard) </p> <p>First Aboriginal woman from Australia elected to UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Megan Davis) </p> <p>Australia’s first national paid parental leave scheme</p> </li> <li> <h2>2012</h2> <p>Julia Gillard misogyny speech </p> <p>Workplace Gender Equality Act becomes law, Workplace Gender Equality Agency established</p> </li> <li> <h2>2013</h2> <p>Dad or Partner Pay Leave commenced</p> </li> <li> <h2>2016</h2> <p>First Indigenous woman elected to House of Representatives (Linda Burney)</p> </li> <li> <h2>2017</h2> <p>Launch of Women’s Australian Football League</p> <p>#metoo movement spreads globally to draw attention to sexual harassment and assault</p> </li> <li> <h2>2020</h2> <p>Respect@Work National Inquiry into sexual harassment in the Australian workplace chaired by Kate Jenkins released.</p> </li> <li> <h2>2021</h2> <p>Grace Tame named Australian of the Year for her advocacy in sexual violence/harassment campaigns </p> <p>Independent review into Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces launched</p> </li> <li> <h2>2022</h2> <p>National plan to end violence against women is finalised</p> </li> <li> <h2>2023</h2> <p>Closing the Gender Pay Gap Bill passes parliament</p> </li> <li> <h2>2024</h2> <p>Superannuation on government-funded paid parental leave from July 1, 2025 </p> <p>Parental leave to be increased to 26 weeks from July 2026.</p> </li> </ul> <p>There are, however, other areas where progress is agonisingly slow.</p> <h2>Violence and financial insecurity</h2> <p>Women are <a href="https://www.wgea.gov.au/newsroom/wgea-bcec-gender-equity-insights-2024-report">more likely</a> to be in casual and part-time employment than men. This is part of the reason women retire with <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-21/carer-credits-proposal-aims-to-reduce-superannuation-gap/10826246">about half</a> the superannuation savings of men.</p> <p>This is also linked to financial insecurity later in life. Older women are among the <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/age-discrimination/projects/risk-homelessness-older-women">fastest-growing groups</a> of people experiencing homelessness.</p> <p>The situation for First Nations women is even more severe. The <a href="https://www.niaa.gov.au/news-and-media/closing-gap-report-released">most recent</a> Closing the Gap report indicates First Nations women and children are 33 times more likely to be hospitalised due to violence compared with non-Indigenous women.</p> <p>They are also <a href="https://theconversation.com/indigenous-women-are-dying-violent-preventable-deaths-endless-inquiries-wont-help-unless-we-act-244815">seven times more likely</a> to die from family violence.</p> <p>Improving outcomes for Indigenous women and children requires tackling the long-term effects of colonisation, removal from Country, the Stolen Generations, incarceration and intergenerational trauma. This means challenging not only gender inequality but also racism, discrimination and violence.</p> <p>At work, <a href="https://www.wgea.gov.au/publications/employer-gender-pay-gaps-report">the latest data</a> from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency suggests the gender pay gap is narrowing, with 56% of organisations reporting improvements.</p> <p>On average, though, the pay gap is still substantial at 21.8% with women earning only 78 cents for every $1 earned by men. This totals an average yearly shortfall of $28,425.</p> <p>There are also some notable organisations where the gender pay gap has widened.</p> <h2>The burden of unpaid work</h2> <p>Another measure of inequality that has proved stubbornly slow to change is women’s unequal responsibilities for unpaid domestic and care work.</p> <p>Without real change in gender divisions of time spent on unpaid housework and care, our capacity to move towards equality in pay gaps and employment is very limited.</p> <p>Australian women undertake almost 70% of unpaid household labour. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/how-australians-use-their-time/latest-release">time use data</a> show that of those who participate in domestic labour, women spend an average of 4.13 hours per day on unpaid domestic and care work, compared with men’s 2.14 hours.</p> <p>This gap equates to more than a third of a full-time job. If we add up all work (domestic, care and paid), mothers have the longest working week by about 10 hours. This has changed very little over time.</p> <p>These charts, based on analyses of data from the Households, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) study, show what drives this gap.</p> <p>Women respond to increased demand for care and domestic work by doing more, while men do not. Parenthood significantly increases the time women spend on unpaid care and housework, while also reducing their time in employment.</p> <hr /> <p><iframe id="115GU" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/115GU/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <hr /> <p>Men increase their time in unpaid care after a birth, but the jump is minor compared with women, and there is no change to men’s employment hours.</p> <p>Not surprisingly given these patterns, parenthood is associated with substantial declines in women’s <a href="https://aifs.gov.au/research/research-reports/employment-patterns-and-trends-families-children">employment hours</a>, earnings, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/4/275">career progression</a>, and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jomf.12531">mental health and wellbeing</a>.</p> <h2>The way forward</h2> <p>Current policy priorities primarily incentivise women to remain in employment, while continuing to undertake a disproportionate share of unpaid family work, through moving to part-time employment or making use of other forms of workplace flexibility. This approach focuses on “fixing” women rather than on the <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-psych-032620-030938">structural roots of the problem</a>.</p> <p>There is limited financial or cultural encouragement for men to step out of employment for care work, or reduce their hours, despite the introduction of a two-week Dad and Partner Pay scheme <a href="https://www.wgea.gov.au/parental-leave">in 2013</a> and more recent changes to expand support and access.</p> <p>Fathers who wish to be more actively involved in care and family life face significant financial barriers, with current schemes only covering a basic wage. If one member of the family has to take time out or reduce their hours, it usually makes financial sense for this to be a woman, given the gender earning gap.</p> <p>The benefits of enabling men to share care work will not only be improvements for women, but will also improve family relationships and outcomes for children.</p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/roses-are-red-violets-are-blue-ill-stay-forever-if-you-scrub-out-the-loo-72793">Research shows</a> relationship conflict declines when men do more at home. Time spent with fathers has been found to be especially beneficial for children’s <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-48232-001">cognitive development</a>.</p> <p>Fixing the gender problem is not just about helping women. It’s good for everyone.</p> <p>Gender inequality costs the Australian economy <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/business/the-us225-billion-a-year-australia-could-benefit-from-with-a-focus-on-women/">$225 billion annually</a>, or 12% of gross domestic product.</p> <p>Globally, the World Bank <a href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/fd676a12-7ee4-5c6a-ab2b-83365ed25bf1/content">estimates</a> gender inequality costs US$160.2 trillion. We can’t afford to slip further behind or to take more than a century to fix the problem.</p> <hr /> <p><em>This piece is part of a series on how Australia has changed since the year 2000. You can read other pieces in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/first-quarter-of-the-century-series-172070">here</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/250250/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></em></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/janeen-baxter-611570">Janeen Baxter</a>, Director, ARC Life Course Centre and ARC Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/despite-some-key-milestones-since-2000-australia-still-has-a-long-way-to-go-on-gender-equality-250250">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: </em></p> </div>

