The Quicky

If you've ever taken the contraceptive pill, you might have had one of those 'oh no' moments when you realise that your prescription has run out, you're down to your last pill, and have to make a mad dash to the doctor to get a new script.  But why is that the case? Why can't we just go to a pharmacy and buy the pill over the counter without having to go to see a doctor first? It can be espec...

On 12 September 2014 a three-year-old boy vanished without a trace from his grandmother's backyard in the NSW town of Kendall. More than seven years on, police recently launched a new search in the hope of finding out what happened to William Tyrrell. But what are the reasons behind the sudden reinvigoration of this investigation, and what has come out of these latest searches of both a property a...

With Christmas just one month away you might be frantically making plans to travel interstate or even overseas to see loved ones or enjoy a much-needed break, but do you know all the requirements you need to meet and when? Every domestic and foreign destination has its own set of rules and regulations depending on where you are travelling to and from, including testing, vaccinations, high risk zon...

After years of record lows there is speculation that 2022 could be the year when the Reserve Bank of Australia will finally increase interest rates, but would it be enough to drive down house prices? Research shows that even a modest 1% increase could prove devastating for new home owners who've been pushed into huge mortgages, but at the same time many retirees are desperate for a rise to finally...

In our late teens and early twenties, many of us date someone who is a little or even a lot older as we experiment with romance, but have your feelings about that relationship changed now you look back on it years later? Perhaps what seemed like fun at the time now feels a bit creepy or even exploitative? This is the very question that singer Taylor Swift is encouraging us to reflect on, through h...

Many of the world's most successful business people swear by a regimented routine that they stick to 7 days a week, no matter what, but is it really that important and can you learn to enjoy having a routine if you're not used to it? The Quicky speaks to a psychologist to find out why so many people attribute their wellbeing and good fortune at work to their daily habits, and how you can change yo...

There are currently 4.4 million Aussies living with a disability, and millions more who form part of their care and support network, but despite so many people having this lived experience it seems we often fall short of making our communities inclusive. The Quicky speaks to a disability researcher and three women each with different experiences to discuss the everyday challenges they face, and wh...

For 600 days, thousands of aircraft around the world sat idle on runways, in warehouses and even in deserts, as the number of global flights was slashed almost overnight by the explosion of COVID-19. 20 months later, we are all excited to see both domestic and international borders re-opening and airlines quickly bringing their fleet back online, but it might make you wonder how such a massive job...

It's been just over a year since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the US Presidential election, and seized power from a very disgruntled Donald Trump, bringing to an end one of America's most contentious political terms. But 12 months on from the shift from Republican to Democratic leadership, many people are asking why we have seen and heard so little from the pair? The Quicky speaks to an America...

As we increasingly learn to live with Covid-19 and society gets back into its groove, booster vaccine jabs and rapid antigen tests which can be done at home are going to become the new normal, but what do we really know about them? The Quicky speaks to a medical expert to find out if and when you need to get a third vaccination, and how effective it is to test yourself for Covid-19 instead of visi...

As many of us start to return to the workplace, the conversation about different attitudes and approaches to work is one that is increasingly divided between generations. So how do Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z all view each other, and are our opinions based on stereotypes, or does our generation really define our attitude to work? The Quicky speaks to a sociologist to find out if we are...

Last week, over 50,000 people in Texas headed for a night out at the Astroworld Festival headlined by Travis Scott and Drake, excited to finally be able to go to a big event after nearly two years of COVID-19 restrictions. But what was supposed to be fun for everyone turned into a nightmare they will never forget when 8 people were crushed to death in the crowd, and hundreds of others left physica...

When Sandra Peniamina was killed, her husband admitted he had done it and was initially charged with and convicted of murder, sentenced to life behind bars. But an archaic law that has been around since men duelled with pistols, has been used to allow him to reduce that sentence with a claim she provoked him. Today The Quicky team investigates the laws of provocation and what needs to happen for t...

Raising a child is always challenging, but when your kids hit their teenage years it can be especially difficult as they navigate changing bodies, relationships and end-of-school exams for the first time. This has led many parents to call for 'teen-ternity leave', a special period of time off granted to those who care for teenage kids to help them manage the years when parental influence can be mo...

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg recently announced in a 77 minute long video that he is re-branding the company under the new name Meta, which is short for Metaverse - but what is that and how will it impact your life? The Quicky speaks to a tech expert to find out more about Zuckerberg's master plan, which other companies are also planning to join the Metaverse, and how it's going to change our...

With restrictions finally lifted across Australia, many of us look forward to a night out or a house party with friends, but recent reports from the UK of young women being injected with an unknown substance in bars and clubs has caused widespread concern. Drink spiking has been on our radar as a risk for many years, but is it still common or might this new form of drugging people be taking over?...

If you have or are currently trying to buy property in Australia, you will know that the so-called 'Australian Dream' of owning your own home is more like a nightmare as prices continue to rise with seemingly no end in sight. But why is it that property values across the country are going through the roof despite all the uncertainty of the pandemic, and might there really be a 'good' time to buy o...

Last week, Adelaide United star Josh Cavallo made history when he announced that he is proud gay man, making him the only current, male professional footballer in the world to publicly come out. But if we look at women's soccer and other sporting codes, we find that there are many female players who have been able to be honest about who they love, so why is it still considered taboo for male athle...

The past 20 months of constant upheaval and change as a result of the pandemic has made many of us re-think what's most important in our lives, and our careers in particular. In the United States this has led to literally millions of people to quit their jobs in what is being referred to as 'The Great Resignation', but are Aussies set to join them and look for new opportunities? The Quicky speaks...

Anyone who's been through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) will tell you about the huge costs, extensive medical intervention, and if they are lucky enough to be successful, how happy they are, but what if you go through all that and still come out the other side without a baby? Talking about the toll on your mental health as a result of IVF is much more difficult for many people than discussing the p...

This week, an unusually modest wedding brought an end to four years of torment for Princess Mako of Japan and her 'commoner' husband Kei Komuro, as the newlyweds plan to quietly leave their home country for a new life in the United States. The usual pomp and ceremony of an Imperial wedding was nowhere to be seen, as public disapproval of the union has left Mako with PTSD, after conservatives hound...

This weekend, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will reluctantly fly to Scotland for the United Nations Climate Change Conference better known as COP26, but why did it take a tongue-lashing from Prince Charles and the Queen to convince him to attend? And why has there been such a last minute scramble between the Liberals and Nationals to finally agree to some kind of 'in-principle' plan to achieve Net...

Last week, the lives of the cast and crew of a new movie called Rust were changed forever after what was supposed to be an unloaded "prop" gun killed one person and seriously injured another. How this accident was allowed to happen on a multi-million dollar movie set involving an experienced actor like Alec Baldwin has brought into question who is responsible for safety during filming, whether it...

The new Premier of NSW Dominic Perrottet recently announced that he and his wife Helen are expecting their seventh child, a baby girl next year, leaving many of us wondering how they will manage so many kids and such a big job leading the State? It also has us questioning how common big families are in 2021, and whether it is a life choice that only really rich people can now afford? To find out w...

When you become a Wiggle, there's a whole lot more to it than just pulling on a bright skivvy and singing a few songs. With Emma Wiggle leaving the band and newly minted Yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins taking her place, many are wondering what she will have to deal with when she joins a band beloved by generations of children around the world. The Quicky speaks to the Blue Wiggle himself and a journa...