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Deborra-Lee Furness' friend makes bombshell claim

A friend of Hugh Jackman’s ex-wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, has claimed that rumours of the actor's affair with co-star Sutton Foster are true. British actress and photographer Amanda de Cadenet hinted that the rumours were true in the comments section of an Instagram video that alleged Hugh Jackman left his wife for Foster, after the two fell in love while starring together in The Music Man on Broadway. “You are on point with this one,” de Cadenet claimed in response. “My beloved friend Deb is about to have her glow up any moment FYI !” Page Six reportedly reached out to reps for Jackman, Foster and Furness for comment. Jackman and Furness announced their separation after 27 years of marriage in September 2023. They share two adopted children together. At the time, a source told the publication that the Wolverine actor was "devastated" by the split. In October, another source told Page Six that Foster and Jackman are "in love" but keeping their romance under wraps. Another source previously told news.co,.au they are “100 percent together and are in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together.” Image: Instagram

Relationships

Deborra-Lee Furness reflects on life as a single woman

Deborra-Lee Furness has reflected on her life after her high-profile divorce from Hugh Jackman. Eight months on from the split, the 68-year-old actress has opened up about her life as a single woman, sharing what she has learned about herself through the emotional process. Jackman and Furness shocked the world when they announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage last September, but Furness told <a href="https://people.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a> magazine that she has rediscovered parts of herself through the journey. “[I learned] that I’m strong and resilient,” Furness said. She also told <a href="https://pagesix.com/entertainment/">Page Six</a> at the screening for her new movie that she’s been “learning a lot about myself and I’m embracing evolution and growth.” The actress told the publication that it’s been a “year of evolution” for her that has been “scary” and “every other adjective.” However, Furness also told the outlet she was “grateful” that the last few months, although they have been difficult, presented her an opportunity for personal growth. She also revealed that she’s had close friends to lean on for support as she explores life as a single woman again. “I say this to all women — your girlfriends are a necessity in life,” Furness said before adding that her children have also been “very supportive”. Furness and Jackman announced their split in a joint statement shared with People Magazine. “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” they said. “Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth. Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

New details shed light on Rebel Wilson's allegations against actor

New details have emerged of Rebel Wilson's allegations against Sacha Baron-Cohen, with the Aussie actress claiming he acted inappropriately towards her while filming a movie in 2014. In the days after Rebel took to Instagram to expose Baron-Cohen for allegedly "<a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/rebel-wilson-exposes-a-lister-who-threatened-her-over-book-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatening</a>" her about the publishing of her tell-all memoir, excerpts of Rebel Rising have been published to further detail when the actors worked together on the film Grimsby. The pair both starred in the comedy film 10 years ago, with Rebel detailing in her book how the Hollywood actor, known for his controversial roles as Borat and Ali G, acted inappropriately towards her on set. Once filming began for the movie, Wilson claims that Cohen (SBC) would keep requesting her to go “naked” in a scene, according excerpts of the book obtained by <a href="https://people.com/rebel-wilson-details-allegations-about-sacha-baron-cohen-he-calls-false-exclusive-8620597" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a> magazine. She wrote, “It felt like every time I’d speak to SBC, he’d mention that he wanted me to go naked in a future scene. I was like, ‘Ha, I don’t do nudity, Sacha.’ ” Wilson alleges that Baron-Cohen's behaviour and strange requests only intensified throughout the shoot, coming to a head while they were filming a scene in Cape Town at a soccer stadium. “SBC summons me via a production assistant saying that I’m needed to film an additional scene. ‘Okay, well, we’re gonna film this extra scene,’ SBC says. Then he pulls his pants down … SBC says very matter-of-factly: ‘Okay, now I want you to stick your finger up my a**.’ And I’m like, ‘What?? … No!'” Wilson then continues to allege in the book, “I was now scared. I wanted to get out of there, so I finally compromised: I slapped him on the ass and improvised a few lines as the character.” Sacha Baron-Cohen released a statement via his representatives saying the claims are "demonstrably false", denying the pair had any tension while working together. “While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence, including contemporaneous documents, film footage and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of The Brothers Grimsby,” a statement from Cohen’s team said in response to Wilson’s allegations. On Tuesday, Rebel took to Instagram to say she was being "threatened" by Baron-Cohen over the release of such information in her book, which is set for release on April 2nd. Rebel named and shamed the actor, writing, “I will not be bullied or silenced with high priced lawyer or PR crisis managers. The ‘a**hole’ that I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is Sacha Baron Cohen.” "Now the a**hole is trying to threaten me. He’s trying to stop press coming out about my new book. But the book WILL come out and you will all know the truth.” Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Experts shed new light on Samantha Murphy case

A panel of experts have shed new light on the case of missing mum Samantha Murphy. The mother-of-three went missing on February 4 after going for her usual morning run in a local park in Ballarat. Despite major search efforts from the missing persons squad, specialists and the local Ballarat community, she has still not been found, and now a panel of experts have gathered to discuss the possibilities of what could've happened to Murphy. Former Victorian detective Damian Marrett, criminal psychologist Dr Peter Ashkar, missing persons specialist Valentine Smith and cyber expert Nigel Phair discussed a number of different scenarios in Channel Nine's show Under Investigation on Wednesday night. “The idea that Samantha has actually wilfully left the family is just unfathomable and just implausible to me,” Dr Ashkar said. Presenter Liz Hayes, who spoke to mine shaft explorer Raymond Shaw said that there's a possibility Murphy's body has been buried in one of the abandoned mine shafts around Ballarat. “I think there could be anywhere between 4000 and 5000 gold mines just underneath the town," Shaw told Hayes. The panel agreed that the most likely scenario was that Murphy’s body had been dumped in a mineshaft after meeting with foul play, as they believe that there was "no way" Murphy fell down a mineshaft by accident, as the locals all know how to navigate the terrain. “They could be a great place to conceal a body or a crime after the fact … and you’d probably never find it,” Marrett said. Dr Ashkar added that the absence of any trace of Murphy could point to her having been attacked by a “psychopathic predator … who would know that area, like the back of their hand”. The panel also considered a potential new clue, the possible sighting of a damaged vehicle, which was alluded to in a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/major-development-in-search-for-samantha-murphy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">police statement </a>requesting for new information about the case. The experts said that if there was a damaged car in the area, it could mean that Murphy was kidnapped at the 7km point of her run and could still be alive. “I would still like to believe the very real possibility that it’s a kidnapping and she’s still alive,” Dr Ashkar said. “That’s my hope. But I absolutely feel that whoever has taken her and abducted, they are very systematic and organised and knew very well what they were doing.” Marrett added that the police’s interest in the damaged car was significant. “They didn’t just say a car, they said a damaged car, it’s so specific,” he said. “So was that damage caused with this incident or was that damage because someone saw a damaged car leave?” Image: Nine / Facebook

