A survey of 1,662 Queensland adults found most would not find a mother guilty of assault for physically punishing an 11-year-old. The level of force mattered, with 57 per cent saying a slap across the face should be treated as assault. Overall, about 65 per cent said the mother should be found not guilty across all examples. Attitudes towards smacking have softened, with a 2023 study finding three in four Australians do not believe physical punishment is necessary. Physical punishment remains legal in all states and territories through a defence of reasonable discipline.
A new stand-up comedy show in Townsville lets parents bring their babies along. Called Nappies and Comedy, the event is designed to help new parents socialise after childbirth without fear of judgement. Comedian and producer Sarah Stewart says crying babies and nappy accidents are accepted at the show. Local comedians James Shilock and Paddy Hoot will perform alongside her, sharing stories about parenthood. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance, and tickets are selling fast. The material is strictly for adults.
Many parents struggle with parenting at times, and not enjoying it is more common than many people admit. Research suggests roughly 5 to 14 per cent of parents regret having children, while up to 29 per cent sometimes regret parenthood. A 2025 survey of 10,000 Australian parents found almost half said tiredness stopped them being the parent they wanted to be. Experts say not enjoying a stage of parenting does not mean a parent loves their child less. Persistent exhaustion, emotional distance or low mood may signal burnout, depression or anxiety, and a GP or health professional can help.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Broadcaster Marc Fennell says parents cannot be expected to control what boys see online. His ABC documentary, The State of Man, examines the manosphere and why its messages appeal to young men. Fennell points to the pandemic, shifting cultural debates and online platforms as factors. He says there is no single cause or fix. The series ends by looking at solutions, and Fennell says teenagers gave him reason for hope.
A local not-for-profit, DIIGG Wellbeing, is holding its first Rites of Passage camps in the Otways. The three-day camps are designed to help parents and sons strengthen their relationships and handle the challenges of adolescence. A father and son camp for boys aged 14 to 17 will run in November, followed by a mother and son camp for boys aged 10 to 13 in February 2027. Both will be held at Sokil Retreat. Subsidised places are available with support from sponsors.
Advice for parents about young children and screens is growing more complex, and often conflicts with itself. Research into public discussion, including official guidelines, online content and news reporting, found guidance now covers when and how screens are used, not just age and time. Parents are also told to focus on the benefits of screen use, such as watching and talking with their child. The researcher says this can add stress, guilt and confusion, and does not reflect families' different circumstances. Instead, parents are encouraged to focus on what works for their own child.
A matchmaker says parents often contact her worried that their adult children have never had a partner. Examples include a 23-year-old son with no girlfriend and a 21-year-old daughter who has not yet found love.
Denmark's Crown Prince Christian turned 21 and declined the government-funded stipend he is entitled to claim. He has completed military training and was promoted to second lieutenant, and his living costs are covered by his family. His sister, Princess Isabella, also turned down a military wage after joining the required service. Commentators say the Danish royal family's modest, relaxed approach to raising its children has kept the public supportive. Christian has acted as regent when his father, King Frederik X, was away and will continue to do so as needed.
Journalist Marc Fennell, whose new ABC documentary series State of Man examines the manosphere, says parents should respond to online radicalisation with trust rather than secret monitoring. In his experiment, a fictional young man's social media feed moved within three weeks from fitness content to hatred and extremism. Fennell recommends reviewing online activity together, bringing in male mentors such as coaches and youth leaders, and prioritising everyday presence over formal talks. He says a simple rule applies: don't be a dickhead.
Several mothers say choosing larger families brings significant financial and career trade-offs. Dian Winata returned to work two weeks after her third child's caesarean birth because she was not eligible for government-funded parental leave. Lauren Treweek says motherhood has slowed her marketing career, a setback she calls part of the motherhood penalty. Sociologist Sandra Buchler says the penalty can mean slower career progression and lower retirement savings. Paula Gaziero, a stay-at-home mother of three sons, says caring for her children is a sacrifice she chose and sees it as a temporary season.
Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett has warned that AI chatbots are not a sufficient replacement for human support for children. Her comments followed an Adelaide University study finding that more than one in three Australian children turn to chatbots for support after being sexually victimised online, or tell nobody at all. Around half of Australian children aged 10 to 17 who use AI turn to it for personal and social reasons.
The mothers of Dyson Heppell, Eleanor Patterson and Josh Gardiner spoke about their children's careers at an event in Inverloch. Faye Gardiner, Helen Patterson and Ann-Marie Heppell spoke at The Inlet Hotel on Thursday, October 15, as part of the Southern Business Women's Network event. The mothers described supporting their children through setbacks, long travel and early starts. Organisers said 58 people registered for the evening, and the speakers encouraged parents to let children enjoy being young for as long as possible.
Maka, a new streaming app for children aged 0 to 6, has launched with no ads, no autoplay and no endless scrolling. Its founders say its algorithms do not aim to maximise watch time. Every episode is assessed by child development experts using a framework built with researchers at the Yale Child Study Center. The platform charges $15 a month or $107 a year. Critics say YouTube has not done enough to separate educational content from low-quality AI-generated videos, and the company says its stricter standards apply to content for younger viewers.
A free online session is offered to families with children aged 4 to 11 on managing sibling rivalry and supporting positive relationships at home. The session covers practical, evidence-based strategies and is held twice, on Tuesday 17 November from 12pm to 1.30pm and Wednesday 18 November from 7pm to 8.30pm, with identical content. Bookings close at 12pm on Monday 16 November 2026. The session is delivered via Microsoft Teams, with a link sent by email before the event.
Parents often disagree on rules, screen time and how much independence children should have. Psychologists describe four broad parenting styles, and research links authoritative parenting with better outcomes for children. Differences between parents are not necessarily harmful. Problems tend to arise when parents undermine each other or respond inconsistently, which can leave children confused or distressed. Parents are advised to start with shared goals, agree on practical strategies, discuss disagreements privately and keep reviewing their approach as children grow.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Experts say the manosphere is not a passing wave, with clinical psychologist Zac Seidler saying online misogyny is being fuelled by tech platforms. Developmental paediatrician Billy Garvey advises parents to start conversations with children in low-pressure settings where they feel safe. Our Watch's Genevieve Sheppard says the manosphere harms boys and men by insisting there is only one way to be a man. The experts also answered questions on neurodivergent boys and how to respond to manosphere views in public.
Weekend Sunrise host Sally Bowrey has spoken more openly about a health scare that involved a sudden drop in blood pressure. She told Wish magazine in February 2025 that her son had let paramedics into their home after she collapsed. Bowrey said a wearable device had warned her about high stress and illness before the episode, and she had ignored it. She now says she is learning to prioritise herself and to say no more often.
Zara Tindall has spoken about her demanding childhood and how she plans to raise her own children differently. On the Talk Horse podcast, the British equestrian said she and her brother were treated as ordinary members of the Pony Club, where they were expected to care for their horses. She described her father as quite critical, saying he rarely gave praise, so she spent years striving for his approval. Tindall said she is trying not to be as hard on her daughters, Mia and Lena, though Mia does not always take her advice well.
A resident has criticised Byron Shire Council for questioning Councillor Jack Dods' ability to serve as deputy mayor due to his new parental responsibilities. The writer, Pam Brook, argues the decision undermines new parents and reduces political diversity in council leadership. Brook highlights that the council now has Greens councillors in both mayoral and deputy mayoral positions, removing the previous balance of an independent deputy mayor alongside a Greens mayor.
