Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

We're told it's getting harder to raise kids, amid a cost of living crunch. But that isn't what the numbers show. New research shows having kids is no more costly than it was a few decades ago ... so why does it feel that way? And if you need to be frugal - where should you put your pennies? What's the best thing you can invest in?

Where we get our power from is changing as more renewables feed into the energy grid.There's been a massive uptake of rooftop solar and the government has subsidies to encourage more households to buy batteries. But if you rent or live in an apartment and can't put panels on the roof, you've largely been locked out of the benefits.That could change in part, as the federal government spruiks a new scheme to give millions of Australians a chance to get up to three hours of free electricity each day.So will the policy work? And how can we make sure the energy transition is fair and equitable? 

A new report out of Europe has shown that a few big name companies are creating children's toys that have harmful levels of chemicals on them.It's obviously not good news, but at this point is it even possible to avoid nasty chemicals that are already out there in the world, for us and our kids?

If you've been diagnosed with coeliac disease, skipping gluten isn't a trend – it's a medical must. But for everyone else who swears they're "gluten sensitive" or "intolerant", is gluten really the villain it's made out to be?According to a new research review published in The Lancet, your gluten sensitivity could actually be something else entirely.So why do so many people feel better when they cut gluten from their diet?

We're asking some notable readers to tell me about the book that changed their life. This week it's Formula 1 engineer and baking icon Kate Reid, and Kate's selection is inspired by one of her divergent career paths. 

Was your most picture-perfect holiday also your best holiday?Science says we tend to conflate the two. So, why do perfect holiday photos make us feel we had a perfect holiday? 

There are plenty of benefits to power-assisted pedal bikes, or "e-bikes", they're great for commuting or touring a new town. But not all e-bikes are created equal, some are so heavily modified they're basically motorbikes.One of the hardest things for parents to navigate is exactly what kind of e-bike might be safe for your child, and understanding the risks to their safety and others around them.

The rise of apps linked to childcare centres gives crucial reassurance to worried parents that children are safe and happy at daycare. Throughout the day, educators snap pictures of activities and upload them to the app.But what happens to the pictures and sensitive documents accumulated over the years on these apps?Some parents, like Niels Wouters, are finding out that when your child graduates to big school, their data doesn't automatically go with them.Statement from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner:The OAIC does not comment on individual complaints. The OAIC considers complaints in accordance with its privacy regulatory action strategy,The OAIC has received some complaints related to apps used by schools and childcare centres. While we won’t comment on the particularities of those matters, it should be noted that under the Privacy Act, there is not currently an absolute right to request one’s personal information be destroyed or erased.However, the OAIC is currently drafting the Children’s Online Privacy Code, which will expand on the existing requirements of the Privacy Act as it relates to children’s personal information. The OAIC is exploring including online services that process significant amounts of children’s information, like apps used by schools and childcare centres, in the scope of the Code.

We trust the aged care system to care for our loved ones as if they were family. That's why the stories of abuse and neglect uncovered during the Aged Care Royal Commission were so heartbreaking.Four years on from its final report, one of the Commission's cornerstone reforms came into effect on Saturday: a new federal Aged Care Act.It's meant to streamline legislation and processes, and includes a new Statement of Rights designed to put people at the centre of the aged care system.So what are your rights in aged care? And do these changes bring us closer to a system we can trust to care for our parents ... and ourselves?

In Australian primary schools, many tuckshops are struggling, teachers are paying for kids' lunches out of their own pockets, and some public primary schools are hiring chefs.And yet, many kids are still going to school hungry and without lunch.So, why is lunch a growing challenge for Australian schools?