Legal

Deborra-Lee Furness breaks silence on life post-divorce

Deborra-Lee Furness has broken her silence on what life has looked like since her high profile split from Hugh Jackman. The Aussie actress has hit the press circuit promoting Force of Nature: The Dry 2, the sequel to the hit 2020 film, in which she’ll star alongside Eric Bana. Facing questions about her divorce, the 68-year-old finally broke her silence on how she has been dealing with life as a single woman. “It is kind of exciting,” she told <a href="https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/hook-ups-break-ups/deborralee-furness-on-life-without-hugh-jackman-frightening/news-story/dc4fa3f9e19c80ea9dada89a852e67c0">The Advertiser.</a> “You know what, change, transition, evolution is a little frightening, and we are all a bit scared of it, but I think it is probably our greatest gift.” Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman shocked the world in September last year when they announced they would be separating after 27 years of marriage. The couple released a joint statement at the time announcing they were going their separate ways and had decided to split to pursue “individual growth”. “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” they said. “Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.” They added that their family is their highest priority and that they will undertake “this next chapter with gratitude, love and kindness”. The couple met in 1995 on the set of an Australian television show they both starred in, and married just one year later. Together they share two children, Oscar and Ava. Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

“He gave his life to protect his siblings”: Tragic end for third child in shed fire

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the devastating shed fire that took place in Geelong, Victoria, on the weekend has claimed the life of a brave young hero. Isaac, the four-year-old boy who had been fighting for his life after the fire that tragically claimed the lives of two of his siblings, Ashlynn, aged 18 months, and Saige, just three years old, has succumbed to his injuries. The incident took place on a quiet Sunday morning in Corio, leaving the local community in shock and mourning. The children had been inside a shed on their family's property when the fire erupted, turning a normal day into an unimaginable nightmare. Despite the heroic efforts of Isaac, who valiantly shielded his younger siblings from the flames, the consequences were too grave for him to overcome. The fire rapidly consumed the shed, taking the lives of Ashlynn and Saige before they could be rescued. Isaac's father, Kane McGregor, described the extent of his son's injuries, with third-degree burns covering a staggering 82 percent of his young body. As if this wasn't enough, Isaac began showing signs of kidney and liver failure, all stemming from his courageous act to protect his siblings during the harrowing incident. “[Jasmine, their mother] said once she finally got the couch moved and grabbed Mavis first, Isaac had the other two huddled under him so they didn’t burn,” McGregor said. “What four-year-old huddles over their two little siblings? I couldn’t be any prouder of him.” Tragically, despite the valiant efforts of medical professionals, young Isaac couldn't overcome the devastating injuries he sustained. The loss of this young hero has left a deep void in the hearts of those who followed his courageous story. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-Issac-saige-and-ashlynn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe page</a>, originally organised to raise funds for the children's medical expenses and support, posted an update following Isaac's death. It read, "Issac sadly grew his wings and reunited with his baby brother and sister. He will always be remembered as the heroic young boy who gave his life trying to protect his siblings." Mavis, Isaac's six-year-old sister, was the sole survivor among the siblings, though she, too, suffered severe injuries, with third-degree burns covering 30 percent of her body. She is currently in critical condition and is set to undergo surgery to address her injuries. Despite the physical and emotional trauma that Mavis has endured, there is hope that she will recover and heal in due course. The circumstances surrounding the fire remain unclear, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the tragedy. A couch inside the shed, initially used as a dog bed, became the source of the fire that swiftly engulfed the structure. The local authorities are diligently preparing a report for the Coroner to gain a deeper understanding of the events leading up to this devastating incident. Image: GoFundMe

Caring

Deborra-Lee Furness speaks out for the first time since separation

Deborra-Lee Furness has broken her silence for the first time since announcing her and Hugh Jackman were separating after 27 years of marriage. Just one week after the news of their split made headlines, Deborra-Lee answered a cold call from Kyle and Jackie O, live on their radio show. Sandilands admitted he wasn't expecting Furness to answer the call, as they didn't realise they hit the dial button. “Seriously, this isn’t a stitch up,” Sandilands told Furness when she picked up on The Kyle & Jackie O Show. “We didn’t mean to actually call you. But now you’re here, we won’t go into it. We love you, we hope you’re well.” “Thank you, guys. I really appreciate it. You’re really sweet,” Furness told Sandilands and Henderson. Feeling bad, Sandilands stressed that the duo weren’t after a scoop about their separation as they did not want to pry so early after the couple's split. “I just feel it’s too soon,” the shock jock told Furness over the phone. “I don’t want to get involved in anything. But we love you, and you ring us when you want to chat.” Before hanging up, Furness again said, “Thank you, guys. I really, really appreciate it.” Henderson praised Sandilands after the phone call, telling him “that was the right thing to do” – and he agreed. “I’m not here to stitch anyone up in the worse time in their life,” he explained. Despite Kyle's offer to Deb for her to chat about the divorce, Hugh and Deborra-Lee made in clear in their separation announcement that the statement would be the one and only time they will both speak publicly about the break-up. “This is the sole statement either of us will make,” they wrote. The Hollywood couple <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/hugh-jackman-devastated-after-marriage-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shocked the world</a> on September 15th when they released a statement confirming their separation after being married for 27 years. “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” Jackman and Furness told <a href="https://people.com/hugh-jackman-and-deborra-lee-jackman-separate-exclusive-7970286" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">People</a>. “Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth." Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

Inside Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness' $290 million divorce

While Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness announced their split on Saturday after 27 years of marriage, official paperwork has not yet been filed to cement their divorce. However, a new report suggests the couple are "amicably" trying to figure out how to divide their lucrative assets and abundant finances before they file the necessary paperwork. The Aussie actor, 54, and his wife, 67, are rumoured to be worth around $290 million, with the couple owning multiple homes in both Australia and the US, which they’re reportedly planning to split equally. “Their lives were so interwoven, so it’s an extremely tricky and gut-wrenching process dividing everything up and figuring out who gets what in terms of assets and finances,” a source told <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/inside-hugh-jackman-and-deborra-lee-furness-gut-wrenching-divorce/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Weekly</a>. “The [divorce] filing will be formalised in due course, but before that happens, their aim is to come to an agreement. They’re determined to [do this] as amicably as possible.” In 2019, <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a29110657/hugh-jackman-net-worth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Men's Health</a> magazine estimated that Jackman's net worth was sitting at around $257 million [adjusted for inflation], with a massive portion of his income stemming from his portrayal of Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films over several years. On top of his on-screen achievements, Jackman has a hefty property portfolio, which includes a North Bondi penthouse the couple bought for $5.925m in 2015, which is estimated to have doubled in value since. In August last year, the couple dropped $30m on a New York penthouse, which came after they listed their triplex in Manhattan’s West Village for $56m, having lived in the property for a decade. They also own a sprawling getaway home in East Hamptons, which they purchased in 2015 for $5.440m. The Hollywood couple shocked the world on Saturday when they released a statement confirming their separation after being married for 27 years. “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” Jackman and Furness told <a href="https://people.com/hugh-jackman-and-deborra-lee-jackman-separate-exclusive-7970286" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">People</a>. “Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth." Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

New theory in Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness split

News of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/hugh-jackman-devastated-after-marriage-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hugh Jackman and Deborah-Lee Furness’ split </a>after 27 years of marriage shocked the world, and now celebrity experts are sharing their theories. US broadcaster Cooper Lawrence shared her theory in an interview with Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington on Monday morning. Lawrence claimed that the couple were waiting for their two adopted children Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18, to grow old enough before they had an amicable split. “I think [Jackman and Furness] were waiting until the kids were old enough that they could have an amicable split and not worry about child custody or how much everybody is going to pay each other,” she told the Sunrise hosts. She added that child custody battles are what make high-profile divorces “messy”, which could explain the timing of the divorce. “They don’t have to worry about that because the kids are older, so now they can just split their multi-millions and all their properties, which is a lot.” The couple have properties in New York, Sydney and The Hamptons. Lawrence added that the rumour mill began spinning on “the Broadway scene” sometime last year after the couple sold their <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/hugh-jackman-s-nyc-triplex-attracts-big-looks-and-bigger-bucks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three-storey New York apartment</a>. “For a while on the Broadway scene there was a rumour there might be something going on in that marriage and people were like, ‘This is kind of odd,’ but as soon as they sold their three-floor apartment... and downsized and then shipped a bunch of furniture home to Sydney, it was like ‘What’s really going on here?’” she said. She added that while celebrity splits are nothing new, some fans have taken it harder than others because some celebrities make them believe in true love. “Every time there was a think piece about Hollywood couples that made us believe in love, (Jackman and Furness) were always at the top of the list,” Lawrence explained. “They are always talking about each other and they were the ‘it couple’ for anybody that’s a little older than their younger spouse. “They were role models for everything in relationships.” Fans aren't the only ones devastated by the divorce. The Wolverine actor <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/hugh-jackman-devastated-after-marriage-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broke his silence</a> the day after their separation statement went public, and shared that it was "a difficult time.' Image: Getty/Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Family & Pets

Julia Morris sheds light on I’m A Celeb co-host casting

Julia Morris has shared some insight into the casting for her new I’m A Celebrity co-host following the departure of her long-time on-screen partner Dr Chris Brown. Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, the TV presenter said that casting was currently underway and after almost a decade, the reality show would now be going in a “completely different way”. “I’m going to have to leave everything of the past behind,” she told the publication, explaining that she would soon do “chemistry” tests with six potential candidates. “Whoever comes in is going to want to build that together. So there’s plenty of space for that person, we’re just looking forward to finding out who that’s going to be.” Morris, 55, also highlighted the pressure that was on her and the successful candidate. “Whoever that person is going to have a huge effect on whether I’m working over the next few years, so I want it to work,” she added. Brown’s departure from Ten after 15 years was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/the-doctor-is-out-chris-brown-changes-the-script" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> in early 2023, with news he had been poached by rival network Seven. Morris has <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/dr-chris-brown-and-julia-morris-open-up-on-final-show-together" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously confessed</a> her devastation about her co-host’s departure, with Dr Chris Brown adding that it was challenging saying goodbye to the show he “loves so much”. Brown had initially joined Ten in 2008 to host Bondi Vet, based on his real-life training as a vet in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, which became an unexpected major success and has since been syndicated in multiple countries. He later made appearances as a panellist on The Project and co-hosted I’m A Celeb alongside Morris for nearly a decade. Brown was also one of the hosts of lifestyle program The Living Room which is currently on hiatus. His role at Seven — set to begin in July 2023 — is yet to be officially announced, however, there is speculation he will be hosting the brand-new renovation program, Dream Home. Image credit: Getty

