Cost of living pressures are putting Perth veterinarians and rescue shelters in the devastating position of turning away animals they may otherwise have been able to save. Reporter Zane Holmes investigates how increased expenses, economic pressures and WA’s rental crisis are driving up costs for vets, pet owners and rescues organisations alike, resulting in “compassion […]

Australia’s cheerleaders are leaping from the sidelines and aiming for a place on the world’s biggest stage – the Olympics. Reporter Tegwen Bescoby charts the sport’s journey from poms poms to a dream of Olympic podiums. Read the full report here: https://murdoch-university.shorthandstories.com/from-sidelines-to-spotlight-cheerleadings-goal-of-olympic-glory/index.html Competitive cheerleadings are hoping to move from the national to international stage. Picture […]

Violent crimes have skyrocketed in South Africa, sparking an exodus among residents looking for a safer future. Reporter Zane Holmes investigates why Australia has become the second most popular destination for South Africans leaving home. Read the full report here: https://murdoch-university.shorthandstories.com/escaping-crime/index.html

Perth is known for having only a few gay-friendly bars for queer people to have a fun night out, but a desire for safe spaces where they can be their authentic selves is inspiring the LGBTQ+ community to create the next generation of queer nightclubs. Maddie Toth dives into Perth’s emerging underground queer nightclub scene: […]

By Craig Duncan. A land of rusted rock running into reefs, the Burrup Peninsular is home to five traditional Aboriginal peoples, critically endangered marine wildlife, and some of the oldest rock carvings in the world.  It is also the proposed site for potentially the most polluting fossil fuel project in Australian history: the Burrup Hub.

By Narelle Towie Perhaps the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament would be a less divisive issue if the dark tales of WA’s institutionalised children were better understood. The short film A Crying Shame adds to the harrowing testimonies of neglect and abuse perpetrated on First Nations children who were ripped from their families between 1910 and the […]

Shark fishermen in a small Indonesian village are turning their backs on the lure of the lucrative shark fin trade, amid concerns about the industry’s dangers and viability. With the help of Australian shark conservationist Maddison Stewart and organisation Project Hiu, the fisherman are transitioning to ecotourism – taking their hooks out of the ocean, […]

Environmental advocates have taken Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to court over the approval of a new Bunbury Highway that will clear 60ha of habitat critical to endangered animals. The Friends of The Gelorup Corridor faced Perth’s Federal Court of Australia again this week to argue that Mains Roads have not shown how it will […]

Dozens of refugees have been denied Medicare rebates and Centrelink payments after two government departments failed to communicate with each other. Advocates claim some affected refugees were left paying out of pocket for medical treatment – including psychiatric medication and postnatal care – or were evicted from their homes because they could not pay rent. […]

Domestic abuse is not always an incident of violence, there is not always a point of crisis. It can be silent. A pattern of behaviours used to control, intimidate, create dependency and render victims powerless. Across Australia, investigations are underway into the impacts of coercive control and whether it should be criminalised, but domestic violence […]

Every month, Gerry Georgatos stops by a nondescript duplex in Perth’s east. Today he’s brought two bags of groceries and some Coles vouchers, paid for out of his own savings. Nikkea Graham, half-asleep, thanks Gerry and takes the groceries inside. Then they set off for the real purpose of Gerry’s visit – wandering down to […]

The Silent Killer Plagued by isolated days consumed with suicidal thoughts, fatigue, and sensory overload, and crippled by the noise of the so-called ‘silent killer’, everyday victims of a Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy are fighting to have their voices heard. Read the full report by Taylor Renouf here: https://murdoch-university.shorthandstories.com/cte-the-silent-killer/index.html

Monstera Mania: the house plant worth thousands Lustrous leaves marbled by hues of green and white, pitted by maturity and sitting pretty in thousands of Australian homes, the variegated Monstera has plant lovers reaching deep into their pockets.   Read Taylor Renouf’s report on the house plant worth $600 per leaf cutting here: https://murdoch-university.shorthandstories.com/monstera-mania/index.html