Legal

5 years since COVID was declared a pandemic – how prepared are we for the next one?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>On March 11 2020, as COVID continued to spread rapidly around the globe, the <a href="https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/covid-19">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) officially declared a pandemic.</p> <p>More than <a href="https://data.who.int/dashboards/covid19/deaths">7 million people</a> have since died from COVID. The virus, and the public health measures enacted to control it, have had far-reaching effects on societies around the world.</p> <p>Five years on, the virus continues to circulate. But, thanks to vaccines and <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10425195/">immunity acquired from infections</a>, hospitalisations and deaths due to COVID are vastly less frequent <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/provisional-mortality-statistics/latest-release">than in previous years</a>.</p> <p>Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/covid-19/long-covid-in-australia-a-review-of-the-literature/summary">long COVID</a> continues to have a major impact on people’s lives. Estimates suggest more than <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03173-6">400 million people</a> around the world have had or are currently living with long COVID.</p> <p>At this point, Australia and the world must take the lessons of COVID – in areas from surveillance, to outbreak response, to vaccines and therapeutics – to be better prepared for the next pandemic.</p> <h2>Some areas we went right – and wrong</h2> <p>Our diagnostic laboratories across Australia were well prepared. Laboratories at the Doherty Institute diagnosed the first case of COVID in Australia and were the first to <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2020/212/10/isolation-and-rapid-sharing-2019-novel-coronavirus-sars-cov-2-first-patient">isolate and share the virus</a> globally in early 2020.</p> <p>At the same time, a national public health response was quickly put in place. This involved <a href="https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/73/3/e808/6044730?login=false">measures such as</a> closing borders, setting up testing centres, and limiting gatherings.</p> <p>But there are several areas where we could have mobilised more effectively.</p> <p>During the early stages of the pandemic, there were, at times, challenges with sharing data as well as biological samples and the ingredients for COVID tests between the different states and territories.</p> <p>For example, there are currently restrictions in place that limit sharing of virus strains between states and territories. But when a new strain emerges, many laboratories need access to it to evaluate their testing capabilities.</p> <p>One recommendation from an <a href="https://www.pmc.gov.au/domestic-policy/commonwealth-government-covid-19-response-inquiry">independent 2024 review</a> of the federal government’s COVID response was an Australian Centre for Disease Control. An interim version was launched in early 2024 and the Australian government is investing <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/news/2517m-to-establish-an-independent-australian-centre-for-disease-control-cdc#:%7E:text=The%20Australian%20Government%20is%20investing,for%20Disease%20Control%20(CDC).">A$251.7 million</a> in this important initiative.</p> <p>The goal for the new centre for disease control will be to provide independent technical advice on infectious diseases to government. It will also facilitate rapid integration of data from all states and territories leading to a more unified response.</p> <p>At the start of a pandemic, we need to understand everything about the new virus and at great speed. This needs systems in place in “peace time”, ready to be mobilised in “war time”.</p> <p>Back in 2020, we had protocols ready for <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0819-2">hospitalised patients</a> and <a href="https://www.remapcap.org/">intensive care units</a> to collect specimens and also start new clinical trials. But we were not prepared on many other fronts, for example to collect samples or study how COVID was transmitted in the community or in different key groups.</p> <p>Every day counts at the start of a pandemic.</p> <h2>Harnessing medical technologies</h2> <p>Relatively recent technological advances in both diagnostics (RAT tests) and vaccine development (the use of <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Messenger-RNA-mRNA">messenger RNA</a>, which gives our body genetic instructions to fight COVID) have put us in a strong position to be at the cutting edge in any pandemic response.</p> <p>Moderna, one of the two companies that pioneered the mRNA vaccines, has established its <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/world-leading-moderna-vaccine-facility-opens-in-victoria">Asia-Pacific headquarters in Melbourne</a>. CSL, which made the AstraZeneca COVID vaccines in Australia and manufactures several other vaccines, has now incorporated <a href="https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/csls-mrna-covid-19-vaccine-approved-for-sale-in-japan">mRNA in its repertoire</a>.</p> <p>This capability means Australians could have immediate access to mRNA vaccines in the event of another pandemic. We could also potentially manufacture these vaccines for low- and middle-income countries in our region.</p> <p>But what if we can’t make an effective vaccine to fight a future pandemic? This is a situation we must be prepared for, as we’ve seen with infections such as HIV, where after 40 years of trying and billions of dollars spent, <a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/aids-hiv-vaccine-anniversary-immunity-antibodies">we still don’t have a vaccine</a>.</p> <p>In such a situation, we will need to rely on antiviral drugs. The way we currently make antiviral drugs takes significantly longer to develop than vaccines. And although we have some <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8069527/">broad spectrum antiviral drugs</a>, the most potent antivirals are very specific – meaning one drug treats <a href="https://retrovirology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12977-022-00608-1">only one type of virus</a>.</p> <p>To be better prepared for future pandemics, many groups around the world are working on developing a library of drugs that work against whole <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-pathogen-might-spark-the-next-pandemic-how-scientists-are-preparing-for-disease-x-223193">families of viruses</a> that could cause the next pandemic.</p> <p>Another approach is to develop totally new technologies that are fully tested for one virus, but can be easily adapted to a new virus. This approach could allow more rapid deployment, as the details of safety and dosing would already be understood.</p> <p>This is one of the major goals of the recently launched <a href="https://www.doherty.edu.au/cumming-global-centre-for-pandemic-therapeutics">Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics</a> based at the Doherty Institute.</p> <p>These ambitious efforts will require global collaboration, sharing resources and engagement of the private sector.</p> <p>Once we have a vaccine or drug that works, we need agreed systems in place to ensure widespread equitable access. We fell seriously short of this goal with COVID. Some <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9878283/">low- and middle-income</a> countries received vaccines months or years later than high income countries. For treatments, <a href="https://www.citizen.org/article/paxlovid-procured-supply-vs-health-need-in-low-and-middle-income-countries-through-the-end-of-2022/">antivirals such as Paxlovid</a> were never available in many countries.</p> <p>This is one goal of an agreement led by the WHO, called the “<a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/pandemic-prevention--preparedness-and-response-accord">pandemic accord</a>”, to have member states agree on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. But after years of discussion, there remains no binding agreement.</p> <h2>Preparing for the next pandemic</h2> <p>As COVID was (partly due to advances in technology) the most intensively studied pandemic in human history, we have a unique resource in the record of what happened to inform our response to any future pandemic.</p> <p>And this is likely a matter of when, not if. New infectious disease outbreaks have continued to emerge over the past five years, including mpox, which was declared a public health emergency of international concern in July 2022 and again in <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/diseases/monkeypox-mpox">August 2024</a>.</p> <p>Right now, there’s an outbreak of a new viral disease in <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/27/mystery-disease-kills-more-than-50-in-drc-what-we-know-so-far">the Congo</a>, the origins of which have still <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/mysterious-congo-outbreak-likely-linked-contaminated-water-researchers-say">not been identified</a>.</p> <p>We know bats, thought to be <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2012-7?rel=outbound">the source</a> of the coronavirus behind the COVID pandemic, carry an enormous spectrum of viruses that potentially threaten us. But new pandemics can also arise through mosquitoes and close contact with other animals.</p> <p>Pandemics are global, not national, problems. We are at a pivotal time where countries including Australia must step up their commitments to this global effort. This will need politicians to rely on the evidence and lessons learned from COVID as well as private and public investment.</p> <p>Unfortunately, five years down the track, we still have a long way to go to be prepared for the next pandemic.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/245362/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>Written by <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sharon-lewin-131968">Sharon Lewin</a>, Melbourne Laureate Professor, University of Melbourne; Director, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-peter-doherty-institute-for-infection-and-immunity-2255">The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-c-doherty-169">Peter C. Doherty</a>, Laureate Professor Emeritus, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-peter-doherty-institute-for-infection-and-immunity-2255">The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/5-years-since-covid-was-declared-a-pandemic-were-still-poorly-prepared-for-the-next-one-245362">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: </em><a class="source" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/white-and-black-printer-paper-OBmBHmrc3pw"><em>Anastasiia Chepinska/Unsplash</em></a></p> </div>