Karl Stefanovic sheds light on daughter’s health battle

Karl Stefanovic has shared more details on his daughter Harper’s ongoing health battle, after she was hospitalised again last Thursday. The incident occurred almost a year after her last <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/karl-stefanovic-s-daughter-rushed-to-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">health scare</a>, when she was rushed to hospital due to breathing difficulties, and was later on diagnosed with a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). "There's something going around in daycare and she picked up something else," Stefanovic said. "She had to go to hospital on Thursday night, it was something else entirely, but it's all similar and it just freaks you out as a parent.” The Today Show host has shared a warning for all parents and opened up on the lingering effects of RSV. “Almost a year ago, my daughter Harper scared the living daylights out of us. Struggling to breathe, we rushed her to GP. Then to hospital. There, we discovered the scary combination of letters we never heard of before, RSV. It’s a respiratory infection,” he said on the Today Show. “She was in a lot of pain. Luckily, she’s able to make a full recovery. In the last 12 months more than 27,000 Aussie children have suffered from RSV. It happened to us and it could happen to any parent,” he added, while discussing RSV with Dr Matthew O’Meara, the chief paediatrician at Sydney Children’s Hospital. Stefanovic revealed that the hardest part was watching his daughter’s health rapidly decline, from something that he thought was just “a normal cold and flu”. “The one hard thing for us was how quickly Harper went downhill,” he recalled. “It felt like a normal cold and flu. She went downhill. The breathing became laboured and it got worse in a very quick amount of time.” Both Stefanovic, and his wife Jasmine are committed to raising awareness on RSV. Jasmine has shared her own recollection of the terrifying incident. “The first time Karl and I heard the letters RSV was when Harper was in hospital struggling to breathe,” Jasmine said. “Initially, Harper had the sniffles and a cough, and we assumed she just had a bit of a cold. “But within hours, she deteriorated; it was alarming to see how hard she was working to breathe, with her little ribs sucking in and tummy pulling up into her chest.” Although Harper is on the mend, the couple shared that she still has a “lingering wheeze”. Dr Matthew O’Meara has shared that these viruses are common this time of year and the child will have the same symptoms as a common cold. However, if it does get worse, these are the things to watch out for: "It will make them cough or wheeze and find it hard to breathe or young babies will find it hard to feed," he said. "While we can prevent these with strategies like not sending your kids out when they're sick, washing your hands, washing toys, most of it is managing that illness while your child has already got it. "If they start to have breathing problems, pull their t-shirt up, look at their chest and see how quickly they're breathing and how much effort they're putting in. "If you are concerned see your GP or call Health Direct and if it's really bad you should go to hospital." Images: Nine News

Caring

Never-before-seen CCTV sheds new light into Bruce Lehrmann rape allegations

Bruce Lehrmann, the man who was accused of sexually assaulting former political staffer Brittany Higgins in Parliament House, has shared his take in his first television interview with 7News Spotlight. The rape charge against Lehrmann - which was eventually dropped - could be traced back to March 2019, when both Lehrmann and Higgins were working for Linda Reyonlds, a former defence minister. In the time since, Lehrmann has repeatedly denied the accusations, and continued to do so while speaking to Spotlight’s Liam Bartlett. According to Lehrmann, he was with Higgins and fellow Defence staff members for drinks on the night of the alleged rape, with Lehrmann suggesting that they should move their festivities to a different venue - a nearby club. Their night out continued into the small hours of the next day, and Lehrmann noted that he had suggested sharing a ride home with Higgins, as they both apparently lived in the same direction from the party. As he told Bartlett, he had to grab his keys - as well as file some notes - from the office en route, with the two arriving at Parliament House at around 2am. Lehrmann didn't have his pass, claiming that he “probably just forgot it” as he “wasn’t expecting it to be a big night.” And as he informed Bartlett, he remembered Higgins telling him that she needed to visit the office too, and claimed that he didn’t know why. However, over the course of the rape trial, Lehrmann offered three different reasons as to why he’d had to visit Parliament House. The police were told that he needed his apartment keys, but Parliament House security were told that he had been asked to pick up some documents, and Reynolds’ then-chief of staff Fiona Brown was told that the two had gone into the office to share whiskey. While that detail is unclear, the episode featured never-before-seen CCTV footage of Lehrmann and Higgins that confirmed the two had been together at both bar and Parliament House. First, the two could be seen at Canberra’s The Dock bar with their colleagues. And then, at 1:47am, they were recorded entering Reynold’s office, before Lehrmann was spotted leaving Parliament House at 2:30am. Lehrmann claimed that once they were let into the office, he and Higgins didn’t exchange any words, and instead parted ways. According to Lehrmann, that was the last he saw of her. He told Bartlett that he hadn’t let Higgins know he was leaving, only for Bartlett to ask why they hadn’t gotten a ride home together. “She didn’t tell me she needed to go home,” Lehrmann said. “She told me she also had to go to parliament.” Bartlett questioned it further, wondering why Lehrmann hadn’t checked in on Higgins, but Lehrmann maintained that his mind “was focussed on getting my keys, noting down what I needed to note down.” And when asked about Higgins being found naked in Reynold’s office, Lehrmann continued to deny the allegations, instead offering that he couldn’t “talk to her because I never saw her again. That was news to me, with the rest of the country.” As Bartlett then pointed out, “you can then see the contradiction in this. She’s naked on a couch, but here you are acting like a Buddhist monk, making post-it note stickers for a minister.” Images: 7NEWS Spotlight / Seven

How one brave mum is shedding light on postnatal depression through the healing power of music

