A new report from the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) explains that many unmarried Australian couples may not understand the legal and financial consequences of separation, as growing numbers move away from traditional marriage and embrace more diverse relationship arrangements. 

Senior Research Fellow at AIFS, Dr Rachel Carson, said many couples are unfamiliar with how the law views their relationship and may not realise how the Family Law Act can apply to post-separation property and financial arrangements, including potential entitlements.

“Couples don’t enter relationships anticipating separation,” Dr Carson said. “Whilst divorce rates in Australia are at their lowest in decades, separation remains a common experience for many couples over the course of their lives.”

Dr Carson said that being informed early can help couples make decisions with a clearer understanding of their options, rather than attempting to navigate separation and resolve matters themselves ‘in the shadow of the law’.

“When unmarried couples keep separate finances, live in different homes or only live together infrequently, it’s understandable they may assume they’re independent in the eyes of the law – however, that may not be the case,” Dr Carson said.

As couples embrace a wider range of relationship styles – from de facto and registered relationships to ‘living apart together’ – these assumptions can increase the risk of misunderstanding how the law applies. Even when arrangements feel independent, the law may still view a couple as being in a committed relationship.

De facto relationships have almost tripled over recent decades, increasing from 6% of all couples in 1986 to 20% of couples today. Census data also shows that more than 80% of couples now live together before marrying, and the median age at first marriage has risen by around five years since the early 1990s.

Australians are also rethinking how they manage money within relationships, with many couples moving away from fully combining finances. Whilst more than three quarters of couples hold a joint bank account (78%), nearly half (47%) maintain separate accounts – particularly among younger couples – signalling a shift towards more individualised or mixed financial arrangements.

Dr Carson said many couples also make decisions about how they share financial and family responsibilities without realising the potential legal implications. This is particularly significant given that, new AIFS Facts and Figures show that over the past 20 years, around one in two divorces have involved children under the age of 18.

“The division of unpaid care in a couple relationship is often viewed as personal rather than legally significant,” she said. “Family law, however, places substantial weight on non-financial contributions, meaning the circumstances of people who undertake a greater share of unpaid care – typically women – are a key consideration in post-separation property and financial arrangements.”

Dr Carson said Australia’s family law system is designed to protect individuals and promote fairness following separation, particularly where there are imbalances in care, income or financial security.

However, when people’s understanding of their relationship – and how the law applies to it – does not reflect contemporary relationship realities, those protections may not be fully realised.

“As relationship structures and family dynamics continue to change, it’s important that the law – and public understanding of it – keeps pace with how Australian couples live today,” she said.

Building on this, Kira Duggan, Research Director at AIFS, said the potential disconnect between how people view their relationships and how the law treats them can leave couples exposed.

“This highlights the need for greater public understanding about family law and how it applies across different relationship types,” Kira Duggan said.

“Ensuring family law continues to reflect contemporary relationships is essential to supporting individuals and families, reducing uncertainty, and promoting fair outcomes when circumstances change.”

A new Climate Council report finds record global levels of coal, oil and gas pollution is overtaking natural climate drivers like El Niño and La Niña – accelerating the “climate whiplash” phenomenon that pushes communities rapidly from one disaster to the next.

The report Breakneck Speed: Summer of Climate Whiplash warns that even a cooling La Niña couldn’t prevent record heat and catastrophic fires in Victoria this past summer.

Climate Councillor, meteorologist and climate expert, Adjunct Professor Andrew Watkins said: “Climate change is now firmly behind the steering wheel of Australia’s temperatures. In fact 2025 started and ended in La Niña – which usually cools large parts of Australia – yet Victoria experienced a summer of dangerous fires and extreme heat.

“That tells us the baseline has shifted. The natural drivers we historically relied on are slipping behind climate change in the race to control our climate.

“Our hotter oceans and atmosphere mean more water evaporates into the sky than ever before. With more moisture in the atmosphere, storms produce more rain like the extreme rainfall and flash flooding in parts of Victoria this summer. Mount Cowley near Lorne recorded its highest daily summer rainfall total with 186 mm on January 16, shocking Great Ocean Road residents who had been under a catastrophic fire weather warning a week earlier.

Climate Councillor and former NSW fire commissioner Greg Mullins said: “We used to think of catastrophic fire conditions as once-in-a-generation events. Now they’re arriving every decade.