Caring

Summer holidays haven’t changed much since ancient Greece and Rome (except maybe the sand wrestling)

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/konstantine-panegyres-1528527">Konstantine Panegyres</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722"><em>The University of Melbourne</em></a></em></p> <p>Imagine a summer holiday at a seaside resort, with days spent sunbathing, reading books, exploring nature and chatting with friends.</p> <p>Sounds like it could be anywhere in Australia or New Zealand in January, doesn’t it?</p> <p>This is also how the Roman emperor <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-3508?product=orecla">Julian</a> spent his summers in the 4th century CE. Towards the end of 357 CE, Julian wrote a <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/emperor_julian-letters/1923/pb_LCL157.79.xml?rskey=Sa5rUn&result=1&mainRsKey=pqeNrD">letter</a> to his friend Evagrius, telling him how he spent his holidays at his grandmother’s estate as a boy and young man:</p> <blockquote> <p>Very peaceful it is to lie down there and glance into some book, and then, while resting one’s eyes, it is very agreeable to gaze at the ships and the sea.</p> <p>When I was still hardly more than a boy I thought that this was the most delightful summer residence, for it has, moreover, excellent springs and a charming bath and garden and trees.</p> </blockquote> <p>As Julian got older, though, he had less time for summer holidays. Work consumed him. Even when he was on a break, he couldn’t fully relax.</p> <p>This might sound familiar, too. It seems very little has changed from the days of the ancient Greek and Roman empires when it comes to finding time to unwind – and being on holidays, too.</p> <h2>Finding time for a break</h2> <p>Taking time off was important in ancient Greek and Roman times. Even <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00397677908590731">Greek and Roman slaves</a> were permitted to take a few holidays each year.</p> <p>Not everyone could enjoy their holidays, however.</p> <p>In 162 CE, <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-984">Marcus Aurelius</a>, then emperor of Rome, took four days of holiday at a resort in Alsium, a city on the coast of modern-day Italy.</p> <p>According to his friend <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-1846">Marcus Cornelius Fronto</a> (c. 95-166 CE), though, the emperor could not stop working. In a letter, Fronto <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/marcus_cornelius_fronto-correspondence/1919/pb_LCL113.5.xml?mainRsKey=Q5rXrd&result=1&rskey=fAbCGr">criticises</a> Marcus for continuing to work hard rather than sleeping in, exploring the seaside, rowing on the ocean, bathing and feasting on seafood.</p> <p>Fronto amusingly says that Marcus, rather than enjoy his holiday, has instead “declared war on play, relaxation, good living, and pleasure”.</p> <h2>Going to the seaside</h2> <p>Relaxing by the coast was one of the things people in ancient Greece and Rome most enjoyed doing in the summer.</p> <p>The rich built summer residences on the coast, while people of all walks of life flocked to seaside resorts to enjoy the fresh air and cool water.</p> <p>The orator <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-3675">Libanius</a> (314-393 CE) <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/libanius-oration_45_emperor_prisoners/1977/pb_LCL452.165.xml?rskey=EVUxsK&result=1&mainRsKey=ISthry">wrote</a> that the people who really enjoy life the most are those who have the freedom to “drive to their estates, visit other towns, buy land, and visit the seaside”.</p> <p>Health tourism was also a popular reason why people came to the seaside. Many ancient doctors recommended sea water and air as cures for all kinds of health problems, especially those related to the skin and respiratory system.</p> <p>For example, the doctor <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-705">Aretaeus of Cappadocia</a> (c. 150-200 CE) <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=v4gIAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA463&dq=Aretaeus+sea+water&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjh-f6OiuCJAxW4dPUHHXQQH5oQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=Aretaeus%20sea%20water&f=false">recommended</a> bathing in sea water, wrestling on sand and living by the sea as therapies for those who get frequent headaches.</p> <h2>Travelling abroad</h2> <p>Visiting foreign places was another of the things people in ancient Greece and Rome most enjoyed doing on their summer holidays.</p> <p>For the Romans, trips to see Greece – and in particular Athens – were especially popular.</p> <p>The Roman general <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-3396?rskey=xWdUMg&result=1">Germanicus</a> (15 BCE–19 CE) went on a tour of Greece in 18 CE, travelling from Athens eastward to Euboea, Lesbos, the coast of Asia Minor and then to Byzantium and Pontus.</p> <p>According to the Roman historian <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-6205">Tacitus</a>, Germanicus was motivated by a desire to see famous ancient sites. Like many Romans, he was fascinated by the old stories of the Greek past, so <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/tacitus-annals/1931/pb_LCL249.469.xml">he was</a> “eager to make the acquaintance of those ancient and storied regions”.</p> <p>Another popular destination for ancient Greeks and Romans was Egypt, which had always been regarded as a land of wonder.</p> <p>Roman tourists could catch regular boats from <a href="https://www.romanports.org/en/the-ports/88-puteoli.html">Puteoli</a> to the great Egyptian city <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Alexandria-Egypt">Alexandria</a>. The trip took anywhere from one to two weeks, stopping along the way in Sicily and Malta.</p> <p>Once there, the highlights were typically the great Nile River and Pyramids. Tourists marvelled at the immense temples and walls of hieroglyphic writing.</p> <p>When Germanicus visited Egypt in 19 CE, he was so curious about the meaning of the hieroglyphics that he <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/LCL249/1931/volume.xml">asked</a> an old Egyptian priest to translate some for him.</p> <p>In Alexandria, another attraction was the tomb of <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095401572">Alexander the Great</a> (356-323 BCE). His body was stored in honey in a coffin made of glass. Ordinary tourists were not allowed to visit it, but VIPs like Roman emperors were.</p> <p>Tourists might also have enjoyed the different vibe in Alexandria. According to the Greek orator <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dio-Chrysostom">Dio of Prusa</a> (c. 40-110/120 CE), the atmosphere in the coastal city was relaxed, with plenty of music, chariot racing and good food.</p> <h2>Lazy summer days</h2> <p>We can probably all relate to what the writer <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-5134">Pliny the Younger</a> (61/62-112 BCE) said about his summer break.</p> <p>Writing on a holiday in Tuscany, he <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/pliny_younger-letters/1969/pb_LCL059.95.xml?rskey=Mdlmkl&result=1">said</a> he can only work “in the lazy way to be expected during a summer holiday”. Working any other way was simply not possible. Many of us will be able to relate to that!<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/243367/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/konstantine-panegyres-1528527"><em>Konstantine Panegyres</em></a><em>, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, researching Greco-Roman antiquity, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/summer-holidays-havent-changed-much-since-ancient-greece-and-rome-except-maybe-the-sand-wrestling-243367">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

International Travel

Readers response: Have you picked up any new skills or learned something unexpected since retiring?