Warning: This article contains sensitive content which some readers may find distressing. It’s no secret that having a baby changes your life in every way. From sleepless nights and feeding routines, to nappy changes and seemingly endless crying, starting a family is, put simply, a life-altering experience. And while the early days of having a newborn can bring love and chaos in equal parts, for some, the days, weeks and months after giving birth can welcome a whole new set of challenges. While most parents are privy to the “baby blues” and a rough day here and there, those struggling with postnatal depression can often be overlooked. Postnatal depression is common, with one in five mums, and one in 10 dads, experiencing postnatal depression symptoms after their baby is born. For Lija (pronounced Le-ah), postnatal depression completely changed her life. Lija, a music teacher from the Central Coast of New South Wales, welcomed her first child, a beautiful daughter named Harper, into the world at the end of 2017. When Lija discovered she was going to become a mum, she was overcome with fear. Lija spoke exclusively with OverSixty about her journey with postnatal depression, and how her feelings of anxiety began as soon as she fell pregnant. “There was this lie in my head that I could not give birth… That I would die. You feel like you can’t make a way through it and you’re predicting all these complications. [Lija’s friends’ traumatic birth experience] confirmed all these feelings and i just thought ‘Maybe you die from this’.” As soon as Lija and her husband began to celebrate the news of their growing family, she quickly began to “spiral” into self-doubt and depressive episodes. “When I found out I was pregnant, it was a spiral. I didn’t think I was good enough, I was crying so much… I didn’t feel like I could tell anyone because I was so gripped in fear.” “It took me about seven months to accept that I was having a kid.” Over the course of her pregnancy, Lija’s mental health continued to plummet with her feelings of fear and self-doubt, which led her down an even darker path. “The worst part was I was suicidal. There were moments where I wanted to end my life because I just felt like my time was up.” These feelings of helplessness led Lija to reach out to a counsellor, who helped manage her mental health symptoms for the rest of her pregnancy and introduced her to hypnobirthing. Her sessions with a hypnobirthing specialist gave Lija the boost she needed to be in tune with her body, and get her through to Harper’s birth with a sense of confidence. “If I’ve grown a baby, I can give birth to a baby. It was all just focus.” When Harper was born, Lija remembers healthcare professionals warning her husband that her mental health could decline, but she was never spoken to directly. “Apparently nurses were talking to my husband after the birth saying ‘She’s going to be prone to postnatal depression, you need to watch her’, but no one told me I was going to be so lonely.” “I was so focused on the birth going well that I hadn’t thought about what happens after, and I didn’t know what postnatal depression was.” When Lija and her husband brought baby Harper home, as they encountered perfectly common issues around sleep and breastfeeding, Lija thought she had failed as a first-time mum. “I felt like I failed as a mum because I couldn't give Harper everything she needed. And that started all these terrible thoughts and I just started to mentally spiral down again. But I didn’t know for about six months that I had postnatal depression.” During the first few months of Harper’s life, Lija began to find simple day-to-day tasks very difficult. “My poor husband… I was a psycho. It began when I said no one was allowed to come over because I was constantly in my pyjamas and I felt ashamed that my house wasn’t clean.” Lija shared that as she began to settle into the reality of being a mum, Harper’s needs always came first. “I was just in such a routine. I needed to have my baby follow a good structure, which meant my mental health took a backseat. So I just kept spiralling and spiralling.” As Lija tried to better herself, she quickly found out that comparing yourself to other new parents is a slippery slope that welcomes thoughts of self-doubt. “I tried to go to a mum’s club and they all seemed so perfect. I feel like they weren’t real. It was like Instagram mums. So to try and look good, I was spending all this money to try and keep up appearances.” As Lija’s mental health continued to suffer, she said it wasn’t until a difficult conversation with her husband that she realised she needed professional help. “I wasn’t being the normal me. There was no joy, there was no laughter, and I felt like I failed as a mother and as a wife. So my husband said ‘I’ve booked you in for a therapy session’, and that was the start of it.” “I wanted to be better for Harper. I wanted to be a good mum for her. So I had to start working on myself.” Now, five years on, Lija is reflecting on her experience with postnatal depression in the best way she knows how: through her music. Lija’s debut single Save Me details her journey of becoming a mum and bettering herself, while painting an honest portrait of the first months of motherhood. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tmHTlybb-rM" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> After being a musician for most of her life, Lija’s passion took a backseat when she became a mother. “I started to miss my music, because I've done music my whole life. It was so hard to walk past my studio and see the guitar going to waste. I started to miss the other half of me as a musician.” After working on Save Me for several years, Lija believes it is the right time to put her story out there in order to help and inspire other parents struggling with postnatal depression. “It’s okay to be vulnerable. Be real, because you can help others with your honesty.” “It’s also important to remember that babies aren’t going to remember the best outfits they were in, or if they had the best pram. They're going to remember if they were loved or not.” Lija has long been a champion of music and its healing power, which became a saviour in her darkest times through her postnatal depression journey. “I went back to teaching music three months after having Harper. I worked one day a week and these kids and teenagers that were singing to me were actually healing me with their music and their talent.” “Music is something I have always turned to. It has always spoken to me, and I thought if I write a song about my journey, that could heal me too. I thought ‘It’s time to kick fear in the butt and write about life’.” Musical talent is something that runs in the family, with Harper’s singing talents already at “the next level”. “I swear she came out singing! Her ability to hear pitch is insane. In lockdown, she would be singing scales while I was teaching music classes over Zoom. She is just so joyous, and she is like my healing.” Lija’s debut single Save Me is out on now. Don't go it alone. Please reach out for help. Lifeline: 13 11 14 or <a href="http://lifeline.org.au/">lifeline.org.au</a> Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or <a href="http://beyondblue.org.au/">beyondblue.org.au</a> Headspace: 1800 650 890 or <a href="http://headspace.org.au/">headspace.org.au</a> PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306 or <a href="https://panda.org.au/">panda.org.au</a> Image credits: Instagram

Music

Desperate measures: Shed advertised as three-bedroom rental

As Australia’s housing crisis continues, prospective tenants have been left desperately searching for accommodation. Some homeowners have taken the chance to exploit the anguish of renters by listing their own version of “budget” accommodation to make a few bucks on the side. The latest makeshift housing solution comes from a landlord in Melbourne who has listed their garden shed a three-bedroom rental. The homeowner claims the shed boasts enough room for three bedrooms and a bathroom, while photos of the “property” show a singular room, adorned with astroturf. The listing, which is believed to have been shared on Facebook, was priced at $350 per month, with pictures showing one open-plan "room" with a large mattress shoved in one corner of the shed along with what appears to be a desk. The walls have no form of insulation and pieces of wood can be seen balancing in the rafters overhead. The Facebook listing was seen by an outraged man, who reposted the ad to a group which warns prospective renters about subpar rental properties. He said he was left "speechless" by the advertisement, which he described as "sweatshop style accommodation". "These sheds will be a sauna in summer, freezing in winter and attract all sorts of vermin. People will get severely sick. This should never, ever be an acceptable substitute for housing," he wrote. "I feel like this has to be someone actually genuinely joking?" one person said. "Disgusting, the nerve this person has," another raged. The listing comes amid unprecedented pressure on the Australian rental market, with record-low vacancy rates pushing prices sky-high. Tenants have little choice but to pay up, with the national vacancy rate at just 0.9 per cent. Image credits: Facebook

Money & Banking

Obese yet malnourished toddler mummy sheds light on life in 17th century aristocratic Austria

