Brisbane disability support workers warn proposed NDIS funding cuts could affect the independence and social connection of vulnerable clients. Burnie Brae senior exercise physiologist Lauren Kelly runs programs for disabled clients to help them “maintain their function” and lead healthy, independent lives. Kelly said the recent NDIS funding changes, including stricter limits on therapeutic support, are beginning to impact Burnie Brae’s community services. The organisation has

Hearts pumping, feet bouncing, wrists flicking. You can’t quite tell if your heart is pounding in your ears or if it's the beat dropping. There are rarely any lyrics, just a feeling you get caught up in: a dangerous high and an addictive drop. For decades, experiencing a rave of this scale meant booking a flight south. Brisbane was always on the back burner for international artists, routinely skipped in favour of Sydney or Melbourne. But a new wave of local collectives has f

WARNING This story contains descriptions of partner abuse, self-harm, suicide and coercive control. Readers may find details disturbing. T* was just 15 when she met her perpetrator. At 16 she entered a relationship with him. Little did she know what the next year and a half of her life would look like…

With genuine connections hard to find through the digital world, a wingman-centered event is gaining traction across Australia.

Laneway Festival Brisbane Main Stage in 2025. (Queensland Lens: Issy Coghill). When Patrick Mckenzie started his Instagram 'Australian Drug Histories', he did not expect much attention. He has described himself as an ex-problem user and has turned a past of trauma, overdoses and near-death experiences into a strong online community. "I post on there and people contact me wanting help around their own particular drug problem and I maybe offer what support I can." The page held

The growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classrooms has ignited a widespread debate arguing whether it can be viewed as a valuable educational tool, or if it poses as a risk to children’s cognitive development. Image supplied from Wix Cognitive psychologists argue that mastery comes from effort, not shortcuts, but with AI now delivering instant solutions, a pressing question emerges: are today’s students exercising their brains enough? While many institutions are c

What was made to feel as a simple choice, suddenly feels like a gamble. As you open a new box of pills, out falls a tiny pamphlet of information. Every time you think you have reached the end, another crease unfolds, blooming an origami of health warnings, potential side effects, and precautions. Your eyes don't know where to start, but rapidly words like "blood clots", "mood swings", "weight gain", "irregular bleeding", "potential breast cancer", leap out of the sea of clini

Grammy award winner Sabrina Carpenter, best known for Espresso and her latest album, Short n’ Sweet, has sparked debate across social media following the announcement of her new album, Man’s Best Friend, on 12 June. Last month, the singer shared the album artwork, which features Carpenter on her hands and knees while a faceless, suited man grabs her hair. Image Source: via Sabrina Carpenter's Instagram on 12 June. Carpenter has built a global brand around sexuality and provoc

Over the last 15 years, the Toohey Forest has been overrun by koalas, despite the fact that they have been missing for over 40 years. Isabella Visser explores why this has happened.

As Queensland’s defence industry booms, questions emerge about where Australia's weapons end up—especially amid global conflicts like Israel-Gaza. With billions at stake and growing public concern, this piece explores the uneasy tension between economic ambition and ethical responsibility. Pub-goers watch protest. (Bryce Pietsch, 2024) [This story was originally written in 2024] When diplomacy fails, the streets run red, morality bleeds grey, and the money remains green. Ther

Read about the democratic and broader political implications of Schrinner's recent ban on homeless people camping on public property.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and the Brisbane City Council have ignored demands to abandon the Mt Coot-tha Quarry recreational project, opponents say. In June 2023, the Brisbane City Council announced a $500,000 plan to turn the Mt Coot-tha Quarry into a luxury resort. In July 2023, PRAX Studios unveiled a vision for the quarry, aiming to transform it into a city landmark while preserving its First Nations’ history and greenery. PRAX Studio has released its vision for t

The Substance is a bone-chilling sci-fi movie that metaphorically narrates the plague of stereotypes that compel many women to conjure a devil in their minds, constantly reminding them that they are not enough. Elisabeth (Demi Moore) is a 50-year-old, washed-up aerobic TV star instructor. Upon turning 50, the show’s director diminished her worth, turned his back on her, and sought to replace her with a younger star. Her insecurity drove her to discover a drug that she believe

Have you ever walked past a portrait on the street, stopped for a while, gazed into the painting, and wondered, how it is painted surrealistically and sophisticatedly? Here are eight mural paintings from talented Australian artists you can find in Brisbane that will slow down your pavement and take your breath away. 1. Self/ Love in Bloom –Huon Kane Huon Kane is a Meajing/Brisbane-based muralist, video artist, and visual artist. He uses pure symbolism to portray the plato

When Abby was in high school, instead of having the normal everyday worries a 16-year-old should have, like passing a quiz or completing an assignment, she was receiving threatening texts from her 18-year-old boyfriend. Before phones and social media existed, school might have been an escape from the controlling relationship she was in. “He would text me at all hours of the day, being like ‘What are you doing? Who are you with?’ while I was at school,” Abby said. “He was very

All frequent gig attendees have a favourite venue. Maybe you prefer Tomcat for its cozy smoker’s area, or Greaser for inexplicably dive-y feel, or even The Brightside for its spacious floor that leaves plenty of room for moshing. Whatever the case, as patrons, we have our preferences, but someone is always left out of the equation - what about the opinions of the local bands? Well, wonder no longer, I asked a collection of Brisbane bands to list their favourite local venues,

As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese approaches the end of a three-year term marked by a failed referendum, a help to buy scheme, and a cost-of-living crisis, a federal election must be called soon. Whether the anticipated polling date, April 12, will remain up in the air courtesy of Cyclone Alfred... we shall just have to wait and see. It hardly comes as a surprise that major and minor parties in Australia have been ramping up their presence on social media platforms and podca

There is no doubt that TikTok has revolutionised modern society, but the domineering programme has revealed its toxic mechanisms by inciting users with poor mental health in the wrong direction. Grace Cameron investigates how TikTok can trap users amongst inescapable and harmful communities. By: Grace Cameron Reader discretion: mentions eating disorders, depression and anxiety [This story was originally published June 2024] It’s no argument the social media space has transfor

Two sustainable-fashion heroes reveal their tips to being conscious consumers to battle the detrimental consequences fast fashion causes to the environment, and potentially your wallet. By: Angela Aliaga [This story was originally published in 2023] Australian sustainable fashion influencers are speaking out against the environmental damage that major brands are causing. Melbourne-based sustainable fashion influencer and DJ, Ria Chhina, said she refuses to be a consumer of

Controversy sparks as new legislation arises in the US with some saying it fabricates drag queens as predators. Such actions across the globe, may pose a threat to the Australian LGBTQIA+ community and their safety as local institutions support the "anti-drag" movement. By: Angela Aliaga [This story was originally published in 2023] LGBTQIA+ Australians dread the worst as fellow queer Americans suffer harmful anti-drag legislation affecting careers and the community’s culture