“The accelerating extremes are stretching fire services, with Victorian firefighters called on to battle 200 fires in just one day this summer. We’re seeing communities hit by one disaster aftAdd Imageer the next, with little recovery time.”

Mr Mullins said Australians cannot afford any more coal and gas approvals, which effectively pour fuel on worsening fire seasons: “Disasters are costing Australians dearly, as this report notes, insurance companies paid out $4.5 billion per year on average between 2019 and 2024, more than double the average annual costs over the previous 30 years. These costs will continue to balloon unless governments stop supporting coal, oil and gas pollution and speed up the shift to clean energy.“

The search for Australia’s most outstanding early childhood educators is underway with nominations opening today for the 2026 HESTA Early Childhood Education & Care Awards.

Now in its 12th year, the awards celebrate the dedication and innovation of educators and carers who are shaping the future of Australia’s early childhood education system.

Finalists will be nominated across three categories: Advancing Pedagogy & Practice, Individual Leadership, and Outstanding Service, with a prize on offer for the winner of each category.

Employers, colleagues, and community members are encouraged to nominate outstanding early childhood professionals and teams.

HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said the awards provided a platform to acknowledge the drive and commitment of early childhood educators and carers across Australia.

“These awards recognise the profound impact early childhood educators have on children’s development and learning. They provide the opportunity to celebrate their dedication, showcase their innovations, and inspire others in the sector to reimagine what’s possible in early childhood education,” Ms Blakey said.

“From developing innovative learning programs to creating more inclusive environments, we see how they are advancing their practice while maintaining their crucial role in laying the foundations for lifelong learning.

“I encourage everyone to take the time to nominate exceptional educators and teams who are making a real difference in their communities and helping shape the future of early education.”

For more information on how to nominate and for full award details, visit https://www.hesta.com.au/awards/childhood-education-awards

Nominations close at midnight on Sunday 7 June 2026. Finalists will be announced on Tuesday 1 September 2026, with winners to be revealed at an Awards dinner on Friday 2 October 2026.

More homes are being built in Melbourne’s best connected suburbs – many which have experienced some of the slowest housing growth over the past 30 years.

That’s despite these places being well-connected to great public transport, jobs, schools and services.

It means young people are being priced out.

The final planning controls for 25 train and tram zones in inner and middle suburbs are being released:

• Seven are located along the new Metro Tunnel corridor – Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Oakleigh, Middle Footscray, West Footscray and Tottenham stations
• Six are along the Glen Waverley Line – Tooronga, Darling, East Malvern, Holmesglen, Gardiner and Glen Iris stations
• Four are along the Sandringham Line – North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham stations
• Three are along the Belgrave and Lilydale lines – Hawthorn, Glenferrie and Auburn stations
• Two are along the Upfield line – Brunswick and Coburg stations
• One on the Hurstbridge line – Heidelberg station
• Three along major tram corridors in Thornbury and Kew – St Georges Road (Thornbury), High Street (Thornbury) and Kew Junction.

These new planning controls make it easier to build homes by giving certainty about what can be built and where. It also stops homes from getting caught up in red tape.

In the immediate ‘core’ of the train and tram zones, controls allow for higher heights – ranging from six to 20 storeys depending on the location.

Buildings that meet planning rules in the core will be ‘deemed to comply’ – meaning they can’t be sent to VCAT, speeding up approvals.

If they don’t meet the rules, they aren’t eligible for this program.

In the catchments that surround the core, there are lower height limits for more townhouses and low-rise buildings.

The inner catchment is up to four storeys or up to six storeys on larger blocks. The outer catchment is up to three storeys or up to four on larger blocks.

Feedback from more than 12,500 Victorians directly shaped the final plans – including changes to height limits, greener streetscapes and stronger infrastructure planning.

Consultation is currently open on a further 23 train and tram zones.

Work on the two inner Melbourne train and tram zones in both Melbourne and Yarra city councils is also progressing.

The state government’s pill testing trial saw record demand at the recent Pitch Music and Arts festival.

It tested more than 670 samples from more than 570 attendees.

Importantly, staff had more than 350 health-focused conversations about the risks of drug use.

One community notice went out after the service detected dimethylpentylone in two samples.

Dimethylpentylone is a synthetic cathinone and a potent stimulant which creates an increased risk of harm when mixed with MDMA or taken in large amounts.

It comes as Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt has announced the last event of the mobile pill testing implementation trial – Shadows of Wonderland on 1 May.

