Body dissatisfaction and weight stigma can lead to debilitating physical and mental health consequences, such as eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, compulsive exercising, excessive dieting and cosmetic procedures. This book explores how we can better understand and accept our bodies and ourselves, offering helpful advice on how young people can build better body image. We come in all shapes and sizes, so let's celebrate our individuality and diversity.
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"Gender, sex and sexuality are separate, distinct parts of people's overall identity, and are not always obvious or easy concepts to understand. Sexuality is about how you see and express yourself romantically and sexually. Gender refers to an internal sense of identity, while sex refers to the identity assigned to a person at birth based on physical characteristics. There are lots of ways to describe sexuality and gender, a number of which are captured by the term LGBTQIA+. Many LGBTQIA+ people face discrimination and prejudice that can affect their health, wellbeing, rights and opportunities. This book explores a range of issues across the sexual identity and gender diversity spectrum, including issues such as coming out and disclosure, being an ally to LGBTQIA+ people, and addressing the human rights of the LGBTQIA+ members of our community. Not everyone's identity and orientation is black and white. Learn how to acknowledge all people's true colours with acceptance and understanding, and without prejudice."--
How do young people negotiate safe sexual contact together? What personal and societal pressures may contribute to non-consensual sex, and how do we promote a respectful culture of consent? Learn how to clearly define consent and to understand the personal and legal consequences of sexual assault. It is always better to be safe than sorry, to communicate with care and respect, and to uphold consent above conquest.
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"Every night 116,000 Australians are homeless, lacking safe, secure or affordable housing. This includes rough sleepers, people staying in temporary accommodation, and those sharing with others in severely crowded dwellings. Homelessness has profound effects on various social groups including struggling families, young people, women escaping domestic violence, older women, Indigenous Australians, and people with substance abuse and mental health problems. The homelessness problem is growing, in spite of 300,000 Australians already receiving help from specialist homelessness services each year. Most rough sleepers were temporarily housed by governments during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic but they are now back on the streets fending for themselves. What can governments do to properly address the homeless epidemic? How could more emergency housing, supported accommodation, private rental housing, and long-term affordable and social housing better meet demand for essential shelter? Currently there is a boom in house prices in Australia - but what about the overlooked plight of the homeless?" -- introduction.
"Fresh water is our most precious resource; its scarcity is one of our greatest threats. The recent drought in Eastern Australia - where Sydney experienced severe drought, while towns across New South Wales and Queensland ran out of drinking water - demonstrates our exposure to water scarcity. A recent Productivity Commission report found Australia's blueprint for water reform, the National Water Initiative, is not fit for the challenges of climate change and our growing population. How can Australia achieve greater progress in water reform and improve the allocation of water resources through fairer water trading rights and new infrastructure projects, preserve the Murray-Darling Basin for food security, address advancing climate change, acknowledge Indigenous rights to water, deliver decent drinking water to all Australians, and ensure adequate drought management plans are in place around the country? We need to manage our water well into the future, before we are down to the last few drops." -- introduction.
"Consent is an agreement between people to engage in sexual activity. Sexual activity is something to be done with someone, not to someone. Consent is a critical part of this process and must be freely given, informed and mutual. However, if you don't have consent, it is a criminal offence. Sexual assault is any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that makes a person feel uncomfortable, scared or threatened. Sexual negotiation can be a difficult or awkward process for anyone, regardless of age, to navigate. How do young people negotiate safe sexual contact together? What personal and societal pressures may contribute to non-consensual sex, and how do we promote a respectful culture of consent? Learn how to clearly define consent and to understand the personal and legal consequences of sexual assault. It is always better to be safe than sorry, to communicate with care and respect, and to uphold consent above conquest." -- introduction.
"Gender, sex and sexuality are separate, distinct parts of people's overall identity, and are not always obvious or easy concepts to understand. Sexuality is about how you see and express yourself romantically and sexually. Gender refers to an internal sense of identity, while sex refers to the identity assigned to a person at birth based on physical characteristics. There are lots of ways to describe sexuality and gender, a number of which are captured by the term LGBTQIA+. Many LGBTQIA+ people face discrimination and prejudice that can affect their health, wellbeing, rights and opportunities. This book explores a range of issues across the sexual identity and gender diversity spectrum, including issues such as coming out and disclosure, being an ally to LGBTQIA+ people, and addressing the human rights of the LGBTQIA+ members of our community. Not everyone's identity and orientation is black and white. Learn how to acknowledge all people's true colours with acceptance and understanding, and without prejudice." -- introduction.
Recent advances in technology have revolutionised how we all connect and communicate - so what does the future of transport look like? Transport is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, a country with a heavy reliance on fossil-fuelled cars and road freight. Technology in the transport sector is undergoing rapid change, bringing with it opportunities to improve safety, accessibility, efficiency and sustainability. Important transport developments include automation, connectivity, smart infrastructure, the sharing economy and a move towards zero emission vehicles. A number of emerging innovations are examined in this book, including in public transport, Mobility as a Service and ride sharing, micromobility vehicles such as e-bikes and scooters, electric aircraft development, and alternative fuelled and self-driving vehicles. Why does Australia still have the handbrake on the slow uptake of electric vehicles? Are autonomous and flying cars a bright new dawn, or simply science fiction? This book explores the viability of future modes of transport, with a focus on the transition to electric, hydrogen-powered and autonomous vehicles. Is Australia keeping up with the next transport revolution, or are we on the road to nowhere?
