68 000 parents have been placed on “Parent Next” - a government scheme that jeopardises their Centrelink payments if they fail to fulfill requirements of a “participation plan”.

Some single mothers in the program say they have been forced to attend “story time” or swimming lessons at their own expense, or apply for education courses despite prior qualifications.

A new survey reveals one in five Australian workers experience insomnia and other mental health conditions.

This survey in SuperFriend’s annual report reveals an increase of workers with mental health issues, up from one in six in last year's survey.

SuperFriend CEO Margot Lydon says the majority of survey respondents believe investment in workplace mental health and well being would improve productivity and reduce sickness and absences.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has responded to US sanctions on the country’s oil sales with air defence drills, saying the nation faces a “war situation”.

Oil is a crucial source of income for Iran, and sanctions are expected to further wound the country’s weak economy, which has seen it’s currency plummet and cost of living rise.

Eight countries will be temporarily exempt from the sanctions, aimed at curbing Iran support for regional militant groups and development of long-range missiles.

Suicides by Japanese youth have reached a 30-year-high despite overall suicide numbers across Japan steadily declining over the past 15 years.

A total of 250 children in elementary, middle and high school have taken their lives since March, the highest since 1986.

Of the 250 cases, concerns for the future, family problems, and bullying were the main reasons for the deaths, surveys showed.

Listeners seeking support and info regarding mental health call Lifeline Australia @ 13 11 14

Only two of 180 tagged koalas relocated by the State Government for Gold Coast development between 2008 and 2014 have been rediscovered.

Saunder Havill Consultants say 632 hectares of bushland had disappeared around Coomera since 2006, and this forced relocation could be the reason for the decline of koala populations.

Queensland's koala translocation policy has been under review since August 2018.

An anonymous Australian Developer has been given the green light to move forward with a $1.2b development on Hummock Hill Island.

The approval came from the State Government last Monday and will allow the construction of 2500 residential units, including 770 permanent homes as well as resorts.

The Gladstone Regional Council previously said the project was too big and unnecessary but this ruling was overturned by the state, a move that hasn’t been made in four years.

Refugee advocates say there are less than 30 children remaining in Nauru detention.

The announcement comes after 25 people, including eight children,  were moved to Australia on Monday for medical treatment.

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre spokesperson Jana Favero said the decision was a welcome one, but that after five years, every moment is too long.

Despite privacy concerns, 17 million Australians will be automatically registered in the federal government’s My Health Record system if they don’t opt out by Thursday the 15th of November.  

Wentworth MP Kerryn Phelps has called on Health Minister Greg Hunt to extend the opt-out period, saying he is concerned about the privacy, security, and data mining potential of the system.

Legislation that would allow patients to delete their record and restrict police access to their record is yet to pass Parliament.

Conflict between Yemen’s Houthi insurgents and a Saudi coalition has led to more than 100 fighter casualties and left thousands of civilians trapped on the coast of Hodeidah.

The alliance has amassed thousands of Yemeni troops despite recent calls from international leaders for an end to the country’s ongoing conflict.

The Norwegian Refugee Council Area Manager Isaac Ooko says all the people living between the airport and the university are trapped, and labelled the situation “beyond catastrophic”.