The service will provide attendees of Shadows of Wonderland with free and confidential health advice to help them make safer, more informed choices.

At the festival’s conclusion, findings from the 18-month trial will inform the final and permanent pill testing model.

To date, the mobile pill testing service has:

• tested more than 2,400 samples
• engaged in more than 1300 harm reduction conversations
• issued five notifications for potentially dangerous substances to rapidly warn festivalgoers through social media and event signage.

Meanwhile, the Victorian Pill Testing Service fixed site in Fitzroy continues to experience high demand.

In the first six months, it has tested more than 2,300 samples and provided personalised harm reduction advice to more than 1,300 people.

The fixed site service will operate with extended hours on Thursdays and Fridays until the end of the trial period.

Without strong regional participation, national policy risks overlooking realities outside capital cities

The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) has launched its 2026 Small Business Perspectives Survey, focused exclusively on small businesses operating in regional, rural and remote Australia.

The national research initiative aims to capture the lived experience of businesses beyond major cities, ensuring regional conditions are clearly reflected in national policy discussions throughout 2026.

The annual survey gathers insights across business performance and outlook, workforce and skills, housing and childcare access, health services, digital connectivity, banking access, energy and insurance costs, disaster impacts and small business wellbeing.

COSBOA CEO, Skye Cappuccio, said strengthening the regional evidence base is critical to ensuring national reform conversations are underpinned by real experience from across the country.

“Running a small business in regional Australia can be fundamentally different to operating in a capital city,” Ms Cappuccio said.

“Workforce shortages, constrained housing supply, service gaps, connectivity limitations, disaster recovery and the cost of doing business can have amplified impacts in regional and remote communities.

“If national decisions are going to work for small business, they must reflect the realities faced outside metropolitan centres. That starts with credible, on-the-ground data.”

The findings will form part of COSBOA’s annual Small Business Perspectives Report and inform its engagement with government, regulators and policymakers throughout 2026.

“This survey ensures that when we engage with decision-makers, we do so with independently gathered data drawn directly from business owners themselves.

“Regional small businesses sustain local economies and communities across Australia. Their experience must be clearly represented in the national policy conversation,” Ms Cappuccio said.

Broad participation across industries and geographic regions will be essential to building a robust and representative picture of regional small business.

The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Responses are confidential and independently managed by research agency Survey Matters.

The 2026 COSBOA Small Business Perspectives Survey closes on 30 April 2026.

Regional small business owners can participate HERE.

The Reserve Bank has raised interest rates again.

The cash rate has increased from 3.85 per cent to 4.10 per cent. That means there have now been 14 interest rate rises under the Albanese Government.

For many Australians it means higher mortgage repayments and more pressure on household budgets that are already stretched.

Families across the country are being forced to make tough choices about what they can afford.

We should not be in this mess.

The government says global events are the main cause of inflation. But the truth is that many of the pressures are being created here in Australia. It is not everyone else’s fault.

Government spending is now at its highest level outside a recession in 40 years. At the same time, Labor is locking Australia into a decade of deficits and pushing debt towards $1 trillion.

Economists are clear about what happens when governments spend too much. It pushes inflation higher.

And when inflation stays high, the Reserve Bank has little choice but to lift interest rates.That is the cycle Australian households are now caught in.

Today, the average mortgage holder is paying around $27,000 more each year in interest compared with when Labor came to office.

Meanwhile the cost of everyday life keeps rising. Electricity prices are up almost 40 per cent, insurance is up 39 per cent, rents have increased 22 per cent, and food prices are up 16 per cent.

Living standards have fallen and too many Australians are going backwards.

Australians are being forced to pick up the tab for Governments reckless spending.

We deserve better.

A future where wildlife-killing rat poisons are no longer available on supermarket shelves is in sight – thanks to you!

We are so incredibly grateful for your support. After years of advocacy and a groundswell of public pressure, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) last week recommended the removal of the most dangerous rat poisons, Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARS), from retail shelves!

This is because of you. More than 10,000 submissions came from BirdLife Australia supporters alone in just 4 weeks – a powerful demonstration of collective action!

If this recommendation is accepted, it will mark one of the most significant conservation wins for Australian wildlife in recent years.

This was not the regulator’s original proposal, but the voices of thousands of people who spoke up for birds were impossible to ignore. Your voice truly matters.

