Conor Duffy

High inflation means many workers’ HECS debts are growing faster than they can pay it off. It shows why calls for change have grown so loud that the prime minister has all but confirmed there will be HECS relief in the budget, national education and parenting reporter Conor Duffy writes.

Millions of Australians with student loans will have hundreds of dollars wiped from their HECS debts as the federal government rolls out its plans for cost-of-living relief in the upcoming budget.

The government announces a new $319 weekly practical payment to ease the financial strain of unpaid student placements.

School teacher Georgina Routley says more needs to be done to reduce the HECS debts of women and people who leave the workforce for a period of time.

Spending is earmarked at $1.1 billion over five years, and while any new funding is celebrated, in a sector with an estimated worth of $37 billion, it’s unlikely to effect the generational change the government is touting.

Experts say emerging research shows a link between risky play and less psychological distress in adolescent years. Could this be part of the solution to the current teen mental health crisis?

Studies suggest the absence of “risky play” in the modern world could be contributing to the teen mental health crisis. Here’s what it’s all about.

Legal experts want the federal government to foot the bill for child support if an ex-partner doesn't pay, with new data revealing last financial year 168,000 parents had overdue tax returns. 

The federal government has announced it will fund a 15 per cent wage increase for early childhood education workers, tied to a commitment from childcare centres to limit fee increases.  

The ABC has been given rare access to two of the country's little-known free private schools that exist to serve disadvantaged students.