Updated December 01, 2018 00:55:49
Related Story: Kids are skipping school today to go to a climate change protest should you let them? Map: Australia Thousands of Australian students have defied calls by the Prime Minister to stay in school and instead marched on the nation's capital cities, and some regional centres, demanding an end to political inertia on climate change. Key points:Students called for politicians to act on climate change warningsThousands of young people were inspired by 15-year-old Swedish pupil Greta Thunberg's protest in StockholmResources Minister Matt Canavan criticised demonstrators for missing out on school Protests were held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Coffs Harbour, Bendigo and other cities, as students banded together to pressure the Morrison Government in the lead-up to a federal election. "The politicians aren't listening to us when we try to ask nicely for what we want and for what we need," said Castlemaine student Harriet O'Shea Carre. "So now we have to go to extreme lengths and miss out on school." It follows similar protests in Canberra and Hobart earlier this week, which have spurred on the junior activists. Photo: Students in Sydney used wordplay to make their point. (ABC Radio Sydney: Harriet Tatham) Photo: Climate change protesters in Melbourne took aim at Scott Morrison. (ABC News: Andie Noonan) Photo: Students in Sydney used song lyrics to draw attention to climate change. (ABC Radio Sydney: Harriet Tatham) The groundswell was inspired by 15-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg, who pledged to protest outside parliament in Stockholm until the country caught up on its commitments under the Paris Agreement. News of her one-woman vigil caught the attention of Harriet O'Shea Carre and Milou Albrecht, both 14. The pair, from the Castlemaine Steiner School, and a group of other climate-concerned teens travelled to the nearby regional city of Bendigo, about 90 minutes from Melbourne, to hold their own protest outside the office of Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie. That in turn sparked Friday's protests across the nation. "We have to sacrifice our education, which is something we really value, so we're showing them that at the moment this is even more important than our education," Harriet O'Shea Carre said. Photo: Young Queenslanders gathered at Parliament House in Brisbane. (ABC News: Lucy Murray) Photo: Students in Melbourne said they had been forced to protest to be taken seriously. (ABC News: Andie Noonan) Photo: Students in Melbourne gathered on the steps of Parliament House. (ABC News: Andie Noonan) "We have tried so many other ways, we've tried just asking, we've tried telling them, and so we really just need to show them now so we're just going to keep pushing and keep trying because we love the natural world." 'You don't learn anything from protesting' But the protests have sparked their own reaction among key members of the Federal Government who have used commercial radio to dress down the students. Resources Minister Matt Canavan said the only thing children would be learn from the protest was how to collect government benefits. "Walking off school and protesting, you don't learn anything from that," he told Sydney radio station 2GB. "The best thing you learn about going to a protest is how to join the dole queue. "That's what your future life will look like, up in a line asking for a handout, not actually taking charge of your life and getting a real job." Photo: Puns were used by many students trying to make a point at the Melbourne protest. (ABC News: Andie Noonan) Mr Canavan said he instead supported children learning science. "I want kids to be at school to learn about how you build a mine, how you do geology, how you drill for oil and gas, which is one of the most remarkable scientific exploits of anywhere in the world that we do," he said. "These are the type of things excite young children." But Mr Canavan's comments have been roundly rejected by one parent, Trent, who was at the protest with his eight-year-old child and their friends. "They've actually been looking at climate change at school and they have a pretty incredible understanding of the science," he told ABC Radio Melbourne. "I think what's striking in Matt Canavan's comments is how demeaning he is about young people and what they actually know, and how he underestimates their understanding," he said. "I heard students today at the rally talking about the IPCC report, talking about the 700 odd days until emissions can peak before we exceed 1.5 degrees. "These are kids that actually understand the science in a way that I think most of parliamentarians don't." Earlier this week Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed he was also not impressed with students taking time off to protest. "We don't support the idea of kids not going to school to participate in things that can be dealt with outside of school," he said. "We don't support our schools being turned into parliaments. What we want is more learning in schools and less activism in schools." Photo: Friday's protests in Australia's biggest cities follow similar events in Canberra and Hobart. (ABC News: Andie Noonan) 'If you were doing your job properly, we wouldn't be here' In Adelaide, about 300 students rallied at South Australia's Parliament House, forcing police to block off a lane of traffic on North Terrace as another 200 onlookers spilled onto the road. Organiser Deanna Athanosos, who is in year 10, said Mr Morrison's rhetoric towards the strike made her laugh. "If you were doing your job properly, we wouldn't be here," she said. Photo: Zel Whiting was among hundreds of South Australian students protesting on Friday. (ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton) Photo: Students in Adelaide were furious about the Prime Minister's rhetoric on striking. (ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton) Year eight student Zel Whiting also took aim at the Prime Minister. He said he was increasingly frustrated with the Government and its "lack of awareness or activity on climate change and its dangers". "Mr Morrison says schools are not parliament," he said. "Mr