An investigation by Four Corners has found that Little Zak's has the highest share of centres subject to enforcement action among Australia's 26 largest long daycare operators. Regulators recorded almost 600 confirmed breaches at its centres between 2020 and September 2025. Parents at its Shellharbour centre describe serious injuries and concerns about supervision. Little Zak's says its focus is on quality and safety. Federal Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh says new reforms are on track, though some large operators have not been included in a funding crackdown.
Eight Christmas markets across the Illawarra region are running from early November to late December. Events include the Wollongong Makers Market at UOW's Innovation Campus on 7 and 8 November, and a Port Kembla market at Red Point Arts Precinct on 14 November. Shoppers can find handmade jewellery, ceramics, gourmet treats and local crafts. Several markets offer live music, face painting and photos with Santa. The Kiama Seaside Markets on 20 December feature more than 150 stalls beside the Kiama Lighthouse.
Two events in the Illawarra will celebrate aviation pioneer Lawrence Hargrave. On 14 November, a re-enactment of his 1894 box kite experiment will be held at Stanwell Park Beach at 11 am. Using replicas of the four kites, organisers will attempt to lift a person to the height Hargrave reached, about 4.9 metres. On 28 November, the inaugural Lawrence Hargrave Oration will be delivered by Bob De La Hunty at Corrimal RSL Club from 6:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now.
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A list of events across the Illawarra this week includes art exhibitions at Clifton and Port Kembla, a grandparents magic show at Kiama Library, and an Indigenous business expo in Wollongong. Families can attend ParkFest in Albion Park Rail, which features a silent disco and free barbecue. The Jamberoo Car Show and Family Day is on Sunday, though it has been cancelled due to inclement weather. Cyclists will begin the Great Southeastern Loop from Bellambi on Sunday, and the Reclaim the Night rally takes place in Wollongong on Thursday evening.
Parents and health professionals in the Illawarra will confront political leaders about the future of maternity care in the region. A public forum will bring together state representatives, election candidates, and the community to discuss key issues. Concerns include the lack of birthing services at the new Shellharbour Hospital and the slow progress in addressing birth trauma. The event is part of the Birth Without Trauma campaign and will be held on Friday 6 November at the Scribbly Gum Room in Dapto Ribbonwood Centre.
Nurses and midwives at two Illawarra private health facilities have stopped work for several hours. The action is part of a dispute with operator Healthe Care over pay and enforceable staffing ratios. The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association says talks have stalled after six months. Further action, including stop works and overtime bans, could follow across Healthe Care's 13 private hospitals and day surgeries if no agreement is reached. The union says the company's final pay offer is below inflation and has refused to introduce shift-by-shift nurse-to-patient ratios.
A new quiz challenges residents to test their knowledge of Illawarra waterways, featuring 10 questions about local flora and community initiatives. The quiz, created by Region Media, encourages participants to share their scores and engage with local content. It highlights the region's natural features and cultural significance, acknowledging Traditional Owners. The interactive format aims to foster community discussion and learning. Participants can subscribe for more local news and updates.
Australian runners are competing in the Backyard Ultra World Team Championship at Kembla Grange in New South Wales. Each athlete must complete a 6.7-kilometre loop every hour until only one runner remains, with the event lasting beyond four days. Jonathan Ash and Brandon Lee Gretch both withdrew after injuries, while Phil Gore is sidelined this year. Dan Camac was the last Australian left, completing his 87th lap, and the Australian team recorded a combined 1,069 laps.
Police seized 22 illegal e-bikes during a blitz across Wollongong, Shellharbour and Cronulla on Friday. The operation, run with Transport for NSW, targeted bikes that exceeded legal speed and power limits. Earlier, an officer was injured at Shell Cove when police allege an e-bike rider struck him while trying to stop the bike and then fled. An 18-year-old man has been charged with multiple offences and will appear before Port Kembla Local Court on October 28. Police warned riders to check NSW requirements before buying an e-bike, saying non-compliant bikes may be seized and destroyed.
The inaugural Lawrence Hargrave Oration will be held at Corrimal RSL Club on Saturday, 28 November, at 6.30 pm. The Lawrence Hargrave Society and the Powerhouse Museum are presenting the event. Historical Aircraft Restoration Society president Bob De La Hunty OAM will deliver the oration, which celebrates Hargrave's contribution to flight. Powerhouse Museum curator Andrew Jacob will give an overview of Hargrave's work. Tickets cost $85 and include a three-course meal.