<p>When many of us retire and our time is now fully our own, some people use this time to pick up a new skill or hobby they've always wanted to try.</p> <p>We asked our readers if they have picked up any new skills since retiring, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. </p> <p><strong>Marion Thompson</strong> - Cycling, travelling and watercolour art.</p> <p><strong>Dee Douglas</strong> - How to take a walk and look at everything with new eyes rather than a head filled with work issues.</p> <p><strong>Margaret Mason</strong> - Line dancing and croquet since moving in the last 18 months. I have actually been retired for 18 years and in that time also learnt some New Testament Greek.</p> <p><strong>Yvonne Cooper</strong> - Spoon carving and wood work. Loving it!</p> <p><strong>Glenn Azlin</strong> - Competed Certificate III Applied Languages (Mandarin).</p> <p><strong>Anne O'Donohue</strong> - How to take all week to do the chores I could do in a day.</p> <p><strong>Helen Morgan</strong> - It turns out I am very good at doing nothing, a real expert!</p> <p><strong>Sheila Ball</strong> - Taking time to read a book.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Retirement Life

"In shock ever since": Aussie TV legend opens up on divorce

<p>Noni Hazelhurst has opened up about her high-profile divorce from actor John Jarratt in 1999, admitting she has "been in shock ever since" the relationship split. </p> <p>The former <em>Play School </em>host, 71, wrote candidly about her former husband in her new memoir <em>Dropping The Mask</em>, sharing the real reason they called off their marriage. </p> <p>Hazelhurst and Jarratt were married for 12 years, from 1987 until 1999, and share two sons together, Charlie, 36, and William, 30. </p> <p>The couple even co-hosted <em>Better Homes and Gardens</em> together, but sadly, the show wound up playing a role in their divorce.</p> <p>“John and I had some wonderful times together – and then we didn’t," Hazlehurst told <em><a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/noni-hazlehurst-ex-husband/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Woman’s Day</a></em> in a new interview.</p> <p>“That’s true of many relationships. They start off full of hope and optimism and, along the way, buried issues come to the surface.”</p> <p>Noni went on to say their relationship started to end when John grew closer to a member of the <em>Better Homes</em> crew, saying “At that moment, I knew the marriage was over.” </p> <p>“We simply wanted different things. I wanted a family. John wanted another woman… The ending of my previous relationships had been hard enough, but this was far worse. In some ways, I think I’ve been in shock ever since.”</p> <p>Despite the divorce, Hazlehurst insisted she had no hard feelings toward her ex, saying, “The end result of our marriage was two beautiful children. Whatever happened can’t negate the joy they’ve brought me.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / news.com.au</em></p>

Relationships

John Farnham's voice heard for the first time since throat surgery

<p>John Farnham's voice has been heard for the first time since undergoing extensive surgery on his throat and jaw to treat his cancer in August 2022. </p> <p>The Aussie music legend is lending his voice to narrate the audio version of his new <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/finally-felt-like-the-right-time-john-farnham-s-huge-announcement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memoir</a> titled <em>The Voice Inside</em>, which is to be released on October 30th. </p> <p><em>The Morning Show</em>'s entertainment reporter Peter Ford broke the news that Farnham's voice would be heard for the first time in over two years, while playing an exclusive clip from the audio book. </p> <p>Ford said Farnham co-wrote the book with Poppy Stockwell, who directed his recent Logie-winning documentary <em>The Voice Inside</em>, saying the documentary was “brilliantly done,” and “obviously John feels safe and a great connection with her”.</p> <p>“So they’ve written it together now," Ford said. </p> <p>“We got the news that John was going to do the audio version of the book, and also his wife Jill will actually be writing two chapters.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA17RsMNCTK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA17RsMNCTK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Morning Show On 7 (@morningshowon7)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ford expressed his excitement over the clip, saying, “This is for the first time now in many years.”</p> <p>“We haven’t heard John. We haven’t seen John. We know what he’s been going through. So this is great for that reason."</p> <p>“He’s older and there has been some impact on his voice because of the surgery. But, you know, the delivery, the tone, the cheekiness, it’s all there. It’s instantly John Farnham.”</p> <p>“I‘m just thrilled to hear his voice and to think he’s doing something, and what a rollercoaster that would have been for him,” Ford says.</p> <p>“It’s one thing to sit down with Poppy and tell her the stories and share the memories, but to actually get behind a microphone and deliver it."</p> <p>“John, as we know, is a performer who always gives 120 per cent. He would have really been challenged, I think, in delivering some of those sadder stories of recent times.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Facebook</em></p>

Caring

Michael Schumacher attends first 'public' event since accident

<p>Michael Schumacher has reportedly attended his <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/michael-schumacher-s-daughter-ties-the-knot-at-luxury-spanish-villa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">daughter's wedding</a>, making this his first public appearance in 11 years. </p> <p>Gina Schumacher tied the knot with Iain Bethke at the family’s luxury villa in Mallorca over the weekend, and while Michael's attendance was previously unknown, several outlets have reported that he attended the special event. </p> <p>The Formula 1 icon's wife, Corinna, has kept his condition private since his tragic skiing accident in 2013, with only an extremely small inner circle of people allowed to see him, therefore this marks the first time that Michael has been 'seen' by extended friends and family. </p> <p><em>The Daily Mail</em> reported that privacy was extremely tight at the event, with wedding guests required to leave their phones at the front door upon arrival. </p> <p>The family also reportedly looked at hiring a large security team to keep photographers away. </p> <p>The success of the event has reportedly raised hopes that the family will consider future opportunities for the Ferrari icon to be seen in public, with more people reportedly being let into the 'inner circle'. </p> <p>Michael's son Mick, who has been dating 23-year-old Danish model Laila Hasanovic for two years, is reportedly engaged to her, and in January it was reported that she had been given approval to visit the F1 legend. </p> <p>Updates on the former racer's health have been few and far between.</p> <p>Late last year, Schumacher's former boss at Ferrari and close friend Jean Todt revealed: "He is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different, and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children who protect him. His life is different now, and I have the privilege of sharing moments with him. That's all there is to say."</p> <p>Corinna also spoke publicly about the accident and her decision to keep Michael's condition private in a 2021 Netflix documentary.</p> <p>"'Private is private’, as he always said. It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible,” she said. </p> <p>“Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael. What he really didn’t like was the press, the people, all the hype around him. That’s not what he wanted. He wanted to do the sport," she continued. </p> <p>In the documentary she also said: “I miss Michael every day.</p> <p>“But it is not just me who misses him. It’s the children, the family, his father, everyone around him. I mean, everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here.</p> <p>“Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength. We’re together. We live together at home.”</p> <p>Michael reportedly moved from his Swiss home to the exclusive Spanish villa where Gina's wedding was held in September 2020 according to the Spanish press. </p> <p>According to<em> The Sun</em>, Michael spent much of his recent life at the $50 million villa, which is believed to have been adapted allowing a team of doctors and nurses to provide round-the-clock care. </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Princess Kate's first public appearance since completing chemo

<p>In a heartening display of strength and grace, the Princess of Wales has been seen in public for the first time since completing her chemotherapy.</p> <p>Princess Kate, accompanied by her husband Prince William, was spotted attending church with King Charles III and Queen Camilla near Balmoral, Scotland, on Sunday.</p> <p>The 42-year-old princess, who announced earlier this month that she had <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/kate-middleton-confirms-the-end-of-her-chemotherapy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">finished her cancer treatment</a>, appeared radiant and at ease, her signature smile lighting up as she was photographed in the passenger seat of a car driven by William. The couple was en route to Crathie Kirk Church, a place of personal significance to the royal family, located on their Balmoral estate.</p> <p>Dressed in a stylish brown checked coat and a green brimmed hat adorned with feathers, Kate seemed poised and serene as the car passed. The sight of her back in public after months of treatment brought warmth to royal watchers and well-wishers alike, many of whom have been following her health journey with concern and support.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAOKSf5s40h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAOKSf5s40h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Royal Watcher (@the_royal_watcher)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Earlier this month, the mother of three shared a heartfelt video update on her cancer battle, expressing both gratitude and realism about the road ahead. "The path to full recovery will be long," she said, vowing to take it one day at a time. While she plans to resume some public duties, she was firm about the need for balance, explaining that her engagements in the coming months would be limited as she continues her recovery.</p> <p>Among those anticipated engagements are the solemn Remembrance Sunday ceremony in London this November, as well as her much-cherished annual Christmas concert at Westminster Abbey. Both events are deeply meaningful to the princess, and royal supporters are eagerly awaiting her return to these public moments.</p> <p>Despite taking a step back from most duties during her treatment, Kate made two public appearances earlier this year: first at the Trooping the Colour in June, the annual celebration marking the King’s birthday, and later at the Wimbledon men’s final in July, where she received a standing ovation from the crowd, a touching testament to her enduring popularity and the public’s admiration for her resilience.</p> <p><em>Image: The Royal Watcher / Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Julian Assange's wife shares first family photos since his release

