A Bribie island hairdresser who founded a program aimed at helping people suffering domestic violence and elder abuse wants all hairdressers to undergo mandatory training in how to provide support to victims.

Sonia Colvin has been a hairdresser for 35 years and says she'd helped 139 people since starting Hairdressers for Hearts three years ago.

Federal MP for Oxley, Milton Dick is bringing back his Christmas Party for Dogs after it’s success last year.

Mr Dick says Santa will be there for photos and encourages everyone to bring their four-legged friend along for a treat and a sausage sizzle.

Mr Dick says he is looking forward to seeing everyone there on December 14th for a fantastic community event.

“Last year’s Dog’s Christmas was such a successful event, and I can’t wait to see all the pooches and their owners there," Mr Dick said. 

A Russian farm has provided virtual reality headsets for dairy cows in an effort to reduce their anxiety. 

According to Moscow’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food, a cow’s emotional experience can affect its milk yield.

The ministry says examples of dairy farms from different countries show that in a calm atmosphere, the quantity, and sometimes the quality of milk increases markedly.

The Education Bureau (EDB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced the number of Mainland higher education institutions participating in the Admission Scheme will increase to 122.

Under the scheme, 122 higher education institutions from 21 provinces or municipalities and one autonomous region of the mainland will accept applications from candidates sitting for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination in 2020.

A ground-breaking study of 6,000 Australians is assessing whether diet and exercise can dramatically reduce a person's risk of developing dementia — and potentially reverse some of its symptoms.

The Maintain Your Brain study is assessing people across New South Wales aged between 55 and 77 in an attempt to help prevent cognitive decline, and eventually dementia.

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie says she will vote to repeal the medevac bill if the government accepts her one condition. 

Although Ms Lambie did not reveal her condition, it is understood to relate to national security issues. 

Ms Lambie’s says her position on the legislation has “considerable community interest”, which will determine the fate of the medevac regime. 

Brisbane activist and Indigenous leader, Wangerriburra and Birri Gubba man Uncle Sam Watson, passed away from a short-term illness yesterday morning in the presence of loved ones.

Mr Watson became politically active at age 16, distributing how-to-vote cards for the Yes campaign in the 1967 referendum.

Among his many achievements and strides for equality, Mr Watson served at the Aboriginal Embassy in Canberra from 1972, working with elders to establish community organisations and peak bodies in health, housing, education, employment and Legal Aid.

The Palaszczuk government has rejected an inquiry into the Queensland bushfires of which firefights have battled over 2000 of already this season. 

Opposition leader, Deb Freckington asked for the inquiry to examine the fire service's responsibility to order landowners to reduce fuel loads as well as reduction burns on state-controlled land and national parks.