Morrison, take a seat. You are about to be schooled. "If everybody can contribute minor things that help the environment, such as using less plastics and not leaving your lights on very small things if everybody in Australia did that, we could really make a difference," he said. Photo: Charlie, who's in grade 3 and from Sydney, was at Friday's climate protest in Adelaide. (ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton) Photo: Hundreds of South Australian students used Parliament House in Adelaide as the site of their protest. (ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton) Topics:education,government-and-politics,environment,activism-and-lobbying,community-and-society,family-and-children,schools,australia,darwin-0800,castlemaine-3450,coffs-harbour-2450,hobart-7000,perth-6000,brisbane-4000,melbourne-3000,sydney-2000,canberra-2600 First posted November 30, 2018 13:39:21 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-30/australian-students-climate-change-protest-scott-morrison/10571168
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11/29/2018 0 Comments Suicidal at eight years old: Parents call for 'age-appropriate' mental health supportUpdated November 29, 2018 07:53:31
At four years old, Tom* began self-harming. By age eight, he was suicidal. Mental health hardships for young children some of whom are just starting Kindergarten is something Tom's mother Katie* says is not receiving enough attention. Tom is now 10 years old and Katie wants to use her family's first-hand experience to let parents in similar crises know they are not alone and that help is available. She is calling for more "age-appropriate" support for younger children, after that care helped save her son's life. Katie said she first suspected something was amiss when her son became socially withdrawn before his fifth birthday. He had difficulty keeping eye contact and playing with his peers, a disengagement that sometimes came with hyper activity. "He would cry and completely break down and hate himself," Katie said. "There was a lot of self-harming. He would pull his hair, or he would hit himself. He would headbutt things." Struggling with your child's mental health?Talk to your child about how they're feeling.Talk to their teachers about how they're behaving at school.If you're concerned, seek help from a GP. They can write up a mental health plan and make referrals to suitable support services.Call a crisis hotline if it is an emergency, or triple-0 if need be.Source: Marymead. More Canberra mental health services can be found here. Tom was first diagnosed with ADHD. But it took far longer for doctors to also diagnose him with anxiety and depression. What followed was a succession of different doctors, psychologists and medications, but Katie said his behaviour kept spiralling. His emotional state caused his Year One teacher to send him home early everyday and his inability to understand his feelings manifested in anger. 'Age-appropriate' care vital to recovery Moving to a new school with fewer students, a teacher's aide, and more one-on-one attention helped Tom. But, the real breakthrough came when Katie found him a care provider who spoke to him in a way that was sensitive to his age. It was an approach Tom had never experienced in the often sterile and very grown-up setting of a medical practice. "They're going into this room and being bombarded with questions in such a short amount of time," Katie said. "I think it is very important to have an age-appropriate conversation with the child so that they understand what mental health is and how it affects different people in different ways. "This person just explained it in a way that, all of a sudden after six years of him thinking that he's crazy just clicked. And he thought, 'oh, maybe I'm not unusual'." Katie said things improved after Tom began to understand his mental health. "He's getting there," she said, of her now 10-year-old son. "He's not suicidal like he was." 'Exploding at school with anxiety and anger' Canberra mother Simone* said her son Liam* also encountered similar problems. At age seven he became highly anxious in new environments, and was disruptive in the classroom. Photo: There are calls for mental health support for young kids to be more sensitive to their age. (pxhere.com) "He was exploding at school with his anxiety and anger, and all the rest of it," Simone said. A GP gave Liam a mental health care plan and a script for anti-anxiety medication. But despite the treatment, he self-harmed while he was at school something his mother was shocked a seven-year-old even knew how to do. Simone said things got better when Liam found the right support. And like Katie, Simone now wants to reassure other parents they are not alone. "I do know that my child is not the only one who is going through stuff bigger than what you would expect for their age," Simone said. Mental health services see spike in young child referrals As the head of an early intervention service for Canberra children and families, Yuyila Pullen has seen a growing number of young children seeking support. In fact, she said most referrals to Marymead were for kids aged between five and 10. If you or anyone you know needs help: "I think we'd have at least a half a dozen enquiries [from that age group] come through each week," she said. "Overwhelmingly, the symptoms that are affecting these children are around depression and anxiety." Ms Pullen backed Katie and Simone's call for more age-appropriate language when discussing mental health, saying even though mental illnesses could strike at any age, young children must be treated differently to teens and adults. And she said music and play could often be useful tools. "So that the younger children who might not be able to express themselves verbally are able to express what they're feeling and build a narrative around those feelings," she said. *Not their real names. Topics:mental-health,health,community-and-society,family-and-children,children,canberra-2600,australia,act First posted November 29, 2018 06:24:09 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-29/more-mental-health-support-for-young-kids-needed-parents-say/10564248 11/21/2018 0 Comments 'Equivalent to a Qantas lounge': Calls for underground bus interchange in CanberraUpdated November 21, 2018 07:51:03