<p>Julian Assange's wife has shared the first photo of the family enjoying their lives together, since the WikiLeaks founder was declared a free man after 14 years of legal battles.</p> <p>The 52-year-old returned to Australian soil in June after more than a decade fighting extradition to the United States on espionage charges after publishing confidential US documents in 2010.</p> <p>In the weeks after his release, Stella Assange, whom he married in 2022 while imprisoned in London, shared a photo on social media of herself with her husband and their two children, Gabriel, 7, and Max, 5.</p> <p>The picture, simply captioned “Family photo! #AssangeFree”, showed them smiling on a beach. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9uSrR7NG4w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9uSrR7NG4w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Stella Assange (@stellaassange)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Supporters flooded the comments to express their joy at the moment, with one top comment saying, “The photo we were all waiting for!!!!”</p> <p>Another supporter wrote, “The photo I was hoping to see for years,” while another declared, “That’s exactly what we have been fighting for.”</p> <p>“So good to see Julian in the great outdoors!!” shared someone else.</p> <p>On his return home to Australia to start life as a free man last month, Ms Assange said her husband needed time to recuperate.</p> <p>“I ask you please to give us space, to give us privacy, to find our place, to let our family be a family,” she said at the time.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p> <p> </p>

Legal

Princess Kate makes first public appearance since cancer diagnosis

<p>The Princess of Wales has made her first public appearance in almost six months following her cancer diagnosis. </p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Princess Kate</span>, who was last seen in public at a church service on Christmas Day, underwent abdominal surgery in January and has been receiving chemotherapy since late February. </p> <p>The royal took part in Trooping the Colour on Saturday, after taking time away from royal duties, and left Buckingham Palace in a carriage with her children shortly before 11am local time to watch the parade. </p> <p>After the King's Birthday Parade, she appeared at the balcony alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and other members of the royal family. </p> <p>The family waved to the cheering crowd as they watched military aircrafts fly by to mark the monarch's official birthday. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Pt2DrN61b/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Pt2DrN61b/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Princess Kate confirmed in a statement on Friday that she would be attending the King's Birthday Parade, as well as a few other public engagements over the summer. </p> <p>However, she also said that her treatment was "ongoing, and will be for a few more months". </p> <p>"On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home," she wrote in the statement on Friday. </p> <p>"I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty.</p> <p>"Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal."</p> <p>King Charles, who is also being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, travelled in a carriage with Queen Camilla this year, instead of on horseback as he did last year. </p> <p>He has also been easing back into public duties, and just last week he attended commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. </p> <p><em>Image: Ray Tang/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

Caring

John Farnham steps out at son's wedding for first time since jaw surgery

<p>Beloved Aussie rock legend John Farnham exuded pride and joy as he stepped out in style at his son Robert's wedding on the weekend. After enduring extensive surgery due to oral cancer, Farnham, now cancer-free, appeared in high spirits at the intimate wedding of his oldest son and his new wife, Melissa.</p> <p>The 74-year-old icon looked remarkably well and largely unchanged since his challenging surgery in August 2022. In the heartwarming photos shared on Instagram, John posed alongside his son, both beaming with happiness. John looked dapper in a black suit with a bronze tie and matching pocket square, while Rob opted for a stylish white tux with black accents.</p> <p>The joyous occasion was beautifully captured in a series of family photos, including John's wife, Jill, and other close family members. Fans flooded the comments with heartfelt messages, celebrating the happy family and John's remarkable recovery. "Such a beautiful father and son pic," one fan wrote, while another added, "Congratulations to you both. It's so nice to see your Dad, he looks fantastic! Love to you all."</p> <p>The bride, Melissa, looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder ivory gown, posing for romantic photos with her new husband against the lush backdrop of their wedding venue. Rob's touching caption on Instagram encapsulated the joy of the day: "Shared the happiest moment with my favourite person in the universe and she said I do. Melissa, my life is forever better that you’re apart of it. You looked radiant, beautiful and elegant. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us and I’m truly honoured to have you by my side as my wife for life❤️."</p> <p>The couple had announced their engagement in November 2022, with Rob expressing his excitement about their future together: "My best friend and love of my life said yes to marrying me. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."</p> <p>John Farnham's presence at the wedding was particularly special, as it marked a year since his successful battle against cancer. In August 2023, Farnham revealed he was cancer-free, a triumph after numerous surgeries and a challenging recovery process. In a heartfelt statement, he shared his gratitude: "It's been a year since my first surgery and to be honest, I've lost count as to how many other procedures there have been since then. But, I'm home now and I'm a very grateful and happy man. I'm sitting here in my living room lapping up the attention from my beautiful wife, Jill, my boys Rob and James, and my mini Schnauzer, Edmund."</p> <p>Throughout his recovery, John's family provided updates on his progress. His son Robert shared that his father was "doing fantastic" after a 12-hour surgery for throat cancer and was even dancing a little and walking his dog regularly. "He's really, really happy. He's doing really good, he's super positive," Robert said in an interview.</p> <p>While it is unlikely that John will perform again after his extensive surgery, the love and joy he shared at his son's wedding are a beautiful reminder of life's precious moments.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

King Charles returns to public duties for the first time since diagnosis

<p>King Charles has made his first official public appearance since being diagnosed with cancer in February. </p> <p>In a symbolic appearance on Tuesday morning, the royal visited the Macmillan Cancer Centre at the University College Hospital donning a navy pinstripe suit with a light blue shirt and a pink dinosaur tie.</p> <p>The monarch was joined by his wife, Queen Camilla, with the couple sporting huge smiles as they waved to the crowd outside of the London hospital. </p> <p>The royal couple met with clinicians, patients and families of patients during the visit, and when asked by one patient how his treatment was going, Charles replied: "I'm alright, thank you".</p> <p>In one photo Charles can be seen tenderly placing his hand on the arms of a patient as he spoke with them. </p> <p>One patient discussed her chemotherapy with Charles, who who told her: “I’ve got to have my treatment this afternoon as well,” according to the <em>Mirror</em>.</p> <p>He also shared his reaction to finding out about his diagnosis for the first time, telling one patient: “It’s always a bit of a shock, isn’t it, when they tell you?”</p> <p>The King's hospital visit comes just days after the Palace released a statement confirming that he was showing progress with his treatment and would be resuming official duties. </p> <p>“His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis,” it read, before announcing the visit to the cancer centre. </p> <p>“This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.”</p> <p>Despite this, his upcoming summer schedule would not be a full one, with events like the King's Birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour, and the Royal Ascot, being undertaken on a case-by-case basis. </p> <p>He also plans to host the Emperor and Empress of Japan in late June. </p> <p>“As the first anniversary of the Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year,” the statement concluded. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