In a creepy discovery published, a collaboration of German scientists have performed a ‘virtual autopsy’ on a mummified toddler’s body, found in a 17th century Austrian crypt. Buried in a wooden coffin that was slightly too small and deformed the skull, the young child’s body appeared to be both obese and malnourished. Researchers say the findings might provide a rare insight into historical Austrian aristocratic society. By using CT scanning, scientists were able to perform a ‘virtual autopsy’ on the mummy which was naturally mummified in the conditions of the crypt. Well-preserved soft tissue showed the child was a boy, overweight for his age, and radiocarbon dating suggests a date of death between 1550 and 1635 CE. By examining the formation and length of the body’s bones, plus evidence of tooth eruption, the researchers were able to estimate that the child was about one year old when he died. The bones also showed that despite being well-fed, the boy was malnourished, with his malformed ribs displaying signs of rachitic rosary. This condition presents in a pattern of prominent bony knobs at points where the rib joins cartilage and results from diseases associated with specific vitamin deficiencies such as rickets (vitamin D) and scurvy (vitamin C). Vitamin D is found in foods like salmon, tuna, mackerel and beef liver and egg yolks, but we typically only get around 10% of our required Vitamin D from our diets – the rest is made by our bodies when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) from the sun. “The combination of obesity along with a severe vitamin-deficiency can only be explained by a generally ‘good’ nutritional status along with an almost complete lack of sunlight exposure,” said Dr Andreas Nerlich of the Academic Clinic Munich-Bogenhausen and lead researcher. The child appears to have died from pneumonia, judging by the evidence of inflammation in the lungs. Rickets is known to make children more vulnerable to pneumonia, suggesting that, sadly, not only was the child malnourished, but that this condition may have also led to his untimely demise. “We have to reconsider the living conditions of high aristocratic infants of previous populations,” said Nerlich. Relatively little is known about aristocratic childhood in the late Renaissance period, so these mummified remains give key insights into life in Europe of a period generally known for its fervent creativity and intellectual development. “This is only one case,” said Nerlich, “but as we know that the early infant death rates generally were very high at that time, our observations may have considerable impact in the over-all life reconstruction of infants even in higher social classes.” To understand more about this period, researchers scoured historical records of the crypt and the family to whom the crypt belonged. Curiously, the child was buried in a simple, unmarked, wooden coffin, although he was dressed in an expensive silk hooded coat. The unmarked coffin appeared to have been slightly too small for the body such that the skull became deformed and was the only infant buried amongst the identifiable adult metal coffins in the crypt. Historical records of renovations on the crypt confirmed the radiocarbon dating, indicating the child was likely buried sometime after 1600 CE. The crypt belonged to the Counts of Starhemberg and traditionally was kept exclusively for the burial of heirs to their titles, and their wives, making the body likely to be that of the first-born (and only) son, Reichard Wilhelm, of Count Starhemberg. “We have no data on the fate of other infants of the family,” Nerlich said, regarding the unique burial. “According to our data, the infant was most probably [the count’s] first-born son after erection of the family crypt, so special care may have been applied.” This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/toddler-mummy-17thcentury-austria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Clare Kenyon. Image: Andreas et al. (2022)

Travel Trouble

Chrissie Swan's impressive milestone after shedding 90kg

Chrissie Swan has taken to social media to share her impressive sobriety milestone. Having gone over 600 days without alcohol, the TV and radio host revealed it’s been a year and eight months since she gave up the booze in a bid to ease her anxiety. Since giving up alcohol, Chrissie has completely transformed both her lifestyle and health, down 90kg by simply picking up healthy habits – which include daily walks and changing her food choices. “Seem to be getting a lot of messages checking on whether I’ve taken up booze again”, she wrote on Instagram. “I haven’t! 643 since my last tipple! Thanks for asking!” She added. Speaking on The Project in October of 2021, she said she was reliant on alcohol to deal with the stress of the Covid lockdowns. Giving up drinking “was a decision I made for myself after giving it a fair nudge in the first lockdown last year”, she said at the time. Chrissie has <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/chrissie-swan-s-amazing-lockdown-transformation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drastically transformed her physique</a> over the last year, citing a new diet, daily walks and sobriety as the secret behind it all. She briefly touched on her weight loss in an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly earlier in the year, saying the lifestyle changes she'd made over the last year had improved her life in so many ways. Image: Instagram

Body

Fur real: Meet the man who wants to become a dog

A Japanese man says he has fulfilled his life-long ambition of becoming a four-legged animal, and all it took was spending two-million Yen (AU$22,000; NZ$24,000) on a dog costume. The man, who goes by the name of Toko, commissioned an agency called Zeppet, who then spent 40 days making the bespoke Collie outfit. Posting photos of himself in the costume, Toko, said: ‘I made it a Collie because it looks real when I put it on. “I thought that a big animal close to my size would be good - considering that it would be a realistic model, so I decided to make it a dog.” A bizarre video clip of the man dressed in the Collie costume emerged on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeq8vyxEIrI&t=3s">YouTube </a>early in April, which shows him standing on all fours in front of a camera with jaunty piano music playing in the background. While some have praised the life-like outfit as ‘awesome’, others have said it looks unnatural, with one viewer commenting: 'No matter how much money you spent, you won’t be a real dog.' The suit was made by Japanese company Zeppet, which provides costumes and figures for TV commercials and films. The post, which now has over 50,000 likes, has divided the internet. Writing on Toko’s YouTube page, one viewer said: ‘Being freak, god level! Well done!’ Another wrote: ‘You spent money on that? Lol well at least it's realistic to a degree.’ But others praised his bravery and courage to follow a life-long dream. Image: YouTube

Family & Pets

“He’d be dating Brad Pitt!” Deborra-Lee Furness addresses Hugh Jackman rumours

<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During a hilarious and at times touching and revealing podcast with Gus Worland recently, Hugh Jackman's wife Deborra-Lee Furness addressed the longheld rumours surrounding her husband’s sexuality – before opening up on how she and the children cope whenever Hugh has a sex scene in one of his films. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When asked by Worland on his Not an Overnight Success podcast about the rumours that Hugh is “gay”, Furness simply mocked the idea as baseless and “so silly” – and that it’s just one of many rumours that have circulated about Jackman over the years. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I mean HELLO, guys,” said Furness, “if he was gay, he could be gay! <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">'He didn't have to hide in the closet anymore, and he'd be dating Brad Pitt, or whatever. Not that Brad's gay, but you know what I'm saying!' <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She continued: 'It's so silly, and then people perpetuate silly things and it's boring.' <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later on in the podcast, Worland then questioned Furness about how she and the kids handle it when Jackman is asked to get hot and heavy with an on-screen love interest – as well as how HE copes when she is required to do the same. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What's it like when you're doing a love scene in the movie, and Jacko's watching and vice-versa?' posed Worland. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It's so weird,” replied Furness. “I suppose because I've done it so many times before, it's not really romantic. You've got the light in your face, you've got to hit a mark and so it's not really sexy.” <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But when it comes to watching Jackman perform in romantic scenes, it’s a little different. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When I'm sitting in the theatre watching – especially if I'm with the kids – I feel a little uncomfortable,” she said. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But also a lot of the times I'm very good friends with the actress he's making out with as we're making a film, we all get to know each other. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sometimes it’s weird seeing it, and I think the kids are like, "Ahh!" [Oscar] doesn't want to watch. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When you're in a relationship, that's just all fluff, you know? It's all fluff.” <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Image: Instagram