Photo: There's untapped potential lying beneath, according to Canberra's peak planning agency. (ABC Canberra: Michael Black) Canberra's central bus interchange could be taken underground if a new public transport plan is given the green light. Key points:Bus and light rail services would connect at an underground interchange in central CanberraPerth and Brisbane already have underground interchangesThe facility would include basement parking and would be air-conditioned Under the proposal, two sites currently serving as parking lots on London Circuit would be razed and replaced by an air-conditioned, multi-level interchange servicing buses and linking to light rail services. Put forward by the ACT Government's City Renewal Authority, the idea would see the current bus interchange, located between Alinga Street and Garema Place, make way for "new public spaces". The authority's chief executive Malcolm Snow said the new transport hub would offer a more attractive street-scape and include basement parking. "Anyone who stands in the bus station at the moment recognises that at times it's a bit smelly, it's a bit noisy," Mr Snow said. "Modern cities are certainly recognising the importance of the opportunity for bus [and] light rail passengers to connect easily between different facilities and we see an opportunity for that connection to be a lot easier, for it to be a lot safer and for it to be a lot more attractive. "But equally we're hearing traders say to us that they would be interested in us exploring this idea because what they want to see is, in a sense, a claiming back of the asphalt to create new public spaces." Photo: Two adjacent sites along London Circuit in the city centre will be explored for redevlopment. (Supplied) Big, audacious ideas The City Renewal Authority this week announced it was seeking tenders from consultants interested in creating a plan for a "modern, contemporary underground bus station for Canberra". An initial study will be conducted to examine the plan's feasibility before its recommendations are taken to the ACT Government, while future stages are expected to include "significant community engagement" with city workers, residents and businesses, public transport users and the wider Canberra community. Mr Snow said the current interchange was operating efficiently, but that in the future, Canberra would benefit from a more efficient, attractively designed public transport system. "I think the benefits of taking buses off the street are that we can repair and restore streets that at the moment are really probably pretty adversely impacted by bus operations," he said. "They're big ideas, they're possibly audacious ideas, but they're ideas that we think nevertheless do need to be looked at and examined." Photo: Four city blocks reserved for buses only could be reopened to general traffic. (ABC Canberra: Michael Black) The new interchange would also address Canberra's extreme weather conditions. "It can be pretty cold in winter and reasonably hot in summer," he said. "By taking it underground we can not only provide an air-conditioned environment, we also provide a really safe, attractive environment." 'Equivalent to a Qantas lounge': Taking inspiration from Perth When the authority was tasked with redeveloping the two sites, they turned to Perth for inspiration. The Western Australian capital underwent its own transformation when a 12-storey interchange was installed at its centre. That multi-million dollar redevelopment was built on a much larger scale, Mr Snow said, but with a vision for the long-term future of transit they hoped to harness in Canberra. "If you go to the Perth bus station what you see is almost equivalent to a Qantas lounge," Mr Snow said. "It's freed up space at the surface for new public spaces, for new buildings and it's reconnected to parts of the city that were previously separated by surface bus operations." Topics:states-and-territories,urban-development-and-planning,australia,act,canberra-2600 First posted November 21, 2018 06:10:37 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-21/canberra-civic-bus-interchange-plans-to-move-underground/10516352 11/20/2018 0 Comments Canberra kids could be going to school in a multi-storey building if a parents' group has their wayUpdated November 20, 2018 13:46:27
Photo: Vertical schools are already in Melbourne and Sydney. Now there's a call for Canberra to pile on. (Supplied) Related Story: High-rise schools and their place in Australian education Map: Australia A proposed vertical school, along the newly-established light rail corridor, could help alleviate overcrowding, a Canberra community group has suggested. Key points:Multi-storey schools have been given the green light in Sydney in recent yearsThe proposed vertical school could help alleviate capacity issues in the inner northCalls for additional schools in Belconnen and Gungahlin as numbers bulge The ACT's Parents and Citizens council made the recommendation for a multi-storey school in a submission on next year's territory budget. The group urged the Government to purchase a parcel of land smaller than other schools, along the light rail corridor in the inner north, and take advantage of existing open spaces to build a higher-density school with a smaller footprint. "As a big, growing, exciting new city we could think of some innovative solutions like we're starting to see in other cities around the world a vertical school is just one of those ideas," spokeswoman Janelle Kennard said. "Everyone thinks Canberra's the bush capital, and that's true, but the building works and change to the city that we're seeing along that tram corridor is much more like a proper city and much less like the bush capital," she said. In its submission, the council noted serious capacity issues in the inner north both Lyneham High School and North Ainslie Primary schools are already over capacity, and several other primary schools in Campbell, Lyneham, Turner and Majura are at close to 90 per cent capacity. "Development along the tram corridor is expected to place further strain on the