An 18-year-old allegedly struck a police senior constable on Aquatic Drive at Shell Cove on Friday, leaving him with a serious leg injury. Police allege the teenager fled on his e-bike and was later found hiding in Bass reserve. He faces multiple charges, including riding unlicensed and failing to stop after the impact. The arrest came during a six-hour operation across Cronulla, Wollongong and Shellharbour, where officers seized 22 modified e-bikes. The teenager was granted conditional bail and will appear before Port Kembla Local Court.
A police officer has suffered a serious leg injury after allegedly being struck by an e-bike rider in Shell Cove. The incident happened on Friday 16 October during a NSW Police and Transport for NSW operation targeting illegal and modified e-bikes. Police say an 18-year-old man was arrested and charged over the alleged incident and will appear before Port Kembla Local Court on 28 October. During the wider operation across southern Sydney and the Illawarra, 22 e-bikes were seized and nine penalty notices issued.
Six Halloween events are planned across the Illawarra, from Gerringong to Woonona, on 30 and 31 October. Shellharbour hosts a free family Halloween Spooktacular on 30 October at the Civic Centre. Port Kembla Fearfest, held on 31 October on Wentworth Street, features live performances, armoured combat demonstrations and a horror maze. Science Space runs its Spookfest on 30 October, while the Illawarra Light Railway Museum and Woonona Bulli RSL Club host events on 31 October. The Co-Op Gerringong also hosts a one-night Halloween party that evening with live music.
Nine events are listed across the Illawarra this week, from 16 to 22 October. They include a bromeliad show and sale at Berkeley, and a LEGO expo at Unanderra. A Lifeline South Coast Big Book Fair runs at Berkeley, with proceeds funding local crisis support services. Other options include a textile jewellery workshop in Shellharbour, a weaving circle at Wollongong Art Gallery, and a Walk4BrainCancer event at Beaton Park.
An American team has arrived at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Shellharbour to reassemble John Travolta's former Boeing 707 jet. The plane was taken apart and shipped from the United States, but mechanical issues had prevented it from being flown to Australia. The five-man team will spend six weeks on the aircraft, reattaching wings, wheels and possibly engines. The jet will not be airworthy but will be brought to a point where it can be driven around the tarmac. A date for its official unveiling has not yet been announced.
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Better Births Illawarra will hold a community town hall at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre on November 6 to press candidates on maternity care reforms. The group says the NSW Government has been slow to act on recommendations from a birth trauma inquiry held two years ago. A parent scorecard found only two of those recommendations had been fully implemented. Labor MPs Ryan Park and Anna Watson are expected to attend. The group says continuity of midwifery care needs urgent action, with access varying widely across the state.
NSW councils have been given their 2027-28 rate pegs, with Wollongong's set at 4.5 per cent, one of the higher figures in the state. The peg caps how much general income councils can raise from rates, but does not set individual bills. Wollongong City Council is also fighting a proposed 67 per cent cut to its grants, worth $16.1 million a year, and has warned of possible rate rises, job losses and reduced services. Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven also received rate pegs of 4.3, 3.7 and 3.9 per cent.
Event Cinemas Shellharbour will open a 270-degree SCREENX auditorium in December, extending films across three walls. The upgrade, timed for the summer movie season, will allow local moviegoers to experience blockbusters like Avengers: Doomsday without travelling to Campbelltown. The cinema will offer various seating options, including premium recliners and double daybeds, as part of its growth strategy in large-format experiences.
Shellharbour residents are being invited to help scientists and environmental specialists find birds, frogs, plants and fungi at Croom Reserve. The city's fourth BioBlitz runs on 6 and 7 November and is free for all ages. Discoveries recorded by participants will help guide the future conservation of the reserve. Activities include bird surveys, plant identification, frog monitoring and spotlight walks led by experts. Shellharbour Mayor Chris Homer says every observation adds to a bigger picture of local biodiversity.
Ten operators from the Illawarra and South Coast regions have been named finalists in the 2026 NSW Tourism Awards. The finalists include businesses offering skydiving, stand-up paddleboarding, wildlife experiences, wineries, breweries, and luxury accommodation. The awards attracted 210 nominations across 30 categories, with finalists selected through a rigorous evaluation process involving independent judges and consumer feedback. Winners will be announced in Sydney on 9 November.
