Fewer Year 12 students gained senior school qualifications in 2020, a year characterised by severe disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

91% of Year 12 students received a QCE in 2020 compared with 95% in 2018. 

Fewer students also completed a university subject or school-based apprenticeship in 2020 compared with three out of the past four years.

The Brisbane Art Design Festival is set to take over Brisbane next month, showcasing local artists’ work in no less than 60 venues across the city.

The festival, which will run from the 7th to the 30th of May, will start in the CBD before making the rounds by utilising Brisbane’s extensive network of public display facilities.

Museum of Brisbane Director and event organiser Renai Grace says the event is an opportunity for Brisbane residents to enjoy the “incredible talent within our city.”

Australian women are stopping walking in public places due to the fact they are scared. One woman had been walking her dog for ten years but stopped due to having things thrown at her and hearing about continuous assaults in the news.

Monash University’s XYX Lab and CrowdSpot believe they can start addressing the issue once they understand what spaces women feel safe in.

New South Wales drivers are destroying speed and phone detection cameras after a big increase in fines for traffic offences.

9News obtained material that shows the attacks, including hammers being smashed into them, being set on fire, sprayed with graffiti and punctured tyres. Official reports show attacks on the operators of mobile speed camera vehicles as well.

The European Union is launching legal action against AstraZeneca for breach of contract, alleging the the pharmaceutical company failed to deliver an adequate number of COVID-19 vaccine doses to the bloc.

AstraZeneca says the move is “without merit,” and that it would “strongly defend itself in court,” after a protracted dispute over supply issues that has seen the company consistently downgrade its delivery targets.

Brisbane City Council will no longer be responsible for Anzac Square under new legislation handling care of the city space to the state government. Under the new legislation, the QLD Veterans’ council will be responsible for the ANZAC day trust and will advise the government on veterans’ issues. The QLD government says the latest move will continue to safeguard Queensland’s pre-eminent state war memorial for all generations.

University of Queensland School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences researchers are focusing on making sure children born prematurely are ready for school when they are old enough. Doctor Tomomi McAuliffe says 50% of premature children born before thirty two weeks often experience difficulties when starting their school education and developing skills. An online intervention is being developed to increase successful transitions to school as researchers are urging parents to share

There has been a fourfold increase in cases of a potentially severe RSV virus across greater Brisbane in the last 4 months. 74% of the cases were recorded among children under 10, an increase of 45% from last year. The virus can cause inflammation and mucus to build up quickly in children’s airways making it difficult for them to breathe. The surge in cases has prompted QLD health to urge people to continue to be cautious and anyone experiencing symptoms to get tested and isolate.

Mask wearing on trains and trams in Victoria is causing frustration and leaving people feeling unsafe as passengers are not wearing masks or wearing them incorrectly. 23% of train passengers were not wearing a mask in March compared to the 7% in November last year. Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll says mask wearing should be a priority and he is concerned by the figures. The data shows in the mornings mask compliance is stable but in the afternoons and evenings there is a drop from 83% to 65%. 9% are wearing their masks incorrectly.