capacity of these schools within the next few years," the submission read. Education Minister Yvette Berry said the recommendation would be considered as part of the budget process. "I have visited the vertical school in Melbourne, and although Canberra is a bit different it's always good to see creative solutions such as this," Ms Berry said. Calls to build up as numbers bulge out Photo: An impression of the 14-storey high rise school planned for Surry Hills, Sydney. In recent years, multi-storey schools proposed for Surry Hills and Parramatta in Sydney were given the green light, heralded as an innovative step that "points to the future", in the words of New South Wales Education Minister Rob Stokes. In Canberra, limited space is less of a problem, but some schools are nonetheless overcrowded, Ms Kennard said. The council also recommended a new school in east Gungahlin, "at minimum", and a new primary school for central Belconnen. "It wasn't that long ago that we had a big proposal to close schools it's really changed now," Ms Kennard said. "Fiddling with the existing capacity and filling out corners that haven't got classes in yet and taking away libraries isn't going to solve the sorts of increases in student numbers the department itself is expecting." More schools needed in Gungahlin, Belconnen Photo: The education union says the new deal is unfair. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica) Ms Kennard said Gungahlin's projected school population was expected to double in the next decade, and while a new school in Taylor set to open next year will absorb some of that growth, another school will be needed. She understood land was set aside for that school, but stressed it ought to be guaranteed in funding. Similarly, Ms Kennard said a school in Belconnen needed to be factored into its projected growth. "The new Belconnen plan puts in, I think it might be, 1,500 new residents, and that's the sort of amount you'd look and say: 'Wow, we really need a new school for those people'," she said. "We're a bit disappointed in fact, that it's not already part of the plan for central Belconnen." Opposition education spokeswoman Elizabeth Lee said the Government's school planning had not been proactive. "Many of our schools are at breaking point due to capacity issues, clearly a result of poor planning over a number of years," Ms Lee said. "I hope that the Government considers the issues raised by the ACT Council of P&C Associations, as they are well-placed to know the pressures that Canberra families and schools are under." Ms Berry said the Government would push forward with its election commitment to build another new school in Gungahlin in 2019. She said more than $24 million was invested in school expansions in the current budget. Topics:education,schools,australia,act,canberra-2600 First posted November 20, 2018 06:07:37 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-20/canberra-parents-group-wants-vertical-school/10512518 11/19/2018 0 Comments Rebel Wilson's legal battle ends as High Court rejects appeal over defamation payoutUpdated November 16, 2018 15:10:54
Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson has failed in her bid for her appeal case to be heard in the High Court of Australia, bringing her legal battle "to a definitive end". Key Points:Wilson was initially awarded more than $4.7 million for several defaming articles published by Bauer Media in 2015In June, the Court of Appeal forced her to pay back most of that, with today's ruling upholding that decisionWilson says her appeal was never about the money, but "standing up to a bully" The High Court's decision to dismiss the case came after Wilson was ordered to pay back millions of dollars to a magazine publisher that was found to have defamed her in a series of tabloid stories in 2015. Wilson sat in the front row of the public gallery during Friday's hearing. Last year, Wilson was awarded more than $4.7 million in compensation the largest defamation damages payout ever ordered by an Australian court after a jury found she missed out on film roles because the articles claimed she had lied about her age, real name and childhood. In awarding the damages, Justice John Dixon said the defamation extent was "unprecedented in this country" because of the articles' global reach. External Link:Rebel Wilson says her legal team is exceptional and amazing after her bid to have the High Court hear her appeal failed Justice Dixon strongly criticised Bauer Media for failing to properly investigate the claims about Wilson, and for publishing them despite knowing they were false. But in June this year the Court of Appeal forced Wilson to pay back $4.1 million of those damages and 80 per cent of the magazine publisher's legal costs, finding "there was no basis in the evidence for making any award of damages for economic loss". It ruled the trial judge had relied on evidence from Wilson and Hollywood agents to conclude that Wilson had lost career opportunities. Within a month, Wilson's lawyers sought special leave to appeal against that decision, arguing the court made several errors. These included allegedly failing to consider that Wilson received dramatically fewer offers of leading roles after the articles were published in Woman's Day, Women's Weekly, OK Magazine and New Weekly. Photo: Wilson previously said she was "very confident" the defamation ruling would be upheld. (AAP: Julian Smith) Wilson initially sought $7 million in compensation over the eight articles, which she earlier described in court as a "malicious, deliberate take-down" of her. She said it was published to coincide with the release of her biggest movie role to date and was designed to sell as many copies as possible. Wilson's lawyers had argued she missed out on film roles between mid-2015 and the end of 2016 due to the "grapevine effect" the articles had within the film industry. When the $4.7 million in compensation was initially ordered, several media organisations questioned whether the decision set a new precedent for defamation payments. But that precedent was not upheld, with today's High Court appearance being the final step in the legal ladder. 