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Latest news: Children

'Criminal gang': fraud claims encircle acclaimed school

'Criminal gang': fraud claims encircle acclaimed school

An academically acclaimed private school being probed over forced labour and abuse claims uses religion as a "camouflage" for fraud, inquiry witnesses claim.

Meta, others to face thousands of addiction lawsuits

Meta, others to face thousands of addiction lawsuits

Meta, others to face thousands of addiction lawsuits

Meta, others to face thousands of addiction lawsuits

An appeals court in the US has permitted thousands of lawsuits to move forward against Meta, Google, TikTok, Snapchat and other social media companies.

Control tactics, abuse 'rife' at church private school

Control tactics, abuse 'rife' at church private school

Control tactics, abuse 'rife' at church private school

Control tactics, abuse 'rife' at church private school

Former students and church members have detailed disturbing claims of financial, psychological and social control at a religious private school.

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Toy story: Barbie and Ken's big, plastic body makeovers

Toy story: Barbie and Ken's big, plastic body makeovers

For decades, Barbie and Ken had bodies you’d never find in the real world, but Australian researchers say the plastic power couple are finally human‑ish.

Thai school shooting toll rises after girl dies

Thai school shooting toll rises after girl dies

The death ‌toll from a school shooting in ‌Thailand has risen to ‌eight as a 12-year-old girl ⁠died a day after the attack horrified the nation.

Thai teen kills seven, then himself, in rampage

Thai teen kills seven, then himself, in rampage

A 14-year-old boy has killed his grandparents before gunning down teachers and students in Thailand's second school shooting of 2026.

Clothing helps identify more childcare abuse victims

Clothing helps identify more childcare abuse victims

Confronting images of children's clothing released by police have helped identify further alleged victims of a former childcare worker.

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'Your heart just sinks': horror siege victim pregnant

'Your heart just sinks': horror siege victim pregnant

'Your heart just sinks': horror siege victim pregnant

'Your heart just sinks': horror siege victim pregnant

Police were in "grave danger" before an officer rescued a toddler during a seven-hour siege that left two people dead, including a pregnant woman.

Sweeping changes made to working-with-children checks

Sweeping changes made to working-with-children checks

Sweeping changes made to working-with-children checks

Sweeping changes made to working-with-children checks

The nation's attorneys-general have tackled priority areas for keeping children safe following a string of abuses in childcare settings.

'Vindication': apology for survivors of school abuse

'Vindication': apology for survivors of school abuse

'Vindication': apology for survivors of school abuse

'Vindication': apology for survivors of school abuse

Watching a state government apologise for widespread failings at public schools was surreal but validating, a victim-survivor of child sexual abuse says.

'Line in sand': record state-care kid numbers revealed

'Line in sand': record state-care kid numbers revealed

'Line in sand': record state-care kid numbers revealed

'Line in sand': record state-care kid numbers revealed

A state government has laid out its response to a child-safety inquiry report as data revealed a record number of kids in its residential care system.

'Viscerally sick': child protection reforms under fire

'Viscerally sick': child protection reforms under fire

'Viscerally sick': child protection reforms under fire

'Viscerally sick': child protection reforms under fire

A territory's child protection changes have been heavily criticised amid accusations a five-year-old Aboriginal girl's death has been politicised.

Damning report highlights red flags before girl’s death

Damning report highlights red flags before girl’s death

Damning report highlights red flags before girl’s death

Damning report highlights red flags before girl’s death

Sweeping changes have been recommended for a child protection system after a review found safety threats were missed before a little girl's death.

Man found guilty of killing toddler while partner slept

Man found guilty of killing toddler while partner slept

Man found guilty of killing toddler while partner slept

Man found guilty of killing toddler while partner slept

Within months of dating a young mum, a man described her toddler as "out of control" and needing to be sorted out. Jurors have now found him guilty of murder.

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New laws to force tech giants to unmask online trolls

Social media companies would be compelled to name and shame anonymous online abusers under state-first legal protections to help guard kids online.

System 'fails' youth on intimate partner violence

Young men are slipping through the intimate partner violence safety net because of a lack of programs targeting their needs, a roundtable has heard.

Red letter day for baby books as health gaps emerge

Paper records, workforce shortages and distance are among the many barriers stopping Australian children getting crucial checks in the first five years of life.

'Worst nightmare': horror over childcare abuse charges

A parent whose children came into contact with a childcare worker charged in what could be one of Australia's worst pedophile cases says she is horrified.

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Childcare centres struggling with costs, falling demand

Mayfield Childcare has become the third ASX-listed early childhood centre in 2026 to highlight challenging conditions for the industry.

Dozens of daycare centres suspended over safety risks

A popular day care provider with dozens of centres across one state has been suspended for a "litany of compliance issues" of risk to the safety of children.

'Failing us': commissioner quits over child safety laws

A children's commissioner has resigned in protest over a territory's controversial child protection reforms.

First Nations maternity care boosting health outcomes

Culturally tailored midwifery is helping close the gap between health outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous babies, with almost half born healthier.

Multiple child safety reports before little boy's death

Families gathered at a local community pool to remember a little boy allegedly murdered by his mother, leaving behind a teddy bear and a small blue unicorn.

Funding boost to protect kids from city's toxic legacy

A record multimillion dollar boost has been announced to tackle an outback city's lead crisis by doubling home cleanups, education and testing.

'Depraved' childcare worker, ex-cop gets long jail term

The "dual life" of a childcare worker who sexually exploited kids and produced child abuse material has been revealed, as he learns his fate in court.

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