Relationships

How an unsolved murder could shed light on an infamous art heist

In the early hours of March 18th 1990, 13 artworks by renowned artists such as Vermeer and Rembrandt were stolen from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Collectively valued at $500 million, the artworks were never recovered as investigators failed to pin down one key suspect after the theft. But now, over 30 years on, an unsolved murder of a man in 1991 has given police a new angle on what happened to the art. Jimmy Marks was shot twice on February 20th, the year after the heist, outside his apartment in Massachusetts: 25 minutes northeast of Boston. Jimmy’s murder remains unsolved, and there has not been an arrest made in connection with the high-profile case. Marks was a convicted bank robber and an associate of Robert Guarente, who has long been a person of interest in the case, and who died in 2004. Guarente had been with Marks earlier in the day of his death and is suspected of having been the one to pull the trigger on Marks. “[Marks] had connections to subjects suspected of being involved in the Gardner museum heist,” deputy police chief Mark O’Toole of the city of Lynn, Massachusetts, <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/27/metro/investigators-suspect-link-between-gardner-museum-heist-an-execution-style-murder-lynn/">told</a> the Boston Globe. “We don’t know what, if any, role he had. But very likely it was related [to his death].” Investigators believe that Guarente was once in possession of two of the stolen works, which he then handed over to another accomplice named Robert Gentile, who died in 2001. A recent tip to investigators said that prior to his death, Marks “was bragging that he was not only in possession of some of the stolen Gardner artwork, he bragged that he had hidden it,” according to Boston 25. Police recently searched the Lynn apartment where Marks once lived, but did not recover anything. Gardner Museum Security Chief Anthony Amore said that the new evidence “needs to be investigated more thoroughly”, as investigators continue their efforts to recover the paintings. Shortly after Marks’ death, investigators first were able to place Guarente and Gentile in the same place. Amore told Boston 25, “The fact that these people converge here around the time of the Marks homicide certainly makes a person hunting for the Gardner paintings sit up and pay attention.” Image credits: Getty Images

Art

COVID chaos has shed light on many issues in the Australian childcare sector. Here are 4 of them