'I wanted to stand up to a bully' Photo: Wilson said she was "proud" that she saw the legal case through to the "bitter end". (ABC News: Niki Burnside) Outside the High Court, Wilson said her legal battle was now over. "This has been a long fight and a long journey in the courts, but the great thing about today is that it brings it to a definitive end," she said. "The whole reason for bringing this case is that I wanted to stand up to a bully, which is Bauer Media." Wilson said bringing her appeal attempt to the High Court had been "an amazing experience" and she was "so proud of [herself] for seeing it out right to the bitter end". "At the end of the day the jury restored my reputation, I've moved on personally and professionally," she said. "Today was just about a small point of special damages and for me it was never about the money, it was about standing up to a bully and I've done that." Topics:law-crime-and-justice,courts-and-trials,media,print-media,canberra-2600,australia,act First posted November 16, 2018 10:28:33 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-16/rebel-wilson-loses-high-court-bid/10503644 11/18/2018 0 Comments Rebel Wilson's legal battle ends as High Court rejects appeal over defamation payoutUpdated November 16, 2018 15:10:54
Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson has failed in her bid for her appeal case to be heard in the High Court of Australia, bringing her legal battle "to a definitive end". Key Points:Wilson was initially awarded more than $4.7 million for several defaming articles published by Bauer Media in 2015In June, the Court of Appeal forced her to pay back most of that, with today's ruling upholding that decisionWilson says her appeal was never about the money, but "standing up to a bully" The High Court's decision to dismiss the case came after Wilson was ordered to pay back millions of dollars to a magazine publisher that was found to have defamed her in a series of tabloid stories in 2015. Wilson sat in the front row of the public gallery during Friday's hearing. Last year, Wilson was awarded more than $4.7 million in compensation the largest defamation damages payout ever ordered by an Australian court after a jury found she missed out on film roles because the articles claimed she had lied about her age, real name and childhood. In awarding the damages, Justice John Dixon said the defamation extent was "unprecedented in this country" because of the articles' global reach. External Link:Rebel Wilson says her legal team is exceptional and amazing after her bid to have the High Court hear her appeal failed Justice Dixon strongly criticised Bauer Media for failing to properly investigate the claims about Wilson, and for publishing them despite knowing they were false. But in June this year the Court of Appeal forced Wilson to pay back $4.1 million of those damages and 80 per cent of the magazine publisher's legal costs, finding "there was no basis in the evidence for making any award of damages for economic loss". It ruled the trial judge had relied on evidence from Wilson and Hollywood agents to conclude that Wilson had lost career opportunities. Within a month, Wilson's lawyers sought special leave to appeal against that decision, arguing the court made several errors. These included allegedly failing to consider that Wilson received dramatically fewer offers of leading roles after the articles were published in Woman's Day, Women's Weekly, OK Magazine and New Weekly. Photo: Wilson previously said she was "very confident" the defamation ruling would be upheld. (AAP: Julian Smith) Wilson initially sought $7 million in compensation over the eight articles, which she earlier described in court as a "malicious, deliberate take-down" of her. She said it was published to coincide with the release of her biggest movie role to date and was designed to sell as many copies as possible. Wilson's lawyers had argued she missed out on film roles between mid-2015 and the end of 2016 due to the "grapevine effect" the articles had within the film industry. When the $4.7 million in compensation was initially ordered, several media organisations questioned whether the decision set a new precedent for defamation payments. But that precedent was not upheld, with today's High Court appearance being the final step in the legal ladder. 'I wanted to stand up to a bully' Photo: Wilson said she was "proud" that she saw the legal case through to the "bitter end". (ABC News: Niki Burnside) Outside the High Court, Wilson said her legal battle was now over. "This has been a long fight and a long journey in the courts, but the great thing about today is that it brings it to a definitive end," she said. "The whole reason for bringing this case is that I wanted to stand up to a bully, which is Bauer Media." Wilson said bringing her appeal attempt to the High Court had been "an amazing experience" and she was "so proud of [herself] for seeing it out right to the bitter end". "At the end of the day the jury restored my reputation, I've moved on personally and professionally," she said. "Today was just about a small point of special damages and for me it was never about the money, it was about standing up to a bully and I've done that." Topics:law-crime-and-justice,courts-and-trials,media,print-media,canberra-2600,australia,act First posted November 16, 2018 10:28:33 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-16/rebel-wilson-loses-high-court-bid/10503644 11/17/2018 0 Comments 'We didn't mean to start an international incident': Canberra school considers cancelling Indonesian subjectUpdated November 16, 2018 17:13:06