Princess Kate filmed in public for the first time since Christmas

<p>The Princess of Wales has been filmed for the first time since Christmas, after her absence sparked wild global <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/kate-middleton-s-disappearance-sparks-bizarre-conspiracy-theories" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speculation</a> on her whereabouts. </p> <p>Kate Middleton looked happy and relaxed in <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/royals/26766840/princess-kate-middleton-shopping-trip-video-william/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently published footage </a>of her shopping trip with her husband, Prince William. </p> <p>In footage exclusively obtained by <em>TMZ</em> and <em>The Sun, </em>the royal was filmed dressed comfortably in a hoodie and dark leggings, as she carried her shopping and walked alongside Prince William on their way to the car park. </p> <p>This is the first time the royal has been filmed in public since her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/two-senior-royals-undergo-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"planned abdominal surgery"</a>, aside from two blurry <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/kate-middleton-spotted-for-the-first-time-since-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paparazzi pictures</a> of her in the backseat of a car, and reports that she was spotted <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/princess-kate-spotted-in-public-amid-wild-speculations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">out with her kids </a>on Saturday morning. </p> <p>Witnesses at Princess Kate's favourite farm shop reportedly said that she looked “happy, relaxed and healthy” as she ventured from her home in Windsor to the nearby store. </p> <p>“Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well," witnesses said at the time. </p> <p>“The kids weren’t with them but it’s such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops.”</p> <p>The Princess' whereabouts has been the topic of speculation for weeks, with the Palace having to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/palace-responds-to-bizarre-conspiracy-theories-about-kate-s-whereabouts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speak out</a> against the wild conspiracy theories on social media. </p> <p>Her last public appearance was on December 25 during the royal family’s traditional walk to the Christmas morning service in Sandringham.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

Kate Middleton spotted for the first time since surgery

<p>Kate Middleton has been seen for the first time in over six weeks, as she continues to recover from a "planned abdominal surgery". </p> <p>The Princess of Wales was last seen by the public attending mass on Christmas Day before being admitted to hospital in early January for the procedure. </p> <p>Despite Kensington Palace sharing that the princess wouldn't be returning to royal duties until after Easter, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/kate-middleton-s-disappearance-sparks-bizarre-conspiracy-theories" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rumours</a> began to swirl online over her whereabouts. </p> <p>Now, the 42-year-old royal has been <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/kate-middleton-finally-spotted-after-disappearing-for-more-than-two-months/news-story/d1ca1f9c54e1526ba2ba69a605af7811" target="_blank" rel="noopener">photographed</a> in a car alongside her mother Carole in Windsor. </p> <p>As rumours continued to run rampant online about Kate's wellbeing following her surgery, Kensington Palace was forced to <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/palace-responds-to-bizarre-conspiracy-theories-about-kate-s-whereabouts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interfere</a> and debunk the wild accusations. </p> <p>After "Where is Kate Middleton?" was trending worldwide on social media, due to her not being in the public eye for an unprecedented amount of time, the Palace reiterated their original statement following Kate's surgery, saying she was simply at home recovering.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; background-color: #ffffff;">“We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter and Kensington Palace would only be providing updates when something was significant,” the statement read. </span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">"That guidance stands."</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">The Palace also added that Kate is well on the road to recovery as she is "doing well", and with all things going to plan with her health, she can be expected to be seen in public after Easter, as they originally made clear. </p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Legal

Sarah Ferguson makes first public appearance since skin cancer diagnosis

<p>Sarah Ferguson has made her first public appearance since her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/fergie-reveals-second-cancer-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">skin cancer diagnosis</a> was announced almost two weeks ago. </p> <p>The Duchess of York made an unexpected appearance at the <em>Haute Living Celebrates The Haute 100</em> event in Miami, Florida on Monday. </p> <p>Fergie rocked a military-style black and white blazer over a black dress for the cocktail event, and appeared happier than ever as she posed for the cameras. </p> <p>The 64-year-old was pictured cuddling up to and interacting with fellow guests at the event. </p> <p>This comes just two weeks after the Duchess <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/fergie-breaks-silence-amid-second-cancer-battle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opened up</a> on her second cancer diagnosis in a year. </p> <p>"I have been taking some time to myself as I have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, my second cancer diagnosis within a year," she said in the Instagram post at the time.</p> <p>She also recently opened up on her recovery from breast cancer, following her mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.</p> <p>The Duchess expressed her gratitude to her two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, for their constant support. </p> <p>"My two wonderful daughters are my wholehearted cheerleaders, my devoted champions and my soulmates, and they have been as supportive as can be, as they always are," she told <em>People magazine </em>at the time.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

It’s 4 years since the first COVID case in Australia. Here’s how our pandemic experiences have changed over time