Thousands of families are without childcare as <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/resources/national-registers/service-temp-closure-info">hundreds of services</a> have had to close due to a surge in COVID cases, while many more are running at reduced capacity. Many parents dread another <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-covid-control-to-chaos-what-now-for-australia-two-pathways-lie-before-us-174325">chaotic year</a> that may have them jugging <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2022/01/06/executive-functioning-is-much-harder-for-children-from-chaotic-households/">childcare and work</a> at home. The government <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-government-has-again-rescued-the-childcare-sector-from-collapse-but-short-term-fixes-still-leave-it-at-risk-166568">rescued the childcare sector</a> several times over the past two years – making services eligible for a portion of their pre-pandemic payments as families pulled their children out. But these measures were only temporary. The childcare system was already busting at the seams before COVID. I led an <a href="https://uneprofessions.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38j3CdPsHnM8l81">international survey</a> in 2021, during the pandemic, in which early childhood educators’ gave ideas on how their government could support their work. In Australia, 51 educators participated. Here are four preexisting the issues that have <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/early-childhood-directors-are-carrying-an-exhausting-load-during-covid-19-even-beyond-major-outbreaks-research/">increased during the pandemic</a>. <h2>1. Staff shortages</h2> Currently, many childcare services are closed and others are operating at reduced capacity because staff are either sick with COVID or close contacts that need to isolate. But staffing problems plagued the sector well before the pandemic, with <a href="https://theconversation.com/early-childhood-educators-are-leaving-in-droves-here-are-3-ways-to-keep-them-and-attract-more-153187">more than a 30% staff turnover</a>. The agency responsible for early childhood education and care, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), released its <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-workforce-strategy">National Workforce Strategy</a> in 2021. It revealed 25% of educators have been at their service for less than a year. This high turnover harms relationships with children who need continuity. In a 2021 <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/73-of-early-educators-plan-to-leave-the-sector-within-three-years/">survey of almost 4,000 Australian educators</a>, 73% said they planned to leave their job within three years. The <a href="https://bigsteps.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Exhausted-undervalued-and-leaving.pdf">reasons</a> included low pay, overwork and being undervalued. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440392/original/file-20220112-23-1qok3m4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440392/original/file-20220112-23-1qok3m4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Child pouring out sand." /></a> 73% of early childhood educators plan to leave the profession. <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/z02yFSgVRbA" class="source">Markus Spiske/Unsplash</a> Women make up <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-workforce-strategy">91% the early childhood education and care workforce</a>. Pay is low in traditionally female occupations, and many educators leave simply because they <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0022185618800351">cannot afford to stay</a>. ACECQA has fast tracked <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/qualifications/requirements/children-preschool-age-or-under/recognition-as-an-equivalent-early-childhood-teacher">quick conversions</a> for primary and secondary school teachers into early childhood education, despite large and important differences in teaching philosophies. But there is unlikely to be a stampede to become one of Australia’s <a href="https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/lowest-paid-jobs-in-australia">13th lowest paid workers</a>, just above a housekeeper. The national average salary for a childcare worker is A$29.63 per hour, but many earn as little as <a href="https://www.payscale.com/research/AU/Job=Childcare_Worker/Hourly_Rate">A$23.50</a>. This is in comparison to an average school teacher who earns <a href="https://www.payscale.com/research/AU/Job=Primary_School_Teacher/Salary">A$33.65</a> per hour. One educator in our study called for <blockquote> recognition of the equal value of early childhood educators with primary school teachers, especially for university-trained teachers, who experience a huge pay gap. </blockquote> Casualisation in the sector is another issue leading to high turnover. As part of government COVID rescue packages, permanent staff could receive JobKeeper payments, but casual staff at childcare services were not eligible. Many <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/08/05/hypervigilance-is-wearing-ecec-educators-down-as-the-pandemic-continues/">casual staff left</a> the sector. Government oversight is needed but there is always confusion about which government is responsible. Then there are also differences between community based and private services. <h2>2. Nobody is responsible for the sector</h2> Australia has one of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/quality-childcare-has-become-a-necessity-for-australian-families-and-for-society-its-time-the-government-paid-up-131748">highest levels</a> of privatisation in early childhood education in the world. This makes it harder for governments to control casualisation. However, the government sets the award wages. In a recent speech to the National Press Club, New South Wales Premier, Dominic Perrottet, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-08/perrottet-bid-to-take-over-childcare-from-commonwealth/100681344">said</a> he wanted states and territories to be able to take over responsibility for childcare from the federal government. This was part of his plan for “reform for a postpandemic world” which he said should be “state led, not Commonwealth led”. The federal government funds childcare, through subsidies, but providers are largely private and set their own fees. The state and territory governments fund community preschools. The federal government is responsible for the sector’s standards, frameworks and curricula, but the state and territory governments regulate them. This messy web makes it more difficult to reform the sector and manage costs for families. One level of government taking responsibility for childcare and preschool services will go some way to fixing the problems. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FIef0mCk7Ao?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet wants the states to take over responsibility for childcare. <h2>3. Too much paperwork</h2> In <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/07/26/acecqa-shares-findings-from-national-workforce-strategy-as-recruiting-challenges-persist/">ACECQA’s survey</a>, educators blamed <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2043610615597154">administrative overload</a> as one of the <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/07/26/acecqa-shares-findings-from-national-workforce-strategy-as-recruiting-challenges-persist/">three main reasons</a> they wanted to leave the profession. The increasing paperwork came as governments created <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi86rWw4Jv1AhUTS2wGHSpPD7MQFnoECCYQAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aasw.asn.au%2Fdocument%2Fitem%2F936&usg=AOvVaw0tkTyvOjf6LvcG5WzaJeYG">managerial systems</a> disguised as <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02680939.2017.1352032">quality assurance</a>, to try to regulate the sector. Now, educators must <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02680939.2014.924561">collect big data</a> every day, including <a href="https://bigsteps.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Exhausted-undervalued-and-leaving.pdf">mountains of checklists</a> for regulation and to document children’s learning. This extra workload <a href="https://educationhq.com/news/managerialism-has-taken-over-in-early-childhood-education-109737/">reduces time</a> spent on quality interactions. It also makes <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/10/25/bound-for-burnout-early-childhood-educators-are-swimming-against-a-gendered-micromanaged-tide/">educators feel micromanaged</a>, affecting their <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2020.1836583">identity and confidence</a>. Echoing the <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childcare/report/childcare-overview.pdf">Productivity Commission’s findings</a> in 2014, educators in our study said governments must “reduce paperwork”, which they described as “ridiculous”, “complex”, “indecipherable”, “frustrating” and “random”. As one educator said: “we need some paperwork, but we also need to be there for the children”. Over 60% felt frustrated three or more times a week. Nearly 40% of educators said the paperwork required for accreditation compliance (assessment and rating) <a href="https://educationhq.com/news/managerialism-has-taken-over-in-early-childhood-education-109737/">decreased the time</a> they spent with children. <h2>4. High burnout, low morale</h2> Despite being an essential worker, <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/early-childhood-directors-are-carrying-an-exhausting-load-during-covid-19-even-beyond-major-outbreaks-research/">educators are undervalued</a>, struggling for <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/18369391211050165">recognition</a>. Their strengths <a href="https://www.iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE/article/view/1447/532">are not mentioned</a> in <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/belonging_being_and_becoming_the_early_years_learning_framework_for_australia.pdf">curriculum</a> documents. Overwork is the <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/07/26/acecqa-shares-findings-from-national-workforce-strategy-as-recruiting-challenges-persist/">second reason</a> educators want to leave. Our study showed that during the accreditation period, when they need to fill out regulation requirement documents, 50% of staff reported working unpaid hours. <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/09/14/accreditation-effects-on-early-childhood-educator-morale/">Staff morale</a> also suffers during accreditation. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440556/original/file-20220112-21-1sgijcd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440556/original/file-20220112-21-1sgijcd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Childcare worker talking to kids." /></a> Despite doing essential work, childcare workers are burnt out and suffer from low morale. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/preschool-teacher-talking-group-children-sitting-1214667421" class="source">Shutterstock</a> During the pandemic, educators reported an <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/18369391211040940">increased burden</a> with extra time needed for cleaning, health requirements, communicating with parents, rearranging work plans and spaces, caring for staff, and constant <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/08/05/hypervigilance-is-wearing-ecec-educators-down-as-the-pandemic-continues/">hypervigilance</a>. One said, “I would prefer to work somewhere for the same or similar wage with less stress and take-home work”. Burnout is the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13158-020-00264-6">third reason</a> educators want to leave. “The demand on educators is too high. The pressure is intense”, one told us. The National Workforce Strategy recommends directors give educators links to well-being services and strategies. While this is well-meaning, it is simplistic given the level of crisis. For example, we found 70% of educators felt overtired and 60% felt overwhelmed three or more times in the last week. Recognition of childcare as an <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/18369391211040940">essential service</a> – with assured funding provision and a more streamlined level of government regulation – is key to reforming the sector’s status, and educators’ pay. The sector is in crisis, so we need to stop talking about ideas to change it and take action towards <a href="https://thrivebyfive.org.au/">total reform</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174404/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marg-rogers-867368">Marg Rogers</a>, Senior Lecturer, Early Childhood Education, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-new-england-919">University of New England</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-chaos-has-shed-light-on-many-issues-in-the-australian-childcare-sector-here-are-4-of-them-174404">original article</a>. Image: Pixabay

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