Students at a public secondary college in Canberra believe they have generated enough interest to save their Indonesian language program following concerns the subject might be dropped next year. Key points:The decision was made due to low numbers of students enrolled in the subjectThere will only be two colleges in Canberra offering Bahasa Indonesia as of next yearThe PM pledged to develop closer ties with Indonesia during his recent trip to Jakarta Narrabundah College is currently conducting a feasibility study into whether to keep the school's Indonesian language program, despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison's recent pledge to strengthen ties with one of the country's closest neighbours. The school has been teaching its students Bahasa Indonesia the Indonesian name for the language for more than 40 years. Photo: The petition has gained 5,300 signatures since last weekend. (Photo: Change.org) A media representative from the ACT Education Directorate told the ABC the school was "currently considering the feasibility of continuing to offer an Indonesian language program, as the interest for Indonesian in the student choices for 2019 is currently below the college minimum of student numbers per class". "These decisions are made at the school level, on a school-by-school basis," the representative said. If Narrabundah had discontinued its course, as of next year, there would be only two colleges that offer students the option to study Bahasa Indonesia across the territory. Last Saturday, one of the students at the college launched a petition which said the decision would be "unfair" and that the school should "remain committed to prioritising education over [the] economics". The petition has already accumulated more than 5,400 signatures and gained international momentum. Aidan Brooke, who started the petition, told the ABC that taking away the class would have "a domino effect and potentially reach the point of the language being dead". He added that the move would be counterintuitive and could take away the opportunity for future students to learn another second language. "The notion of taking away Indonesian at a top government school in the nation's capital while the PM talks in Indonesia about the importance of it seems short-sighted," he said. "I didn't want to start an international incident I just wanted to [learn] Indonesian." 'Disastrous for our relationship with Indonesia' Photo: Scott Morrison met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Singapore during the ASEAN summit. (AAP: Lukas Coch) An analyst said any move to cancel the Indonesian language program would contradict the Government's commitment to strengthen ties and prioritise the teaching of Asian languages in schools. Mr Morrison pledged to develop closer strategic ties between the two countries after his first international trip to Jakarta since becoming Prime Minister in late August this year. The pledge was aimed at showing Australia's commitment to prioritise regional diplomacy and uphold close relationships. "By removing Bahasa Indonesia from what they are offering, they are not only [going] against the general recommendations of the Government, but also [going] against their own policy," George Quinn, an Indonesian studies expert at the Australian National University, told the ABC. He said there had also been a lack of consistent leadership by the Federal Government in terms of setting the national curriculum for foreign languages. The decision would be "disappointing and disastrous for our relationship with Indonesia", he added. Editor's note (16/11/2018): In a previous version of the story, the article said Narrabundah College was cancelling the Indonesian language program next year. The article has been updated to clarify that the school is conducting a feasibility study to determine the future of the program. Topics:schools,education,secondary-schools,subjects,languages,community-and-society,australia,canberra-2600,asia,indonesia First posted November 15, 2018 18:55:38 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-15/canberra-school-cancels-indonesian-subject/10498926 11/16/2018 0 Comments 'We didn't mean to start an international incident': Canberra school considers cancelling Indonesian subjectUpdated November 16, 2018 17:13:06
Students at a public secondary college in Canberra believe they have generated enough interest to save their Indonesian language program following concerns the subject might be dropped next year. Key points:The decision was made due to low numbers of students enrolled in the subjectThere will only be two colleges in Canberra offering Bahasa Indonesia as of next yearThe PM pledged to develop closer ties with Indonesia during his recent trip to Jakarta Narrabundah College is currently conducting a feasibility study into whether to keep the school's Indonesian language program, despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison's recent pledge to strengthen ties with one of the country's closest neighbours. The school has been teaching its students Bahasa Indonesia the Indonesian name for the language for more than 40 years. Photo: The petition has gained 5,300 signatures since last weekend. (Photo: Change.org) A media representative from the ACT Education Directorate told the ABC the school was "currently considering the feasibility of continuing to offer an Indonesian language program, as the interest for Indonesian in the student choices for 2019 is currently below the college minimum of student numbers per class". "These decisions are made at the school level, on a school-by-school basis," the representative said. If Narrabundah had discontinued its course, as of next year, there would be only two colleges that offer students the option to study Bahasa Indonesia across the territory. Last Saturday, one of the students at the college launched a petition which said the decision would be "unfair" and that the school should "remain committed to prioritising education over [the] economics". The petition has already accumulated more than 5,400 signatures and gained international momentum. Aidan Brooke, who started the petition, told the ABC that taking away the class would have "a domino effect and potentially reach the point of the language being dead". He added that the move would be counterintuitive and could take away the opportunity for future students to learn another second language. "The notion of taking away Indonesian at a top government school in the nation's capital while the PM talks in Indonesia about the importance of it seems short-sighted," he said. "I didn't want to start an international incident I just wanted to [learn] Indonesian." 