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/deborah-lupton-9359">Deborah Lupton</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p>It might be hard to believe, but four years have now passed since the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/covid-19/about">first COVID case</a> was confirmed in Australia on January 25 2020. Five days later, the <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/covid-19-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern-(pheic)-global-research-and-innovation-forum">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) declared a “public health emergency of international concern”, as the novel coronavirus (later named SARS-CoV-2) began to spread worldwide.</p> <p>On March 11 the WHO would declare COVID a pandemic, while around the same time Australian federal and state governments hastily <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp2021/Chronologies/COVID-19StateTerritoryGovernmentAnnouncements">introduced measures</a> to “stop the spread” of the virus. These included shutting Australia’s international borders, closing non-essential businesses, schools and universities, and limiting people’s movements outside their homes.</p> <p>I began my project, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1092322/full">Australians’ Experiences of COVID-19</a>, in May 2020. This research has continued each year to date, allowing me to track how Australians’ attitudes around COVID have changed over the course of the pandemic.</p> <h2>Evolving pandemic experiences</h2> <p>We recruited participants from across Australia, including people living in regional cities and towns. Participants range in age from early adulthood to people in their 80s.</p> <p>The first three stages of the project each involved 40 interviews with separate groups of participants (so 120 people in total). These interviews were done in May to July 2020 (stage 1), September to October 2021 (stage 2), and September 2022 (stage 3). Stage 4 was an online survey with 1,000 respondents, conducted in September 2023.</p> <p>Limitations of this project include the small sample sizes for the first three stages (as is common with qualitative interview-based research). This means the findings from those phases are not generalisable, but they do provide rich insights into the experiences of the interviewees. The quantitative stage 4 survey, however, is representative of the Australian population.</p> <p>The findings show that as the conditions of the pandemic and government management have changed across these years, so have Australians’ experiences.</p> <p>In the <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-10743-7">early months of the pandemic</a>, some people reported becoming confused, distressed and overwhelmed by the plethora of information sources and the fast-changing news environment. On the other hand, seeking out information provided reassurance and comfort in response to their anxiety and uncertainty about this new disease.</p> <p>Australians <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003280644-28/covid-19-crisis-communication-deborah-lupton">continued to rely heavily</a> on news reports and government announcements in the first two years of the pandemic. Regular briefings from premiers and <a href="https://theconversation.com/chief-health-officers-are-in-the-spotlight-like-never-before-heres-what-goes-on-behind-the-scenes-166828?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton">chief health officers in particular</a> were highly important for how they learned what was happening, as were updates in the media on case numbers, hospitalisations, deaths and progress towards vaccination targets.</p> <h2>Trust has eroded</h2> <p>Australians appear to have lost a lot of trust in COVID information sources such as news media reports, health agencies and government leaders. Early strong support of federal, state and territory governments’ pandemic management in <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-10743-7">2020</a> and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14649365.2023.2240290">2021</a> has given way to much lower support more recently.</p> <p>My <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4626720">2023 survey</a> (this is published as a report, not peer-reviewed) found doctors were considered the most trustworthy sources of COVID information, but even they were trusted by only 60% of respondents.</p> <p>After doctors, participants trusted other experts in the field (53%), Australian government health agencies (52%), global health agencies (49%), scientists (45%) and community health organisations (35%). Australian government leaders were towards the lower end of the spectrum (31%).</p> <p>In <a href="https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article/38/1/daac192/7026242?login=false">2021</a>, Australians responded positively to the vaccine targets and “<a href="https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/victorias-roadmap-delivering-national-plan">road maps</a>” set by governments. These clear guidelines, and especially the promise that the initial doses would remove the need for lockdowns and border closures, were strong incentives to get vaccinated in 2021.</p> <p>Unfortunately, the prospect that vaccines would control COVID was shown to be largely unfounded. While COVID vaccines were and continue to be very effective at protecting against severe disease and death, they’re less effective at <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/vaccines-faq">stopping people becoming infected</a>.</p> <p>Once very high numbers of eligible Australians became vaccinated against the delta variant, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37068078/">omicron reached Australia</a>, resulting in Australia’s first big wave of infection. This led to disillusionment about vaccines’ value for many participants.</p> <p>In the <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4626720">2023 survey</a>, respondents reported a high uptake of the first three COVID shots. But when asked whether they planned to get another vaccine in the next 12 months, almost two-thirds said they did not, or they were unsure.</p> <h2>Enter complacency</h2> <p>Complacency now seems to have set in for many Australians. This can be linked to the progressive withdrawal of strong public health measures such as quarantine, mandatory isolation when infected, and testing and tracing regimens.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the media, government leaders and health agencies have played less of an active public role in conveying COVID information. This has led to uncertainty about the extent to which COVID is still a risk and lack of incentive to take protective actions such as mask wearing.</p> <p>In <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4626720">2023</a>, after mandates had ended, only 9% of respondents said they always wore a mask in indoor public places. Only a narrow majority of respondents even supported compulsory masking for workers in health-care facilities.</p> <p>The <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4626720">2023 survey</a> confirmed many Australians no longer feel at risk from COVID. Some 17% of respondents said COVID was definitely still posing a risk to Australians, while a further 42% saw COVID as somewhat of a risk. This left 28% who did not view COVID as much of a continuing risk, and 13% who thought it was not a risk at all.</p> <h2>COVID is still a risk</h2> <p>Whether or not people feel at continuing risk from COVID, the pandemic is still significantly affecting Australians. The <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4626720">2023 survey</a> found more than two-thirds of respondents (68%) reported having had at least one COVID infection to their knowledge, including 13% who had experienced three or more. Of those who’d had COVID, 40% said they experienced ongoing symptoms, or long COVID.</p> <p>If the pandemic loses visibility in public forums, people have no way of knowing the risk of infection continues, and are therefore unlikely to take steps to protect themselves and others.</p> <p>Updated case, hospitalisation, death and vaccination numbers should be communicated regularly, as <a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-is-surging-in-australia-and-only-1-in-5-older-adults-are-up-to-date-with-their-boosters-220839">used to be the case</a>. To combat confusion, complacency and misinformation, all health advice should be based on the latest robust science.</p> <p>Australians are operating in a vacuum of information from trusted sources. They need much better and more frequent public health campaigns and risk communication from their leaders.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/220336/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/deborah-lupton-9359"><em>Deborah Lupton</em></a><em>, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty </em><em>Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-4-years-since-the-first-covid-case-in-australia-heres-how-our-pandemic-experiences-have-changed-over-time-220336">original article</a>.</em></p>

Caring

"It's always a tough day": What has changed in the 20 years since Daniel Morcombe's death

<p>Daniel Morcombe's parents have reflected on the day their son was kidnapped and murdered, on the 20th anniversary of his disappearance. </p> <p>Bruce Morcombe appeared on <em>Sunrise</em> on Thursday morning, sharing how the date is always a painful one to live through. </p> <p>Daniel was 13-years-old old when he was kidnapped from a bus stop on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on December 7th 2003, with Peter Cowan later being convinced for his murder in 2014. </p> <p>“It’s always a tough day but what we think about is Daniel’s brothers, our other two sons, and our grandkids,” he said.</p> <p>“They lost a brother, a twin brother. They will be hurting equally the same.”</p> <p>Since Daniel disappeared, the Morcombes have dedicated their lives to keeping other children safe, establishing the Daniel Morcombe Foundation shortly after his murder. </p> <p>As well as raising awareness on child safety, the couple offer practical advice for families, such as creating a “family password” with your kids as a way to keep them safe.</p> <p><em>Sunrise</em> host Monique Wright became emotional while speaking to the Morcombes, saying, “Bruce and Denise Morcombe, they have just changed so many lives through their tireless work.”</p> <p>“It’s irrefutable that they have stopped so much child abuse over the years, just extraordinary,” she added.</p> <p>Bruce added that while it is a sad day as they remember their son, it is important to remind people of his legacy while keeping others safe.</p> <p>“Remember this was a young boy of 13, 12 days short of turning 14. He never made it to 14,” he said.</p> <p>“It happened to Daniel, it can happen to you. Daniel was an innocent kid, like anybody else.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Sunrise</em></p>

Caring

Celine Dion's first public appearance in years since cruel diagnosis

<p>Celine Dion, the iconic Canadian singer, has recently made a triumphant return to the public eye after a few years of battling a rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome. This inspiring comeback took place as she attended a hockey game in Las Vegas, watching the match between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Montreal Canadiens alongside her sons, René-Charles, and twins, Eddy and Nelson.</p> <p>After the thrilling game, Dion made her way to the locker room, and her visit was captured in images and a reel shared by the Montreal Canadiens, the team she came to support.</p> <p>In the clip, the embattled singer appeared to be in high spirits as she interacted with players and coaches, expressing her delight at meeting them all.</p> <p>The Montreal Canadiens shared their excitement on social media in what was a heartwarming moment for both Dion and her fans – especially getting to witness her enthusiasm and resilience.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzFTVOwLPUP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzFTVOwLPUP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Canadiens de Montréal (@canadiensmtl)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Stiff Person Syndrome is an extremely rare neurological disorder that primarily affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, this condition manifests in symptoms such as extreme muscle stiffness, rigidity, and painful spasms in the trunk and limbs, significantly impeding mobility.</p> <p>Dion's battle with Stiff Person Syndrome forced her to postpone some tour dates, as the disorder was affecting her ability to sing the way she was accustomed to. In a video clip shared on social media, she addressed her fans and revealed her determination to overcome the challenges posed by this condition.</p> <p>"I'm working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to build back my strength and my ability to perform again," she shared. "But I have to admit it's been a struggle." Dion's candour about her struggles and her unwavering commitment to her recovery have earned her even more admiration from her fans.</p> <p>Celine Dion's journey with Stiff Person Syndrome has been a testament to her strength and resilience. She has shown that even in the face of a rare and debilitating condition, she refuses to be defeated. Her determination to regain her ability to perform is a source of inspiration to all who face adversity in their lives.</p> <p>It's worth noting that Celine Dion has faced significant personal challenges in the past, most notably the loss of her husband, René Angélil, in 2016 to throat cancer. Despite these difficulties, she has continued to be a shining star in the world of music. Her return to the public eye, following her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome, is a testament to her enduring spirit and the deep connection she has with her fans.</p> <p>As Celine Dion makes her way back into the spotlight, her fans around the world eagerly await her return to the stage, where her powerful voice and indomitable spirit will undoubtedly continue to inspire and uplift us all. Her story serves as a reminder that with determination and a strong support system, even the most formidable challenges can be overcome.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Deborra-Lee Furness speaks out for the first time since separation