To make this a reality, the APVMA’s recommendation must now be signed off by Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm. We urgently need your help to write to Ministers Collins and Chisholm today! Let them know: the regulator has backed the science, and the recommendation must be accepted to protect birds and wildlife.

Thanks to you, the wins for wildlife just keep coming. On Friday, Bunnings announced they will be the first major Australian retailer to remove these products from their shelves following the regulator’s recommendation. We have campaigned long and hard for this outcome, with almost 40,000 of you signing our petition calling on Bunnings to remove these toxic bird-killing products from shelves!

We know what people power can do when we unite for  birds and nature. Thank you for standing with us.

Where to from here? While we are celebrating this critical milestone, we know the work is not over. Birds, wildlife and even pets continue to die needlessly from the toxic buildup of SGARs in the ecosystem. Call on the Ministers to end this now. The key action needed now to remove SGARs from public sale and restrict their use to professionals is now entirely in the Ministers’ hands.

Australian birds and other wildlife need the Government to act now. This unacceptable risk can and must come to an end.

Together we are powerful.

Victorian women are saving time and money with free care, close to home.

Women across regional and rural Victoria have historically faced barriers to access care because of their location – but this is changing.

The Women’s Health Mobile Clinic, Nina, has just marked one year on the road.

In this time, Nina has visited 19 towns and treated more than 620 women and girls between 10 to 89 years old.

Delivered in partnership with BreastScreen Victoria, Nina is staffed by an all-female team.

Appointments are free and run for 45 minutes, with no referral needed.

The team provides care across every life stage, including:

• cervical and bowel screening;
• STI testing;
• contraception;
• abortion care; and
• support for pelvic pain, bladder health, menstruation, perimenopause and menopause.

A recent evaluation highlighted why this service is working for Victorian women, particularly those aged 35 to 59.

Women said they loved that the service included specialist women’s health expertise, longer consults, confidentiality and care closer to home at no cost.

It is also helping women improve their health literacy and learn self-advocacy when seeking care.

There is also a network of 20 women’s health clinics, dedicated Aboriginal-led services, a virtual women’s health clinic and 20 sexual and reproductive health hubs.

Between March and June, Nina will visit Mansfield, Balmoral, Phillip Island and Apollo Bay.

For more information, visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/services-and-support/mobile-womens-health-clinic.

The recipients of Round 2 of the Skills Solutions Partnerships program have been announced with five innovative projects awarded a total of $1.7 million in funding.

Since 2023, the program has brought industry and training providers together to develop and deliver targeted training that builds skills, fosters innovation and creates more jobs for Victorians.

One project, led by RMIT University in partnership with Memko, Navantia, Leap Australia and Engineers Education Australia, will strengthen Victoria’s capabilities to contribute to AUKUS.

It will develop four new micro-credentials in high-demand fields including Model-Based Systems Engineering, Digital Mission Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy, and Cybersecurity.

Another project, delivered by Microsoft and Victoria University, will help build a pipeline of critical environment technicians, strengthening Victoria’s emerging status as Australia’s data centre capital.

South West Institute of TAFE will lead on a partnership with Melbourne Polytechnic and several manufacturing businesses, upskilling entry-level manufacturing workers to operate in technologically advanced industrial environments.

The program is delivering on the Victorian Industry Policy, which charts a clear path for industry to innovate, adopt new technologies and build the skills needed for a competitive, future-focused economy.

The state government has provided $4.8 million to extend Skills Solutions Partnerships. The program targets priority sectors identified in the Economic Growth Statement including advanced manufacturing, defence and digital technologies.

Expressions of Interest for Round 3 of the Skills Solutions Partnerships program are now open. To learn more and apply, visit: business.vic.gov.au/ssp.