'Disastrous for our relationship with Indonesia' Photo: Scott Morrison met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Singapore during the ASEAN summit. (AAP: Lukas Coch) An analyst said any move to cancel the Indonesian language program would contradict the Government's commitment to strengthen ties and prioritise the teaching of Asian languages in schools. Mr Morrison pledged to develop closer strategic ties between the two countries after his first international trip to Jakarta since becoming Prime Minister in late August this year. The pledge was aimed at showing Australia's commitment to prioritise regional diplomacy and uphold close relationships. "By removing Bahasa Indonesia from what they are offering, they are not only [going] against the general recommendations of the Government, but also [going] against their own policy," George Quinn, an Indonesian studies expert at the Australian National University, told the ABC. He said there had also been a lack of consistent leadership by the Federal Government in terms of setting the national curriculum for foreign languages. The decision would be "disappointing and disastrous for our relationship with Indonesia", he added. Editor's note (16/11/2018): In a previous version of the story, the article said Narrabundah College was cancelling the Indonesian language program next year. The article has been updated to clarify that the school is conducting a feasibility study to determine the future of the program. Topics:schools,education,secondary-schools,subjects,languages,community-and-society,australia,canberra-2600,asia,indonesia First posted November 15, 2018 18:55:38 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-15/canberra-school-cancels-indonesian-subject/10498926 11/15/2018 0 Comments Canberra school cancels Indonesian subject after Scott Morrison pledges closer strategic tiesUpdated November 15, 2018 20:57:50
A public secondary college in Canberra is planning to cancel their Indonesian language program, despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison's recent pledge to strengthen ties with one of the country's closest neighbours. Key points:The decision was made due to low numbers of students enrolled in the subjectThere will only be two colleges in Canberra offering Bahasa Indonesia as of next yearThe PM pledged to develop closer ties with Indonesia during his recent trip to Jakarta Narrabundah College will no longer be teaching its students Bahasa Indonesia the Indonesian name for the language from 2019, after more than 40 years of teaching the subject. Photo: The petition has gained 5,300 signatures since last weekend. (Photo: Change.org) A media representative from the ACT Education Directorate told the ABC the decision was made due to low numbers of students enrolled in the subject. "These decisions are made at the school level, on a school-by-school basis," the representative said. As of next year, there will only be two colleges that offer students the option to study Bahasa Indonesia across the territory. Last Saturday, one of the students at the college launched a petition which said the decision was "unfair" and that the school should "remain committed to prioritising education over [the] economics". The petition has already accumulated more than 5,300 signatures, surpassing its initial target of 5,000. Aidan Brooke, who started the petition, told the ABC the decision was counterintuitive and would take away the opportunity for future students to learn another second language. "The notion of taking away Indonesian at a top government school in the nation's capital while the PM talks in Indonesia about the importance of it seems short-sighted," he said. 'Disastrous for our relationship with Indonesia' Photo: Scott Morrison met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Singapore during the ASEAN summit. (AAP: Lukas Coch) An analyst said the decision to cancel the Indonesian language program contradicted the Government's commitment to strengthen ties and prioritise teaching Asian languages in schools. Mr Morrison pledged to develop closer strategic ties between the two countries after his first international trip to Jakarta since becoming Prime Minister in late August this year. The pledge was aimed at showing Australia's commitment to prioritise regional diplomacy and uphold close relationships. "By removing Bahasa Indonesia from what they are offering, they are not only [going] against the general recommendations of the Government, but also [going] against their own policy," George Quinn, an Indonesian studies expert at the Australian National University, told the ABC. He said there had also been a lack of consistent leadership by the Federal Government in terms of setting the national curriculum for foreign languages. The decision would be "disappointing and disastrous for our relationship with Indonesia", he added. Photo: Narrabundah College students believe decision to can the Indonesian language class is "unfair". (Facebook: Narrabundah College ) After a recent visit by an ACT state representative to Jakarta to improve cultural and language relations between the two countries, the Indonesian embassy in Canberra told the ABC it was "shocked" about the decision. Imran Hanafi, Indonesia's Education and Culture attach in Canberra, said the next step would be to have a discussion with related parties about the problem. Meanwhile, Yacinta Kurniasih, an Indonesian studies expert at the Monash Herb Feith Indonesian Engagement Centre, believed the Australian Government was not serious about its declaration that Indonesia was important to Australia. "By allowing a publicly-funded school to end their Indonesian language program it's clear the support [of the Government] is still very limited," Mr Kurniasih said. The ABC has contacted Narrabundah College for comment but is yet to received a response. Topics:schools,education,secondary-schools,subjects,languages,community-and-society,australia,canberra-2600,asia,indonesia First posted November 15, 2018 18:55:38 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-15/canberra-school-cancels-indonesian-subject/10498926 11/8/2018 0 Comments Stopping guests from taking photos at your wedding could be good for you and themIf you're attending a wedding soon and hoping to get a snap of the happy couple, you might be in for a surprise.
