Julianne McLeod was a language teacher to older migrants in Newcastle when she had a light globe moment. The result created waves of confidence in her students that extended beyond the classroom. To the beach.

The youth unemployment rate in a Hobart suburb is 66 per cent higher than the national average, but young people say they are missing out on opportunities due to a lack of contacts.

More than 170 little penguins have been mauled to death by dogs in Tasmania in the past year. Experts say the attacks are leaving the state's population in a "tenuous" position.

Tasmania's largest salmon producer applies for a research permit to trial spraying water on seals to move them away from fish farming pens, but the Greens say the proposal raises serious animal welfare concerns.

As more couples leave the decision to have children until later in life, or decide against having them at all, their parents are grappling with the prospect of missing out on the grandparent experience.

Sharing with you one of the ABC's other great podcasts. Join Jan Fran and friends as they take life’s prickly bits and make them sweeter and easier to deal with.

One of Australia's most notorious paedophiles has applied for parole, but South Australia is considering whether the former magistrate should be indefinitely detained behind bars.

Serial child sex offender Gary John Tipping was due to be released from prison today, but will remain behind bars after an urgent application was granted by the Supreme Court.

In a small town in country Australia an elderly man is praying he won't live to 91, like his father. He doesn't have the money, and it feels like debt is closing in on him.

A company working on the Shell-owned Queensland Gas Corporation project tells job applicants they will not be accepted until they submit to blood tests to check if they are at risk of heart attack, high cholesterol and other conditions.

As water supplies run low for towns reliant on the Darling River in western NSW, the Government says it has drought-proofed Broken Hill with a 270-kilometre pipeline from the Murray River.

A peaceful paradise known for its iconic pine trees and spectacular coastline, Norfolk Island is riddled with political tension and simmering social unrest.

Heavy rainfall has filled up dams in the drought-stricken region of Coolabah in New South Wales.(credit: Anthony Hyde)

75mm of rain has fallen in the drought-affected town of Girilambone in NSW, filling up dams in the region and bringing relief to farmers.

While China's demand for Australian rock lobster soars, less international flights causes product delivery to be capped.

The situation in Woodford Correctional Centre, north of Brisbane, becomes "quite volatile" since coronavirus measures prevent prisoners from seeing family and friends, cutting off the illegal drug supply.

After soaking rains in February, for the first time in three years farmers have a real opportunity to sow a crop, but they must first face international importation issues and supply shortages of agricultural chemicals and fertiliser.

With towns across New South Wales at risk of running out of water within months, there are renewed calls for an urgent upgrade of water storage infrastructure.

The Australian Government will launch hundreds of flights to deliver fresh produce to key international markets as part of a big-spending boost for exports.

If you're hoping to bake hot cross buns or fresh scones this Easter you might have to think again — mills simply cannot get their product delivered fast enough to restock supermarkets.

With the olive harvest starting in some parts of South Australia, some farmers are now seeing fruit that has not developed or has shrivelled due to a lack of water.

Foxes are chewing on irrigation pipes used in orchards and vineyards as the drought bites in the Riverina.

Hundreds of people descended on Rollingstone in north Queensland this weekend to celebrate the humble pineapple. Among them were dozens of international visitors who organisers hope will spread the word of the Rollingstone Pineapple Festival around the world.

Lawyers warn child sexual abuse victims to be mindful of legal reforms before signing away their right to sue, as redress scheme marks its first anniversary.

As urban sprawl puts pressure on the food bowl on Melbourne's fringes, and as water becomes increasingly scarce, one council has a bold idea that might just catch on.

A boy who stole from a pizza delivery driver and caused $6,000 damage to a vehicle at a construction site was being given cannabis by his family at the time, a court has heard.

The Northern Territory Chief Minister says plans for a water theme park in Darwin are not dead in the water yet, despite his Government formally rejecting all expressions of interest in the project submitted so far.

Sydney property developers are pulling out all stops by offering special deals including to pay the buyer's mortgage for a year in a bid to lure customers and sell a glut of apartment stock in a downturned market.

A South Australian cannabis oil distributor has been spared a conviction for providing the drug to terminally ill people, with the judge saying her actions helped rather than harmed the recipients.

CCTV footage from Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula captures the moment a meteor lit up the night sky over the bay. (Supplied: Martha Cove Owners Corporation)

With the COVID-19 pandemic, immunity has never been such a hot topic. It's meant a family-run dairy that produces colostrum is being overrun with enquiries.

Kaley Chu knew she needed to do something to change her life — her shyness was holding her back at work, and she felt like the world's most boring person. She decided to attack the problem head on.

Australia's livestock feed supplies are under threat due to the drought, which is putting pressure on both domestic customers and the export market.

A Newcastle tennis club is resisting calls for it to allow female members to join, despite a backlash from the local community as well as a former tennis professional.

MORNING BRIEFING: Former Newcastle Knights star Jarrod Mullen is charged over his alleged role in a cocaine ring in the Hunter region and Australia's country music industry is in shock after singer and producer Glen Hannah dies.

Now that Western Australia's moratorium on fracking has been lifted, can gas from the Kimberley prove that it is economically viable?