By Clem Sturmfels, Land Management Extension Officer
Fire damaged netting and steel posts can be repurposed to become a valuable resource to construct sediment traps after a bushfire.
Sediment traps are commonly installed following bushfires to protect dams, roads, tracks, stream crossings and a range of environmental assets from fire debris and sediment that can be washed downstream after heavy rain.
Issues like soil erosion, landslides and the movement of ash, soil, organic matter and woody debris are a common occurrence following rain events in bushfire affected hilly terrain.
Sediment traps can be easily constructed from fire damaged netting and steel posts by simply building a fence across your main drainage lines to slow water flow and capture sediment.
The length of the fence will depend on the size of the catchment and availability of suitable materials.
Unlike a normal fence, which is usually straight, a netting fence sediment trap needs to follow the contour of the land. This allows the water to move in both directions away from the drainage line. The path of the netting fence sediment trap should follow a level line, along a contour, somewhat similar to a sheep or cattle track around a hill.
To prevent water from running around the ends, turn both ends of the fence slightly uphill. The netting needs to have good contact with ground and should be supported with steel posts spaced 1 to 2 metres apart to keep it secure in heavy flows.
The netting fence sediment trap works by slowing and filtering the water resulting in material being trapped against the fence but also depositing sediment upstream.
Regular removal of debris and sediment will prolong the life of the structure.
For information on how to construct a sediment trap visit https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/water/managing-dams/Building-a-sediment-fence-to-protect-your-dam
For more on fire recovery support and information, visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/bushfires or call 136 186.

The state government has announced the latest recipients of the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Local Government Grant Program (LGGP) with a further $2.4 million to help councils make local roads safer.

Bayside City Council will receive funding to build five wombat crossings and lower speed limits at a Brighton roundabout to improve safety for drivers and pedestrians.

The Shire of Murrindindi will upgrade a crossing in Grant Street, Alexandra with a raised pedestrian crossing to improve safety, visibility and accessibility in the town centre.

All funded projects have adopted one of the four focus areas of the ‘Safe System’ approach to road safety: safe roads and roadsides, vehicle safety, safe travel speeds and safe road users. 

The LGGP provides funding to projects that support the goals of the Victorian Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 and help prevent death and injuries on local roads, particularly among pedestrians and cyclists.

Pedestrians and cyclists remain Victoria’s most vulnerable road users. In 2025, 52 pedestrians and nine cyclists lost their lives on the state’s roads. In 2024-25, 583 pedestrians and 391 cyclists were hospitalised as the result of a crash.

For a full list of 2025 grant recipients and details on the program, visit the TAC website tac.vic.gov.au/local-government-grants.

The 2026 TAC Local Government Grant Program will open for applications in June 2026.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said the Local Government Grants program was vital to protecting the most vulnerable road users, investing in local projects that will keep pedestrians and cyclists safe.

“Councils are best placed to identify and address opportunities to improve safety on local roads, and this program is an excellent example of local and state government collaborating to protect communities across Victoria.”

Two landmark pieces of legislation passed the Victorian Parliament this week which remove the strict time limit for Family Reunification Orders, as well as creating a nation leading shared responsibility across government to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families.

The Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Stability) Bill 2025 removes strict time limits for family reunification orders, acquitting Recommendation 25 of the Yoorrook for Justice report.

This means that parents have additional time to access support and make changes to have their children returned to their care, where it is safe to do so and in the best interests of the child.

The Stability Bill also removes adoption from child protection case planning objectives, aligning legislation with longstanding practice in Victoria that adoption is not proactively pursued by child protection.

In addition, the Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Supporting Stable and Strong Families) Bill 2025 establishes – for the first time in Australia – a new model of shared responsibilities modelled off the Scottish ‘Corporate Parent’ model.

Government support for care leavers and at-risk children and families should not be the responsibility of Child Protection alone – this change will enable them to receive comprehensive support.

The Supporting Stable and Strong Families Bill establishes responsibilities for all ministers and departments to improve outcomes for at-risk children, young people, care leavers and families.

The scheme also requires the tabling of plans and progress reports in Parliament, to ensure accountability across the government.

Together, these nation-leading changes mean that the safety and best interests of children and young people are enshrined in law as a priority.

Join Daylesford author and ecologist Alison Pouliot and Devon Taylor from Paradise Books for the launch of Alison’s latest book, Mushroom Day.
Hear about some of Alison’s adventures and discoveries during the writing of the book in conversation with bookstore owner, Devon. Mushroom Day and Alison’s other books will be available for signing and purchase. Paradise Books is at 46 Vincent Street, Daylesford and the event takes place on Thursday, March 26 from 5pm.

St Patrick’s Day in Trentham East is a long-standing local tradition and home to one of the last remaining St Paddy’s Day marches in the region.

On Sunday, March 15, the day begins at 11am at Sacred Heart Church, before locals and visitors walk the country road together, led by the sound of bagpipes, making their way to the Pig & Whistle Hotel – rain (above), hail or shine. At the historic pub, people can enjoy live music, Irish dancing, a traditional Irish-inspired menu and, of course, plenty of Guinness.