Privacy is a fundamental human right; it underpins our freedom of association, thought and expression, and freedom from discrimination. It includes physical privacy, surveillance and information privacy. However, it is not absolute, it is hard to define, and sometimes harder to protect. What are the principles and laws that apply to privacy and personal information protection in Australia? How do tech giants like Facebook and Google profit from personal data, and how accountable are they to consumers and governments? Security cameras, CCTV, drones, ID scanning, smart home devices, GPS, tracing apps, and facial recognition technology - how much surveillance are you really subjected to by governments, corporations, hackers and law enforcement? Although privacy laws have expanded in recent years to deal with emerging technologies, there are still flaws and gaps in Australia's regulation. This title examines rights and responsibilities in relation to privacy and personal information and shines a light on the growth in digital surveillance. The book also offers advice on how to understand and preserve individual privacy and protect your personal information online. Are we too trusting, at the expense of our precious privacy?
As a nation, Australians can be a generous people. The massive fundraising response to the bushfires last summer is a case in point. In addition to direct financial giving, many Australians donate goods to charities and not-for-profits, volunteer their time, become involved with fundraising for a specific charity, or advocate and raise awareness for a cause or unmet need. In Australia there are over 50,000 registered charities which make up a diverse sector working across a broad range of areas, including health, education, social welfare, religion, culture, human rights, the environment and animal welfare. How do you choose the right charity to match a righteous cause, so that your donation really does count? Why do people give, and how can it be done responsibly and effectively? What is philanthropy? Could wealthier Australians do more to support the not-forprofit sector? This book explains the latest trends in giving and explores the ethics and effectiveness of legitimate charities. In a time of great need, what can we do to make a positive difference?
Recent major bushfires and floods demonstrate how increasingly exposed Australia is to natural hazards, causing distressing loss of life and property and devastating the environment. A recent royal commission has exposed gaps in Australia's readiness for natural disasters, especially climate change-fuelled, weather-driven natural hazards. What can we do at a government, emergency services, community and personal level to protect ourselves, develop resilience and recover from the next natural disaster?.
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Promotes positive and respectful relationships. Explains issues around sexual consent, how to effectively communicate and avoid abuse in couple relationships. Topics include understanding feelings, consensual physical intimacy, safe online dating, handling conflict and disagreements, identifying warning signs and various forms of partner abuse, violence and coercive control in relationships, and dealing with break-ups. Practise positive behaviours and relate w
In a disrupted time of pandemic and recession, Australia has never been more reliant on clear leadership from its elected representatives, while also requiring greater co-operation among its citizens. Striking a balance between accountability and robust governance is a challenge during an era of reduced trust in political leaders by voters, especially among young people. The key principles of Australia¿s democratic society include individual freedoms, justice, tolerance of opposing ideas and representative government. Do these principles still hold true when research points to a growing disconnect between politicians and the people they represent? This book examines Australians' levels of trust in their elected leaders, looking at how our political system functions between the various levels and roles of government, as well as exploring opportunities for democratic reform. How can Australia better function as a modern democratic nation state in the twenty-first century?--
It can be challenging and exhausting for working parents to hold down a job while also raising a family. In order to meet the costs of living, families often have two parents engaged in paid work -- but at what personal cost? Why are mothers still earning less at work and doing more at home than fathers in relation to care and domestic duties? What are the stresses for parents in terms of work-life balance and work-family conflict? And how does child care help families to grow, learn and earn? This book explores the realities of parenting and gender roles, and looks at how workers and employers can maintain sustainable work-family balance through family-friendly, flexible work options. It also reviews the role of affordable child care and how it supports the needs of children while sustaining workforce participation. What are the most effective ways to help families balance work and family life?
Harm reduction entails policies, programs and practices aimed at reducing the harms associated with the use of psychoactive drugs in people who are unwilling or unable to stop. The focus is on the prevention of harm, rather than on the prevention of drug use itself. Harm reduction has been a principle of Australias approach to drug use for several decades. However, recent overdose deaths and hospitalisations at music festivals have highlighted the clear harms of illicit drug use and prompted a debate over the introduction of pill testing, with political leaders being reluctant to implement the measure. This book explores the ethical, legal and medical pros and cons in the debate, with a topical focus on pill testing. Does pill testing give young people a false sense of security and promote further risky drug use, when there is really no safe level at which these substances can be taken? Or are harm reduction approaches such as pill testing and needle and syringe programs simply about saving lives and giving people a safety net? In a perfect world, no one would risk their lives by taking party drugs but in reality, is harm reduction too bitter a pill to swallow?--