<p>Deborra-Lee Furness has broken her silence for the first time since announcing her and Hugh Jackman were separating after 27 years of marriage. </p> <p>Just one week after the news of their split made headlines, Deborra-Lee answered a cold call from Kyle and Jackie O, live on their radio show. </p> <p>Sandilands admitted he wasn't expecting Furness to answer the call, as they didn't realise they hit the dial button. </p> <p>“Seriously, this isn’t a stitch up,” Sandilands told Furness when she picked up on <em>The Kyle & Jackie O Show</em>. </p> <p>“We didn’t mean to actually call you. But now you’re here, we won’t go into it. We love you, we hope you’re well.”</p> <p>“Thank you, guys. I really appreciate it. You’re really sweet,” Furness told Sandilands and Henderson.</p> <p>Feeling bad, Sandilands stressed that the duo weren’t after a scoop about their separation as they did not want to pry so early after the couple's split. </p> <p>“I just feel it’s too soon,” the shock jock told Furness over the phone. “I don’t want to get involved in anything. But we love you, and you ring us when you want to chat.”</p> <p>Before hanging up, Furness again said, “Thank you, guys. I really, really appreciate it.”</p> <p>Henderson praised Sandilands after the phone call, telling him “that was the right thing to do” – and he agreed.</p> <p>“I’m not here to stitch anyone up in the worse time in their life,” he explained. </p> <p>Despite Kyle's offer to Deb for her to chat about the divorce, Hugh and Deborra-Lee made in clear in their separation announcement that the statement would be the one and only time they will both speak publicly about the break-up.</p> <p>“This is the sole statement either of us will make,” they wrote. </p> <p>The Hollywood couple <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/hugh-jackman-devastated-after-marriage-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shocked the world</a> on September 15th when they released a statement confirming their separation after being married for 27 years.</p> <p>“We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” Jackman and Furness told <em><a href="https://people.com/hugh-jackman-and-deborra-lee-jackman-separate-exclusive-7970286" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">People</a></em>.</p> <p>“Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Relationships

20 old words that have new meanings since the birth of the internet

<p><a href="../Dictionary.com"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Dictionary.com</strong></span></a> has revealed a list of commonly used words that have seen their definition change considerably in the last couple of decades.</p> <p>The changes have been primarily driven by the increased use of social media. While 1995 may seem like it was just yesterday to some of us, 20 years is actually a really long time. The world has change from dial-up modems and VCRs to unlimited broadband and Netflix streaming.</p> <p>Check out the list of 20 words with new meanings below:</p> <p><strong>1. Bump</strong></p> <p>Then: “to come more or less heavily in contact with.”</p> <p>Now: “to move an online post or thread to the top of the reverse chronological list by adding a new comment or post to the thread.”</p> <p><strong>2. Cloud</strong></p> <p>Then: “a visible collection of particles of water or ice suspended in the air.”</p> <p>Now: “any of several parts of the Internet that allow online processing and storage of documents and data as well as electronic access to software and other resources.”</p> <p><strong>3. Core</strong></p> <p>Then: “the central part of a fleshy fruit, containing the seeds.”</p> <p>Now: “the muscles of the torso, which provide support for the spine and pelvis.”</p> <p><strong>4. Fail</strong></p> <p>Then: “to come short or be wanting in action.”</p> <p>Now: “to make an embarrassing or humorous mistake, be in a humiliating situation, etc., and be subject to ridicule.”</p> <p><strong>5. Footprint</strong></p> <p>Then: “a mark left by the foot.”</p> <p>Now: “a unique set of characteristics, actions, etc., that leave a trace and serve as a means of identification.”</p> <p><strong>6. Friend</strong></p> <p>Then: “someone attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.”</p> <p>Now: “to add a person to one’s list of contacts on a social-networking website.”</p> <p><strong>7. Glance</strong></p> <p>Then: “to look quickly or briefly.”</p> <p>Now: “Information on an electronic screen that can be understood quickly or at a glance.”</p> <p><strong>8. Goldilocks</strong></p> <p>Then: “a person with golden hair.”</p> <p>Now: “Not being extreme or not varying drastically between extremes, especially between hot and cold.”</p> <p><strong>9. Like</strong></p> <p>Then: “having the same or similar qualities or characteristics.”</p> <p>Now: “to indicate one’s enjoyment of, agreement with, or interest in website content, especially in social media.”</p> <p><strong>10. Meme</strong></p> <p>Then: “a cultural element, as a custom or concept.”</p> <p>Now: “A cultural item in the form of an image, video, phrase, etc., that is spread via the Internet and often altered in a creative or humorous way.”</p> <p><strong>11. Ping:</strong></p> <p>Then: “to produce a sharp, ringing, high-pitched sound.”</p> <p>Now: “to make contact with someone by sending a brief electronic message, as a text message.”</p> <p><strong>12. Profile:</strong></p> <p>Then: “the outline or contour of the human face, especially as seen from the side.”</p> <p>Now: “the personal details, images, user statistics, social-media timeline, etc., that an individual creates and associates with a username or online account.”</p> <p><strong>13. Sandbox:</strong></p> <p>Then: “a container holding sand, usually located in an outdoors area.”</p> <p>Now: “an environment in which software developers or editors can create and test new content, separate from other content in the project.”</p> <p><strong>14. Swipe</strong></p> <p>Then: “a stroke with full swing of the arms.”</p> <p>Now: “to move the fingers across a touchscreen.”</p> <p><strong>15. Takeaway</strong></p> <p>Then: “food or beverage purchased for consumption elsewhere.”</p> <p>Now: “conclusions, impressions, or action points resulting from a meeting, discussion, roundtable, or the like.”</p> <p><strong>16. Text</strong></p> <p>Then: “the main body of matter in a book or manuscript.”</p> <p>Now: “to send a text message.”</p> <p><strong>17. Timeline</strong></p> <p>Then: “a representation of historical events in the form of a line.”</p> <p>Now: “a collection of online posts or updates associated with a specific social-media account, in reverse chronological order.”</p> <p><strong>18. Tweet</strong></p> <p>Then: “the weak chirp of a young or small bird.”</p> <p>Now: “a very short message posted on the Twitter website.”</p> <p><strong>19. Unplug</strong></p> <p>Then: “to disconnect by pulling the plug from it or from a power socket.”</p> <p>Now: “to refrain from using digital or electronic devices for a period of time.”</p> <p><strong>20. Viral</strong></p> <p>Then: “relating to or caused by a virus.”</p> <p>Now: “becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the Internet.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong> </p> <p><a href="../lifestyle/technology/2015/07/eight-tips-for-your-kindle/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 great things you can do with your Kindle</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="../news/news/2015/05/new-words-in-merriam-webster-dictionary/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Can you guess what new words have been added to Merriam-Webster dictionary?</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="../travel/travel-club/2015/05/free-translation-apps/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>3 great FREE translation apps to use when travelling</strong></em></span> </a></p>

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