Many couples are asking their guests to switch their phones and cameras off for the duration of the ceremony and sometimes for the whole event. The wedding industry refers to these events as "unplugged weddings", where guests are offline and asked not to take photos. The couples, celebrants and wedding photographers we spoke to say it's about being present and a little bit about what the special day will look like online. If you're a guest, there could be something in it for you too, with research suggesting capturing nothing can improve your memory of the day. Have you been to an unplugged wedding recently, or hosted one yourself? Tell us how leaving your phone or camera off impacted your experience on the day. Email [email protected]An invitation to be in the momentImage Some couples use a sign to let guests know that they wouldn't like the event to be photographed. Other times, it's announced before the ceremony begins.(ABC Life: Luke Wong) Bathurst-based celebrant Kiralee Burke says the majority of couples she's married in the past three years have requested unplugged ceremonies. "I think it's a really great thing to actually have designated times and be conscious of the fact that there are certain situations in life which can be enjoyed without the use of technology," Kiralee says. Knowing it can be a big ask for some, she'll often use humour to make the request, depending on the location and type of ceremony. Otherwise, she'll keep it simple. "X and Y have a professional photographer that they've paid to be here today. Please keep your phones away as we would really love everyone to be present throughout the ceremony," she says as an example. Loading... Letting hired photographers do their thing Perth-based photographer Natalija Brunovs tells her clients that an unplugged ceremony can greatly improve opportunities for her to capture the emotion of the day. "When a bride is walking down the aisle typically people would lean in and take photos, which means that you're not able to get the groom's reaction. Often the groom can't even see the bride because he's obstructed by all his guests," she says. "If I'm photographing the wedding and everyone is holding up phones or even iPads then it's very hard to photograph people's expressions." Giving couples control of photos on social mediaImage Scott Rucker and Emily Staniforth are opting for an unplugged ceremony after seeing its benefits at their friends' weddings.(Supplied: Kristen Cunningham Photography) It can make sense for couples too. Emily Staniforth and Scott Rucker from Orange, NSW, attended several unplugged weddings before adopting the idea for their own upcoming nuptials. "One [event had] a complete blanket ban on photos being posted on social media and the other one just a request for people not to use devices during the ceremony," Emily says. They have sat through ceremonies where cameras and phones have blocked the view of the couple, as well as other guests. "I think you lose something in that scenario in what makes that occasion so special," Scott says. How to do a budget wedding in styleHow much does it cost to get married, and does it have to be this way? Read more For newlyweds Nadia and Jason Clark from the north coast of NSW, having a choice of the images that made their way online was appealing. "We didn't want people to start posting photographs on social media shortly after the wedding or even during," Nadia says. "We wanted to be able to reserve that opportunity to ourselves to be able to do that first." Natalija says it's now common for photographers to provide a selection of photos soon after the event, so guests can easily like and share on social media to their heart's content. Being respectful of the wedding location Loading... When Monica Defendi and Ken Woo married in a Catholic church in Perth, etiquette played into their decision to make an announcement about photography. Many of their guests were unfamiliar with a church setting, and had travelled from overseas, making them extra keen to capture photos to show relatives back home. "If we didn't say anything they would take all those liberties and go nuts they're very enthusiastic photographers," Monica says. Want weekly updates from ABC Life delivered to your inbox? Sign up to our newsletter. You can always ask, but not everybody is going to respect your wishes, says Canberra-based wedding photographer Jenny Wu. "The worst culprits are older guests," Jenny says. Of the ceremonies Jenny has covered over the last two years, half of them have been unplugged. But she's seen guests outright ignore the request to put their cameras away. "So you know, aunties and uncles; often the parents are doing it too." What's in it for guests? Better real life memories, says researchImage Putting your phone down at a wedding can give guests sitting behind you a better view of the ceremony.(Pexels: Nicolas Postiglioni) As a guest, putting your phone or camera away may improve your recollection of the event. A 2013 US study looked at two experiments where participants visited a museum and were asked to observe the objects, either by looking at them or by taking photos. Photography was found to have had a detrimental impact on one group's ability to remember the objects they viewed it's described as a photo-taking-impairment effect. Paying close attention to what's in front of us, and removing distractions like devices, can enhance our ability to remember. That's what Muireann Irish, an associate professor of psychology from the University of Sydney, says. "If we think about these 'unplugged' weddings, putting that distraction to one side could only, in my mind, benefit the subsequent retrieval of that experience," Dr Irish says. Phones at gigs: it's complicatedPhones at gigs may be distracting but they could be helping fans own their experience, writes Paul Donoughue. Read more However, the museum study found there was no impairment to memory when participants zoomed in to take a photo. "So that could be something to do with an intentional mechanism where you're actually constraining and focusing your attention on details of the event and that in turn ensured its successful [memory] retrieval," Dr Irish says. While mindlessly snapping photos might reduce your memories of the events, curating photos afterwards might help strengthen them. Clinical neuropsychologist Fiona Kumfor, also from the University of Sydney, says reviewing of your photographs will help you hang onto memories in the years to come. "With unlimited storage and people taking thousands of photos, they end up on hard drives and not really being looked at again," Dr Kumfor says. "Doing things like printing them, storing them or putting them in photo albums, even just taking the time to go back and look at them with family and friends and reminisce it's going to boost our memory for those really important events in our lives." You might also like to read: http://www.abc.net.au/life/unplugged-weddings-give-couples-more-control/10440830 |
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