ABC NewcastleCast

It's getting warmer in Australia — summer is just around the corner and for many of us that means heading to the water to cool off. Whether you take the boat out at Lake Macquarie, have a surf at Newcastle Beach or a swim in the Hunter River. But as we cause a commotion above the surface, we often forget about the whole world of marine wildlife living beneath us — and their way of life is being di...

More than 400,000 Australians are currently living with dementia.   It’s a devastating disease, that can severely impact a persons autonomy and daily life.   But a team in Newcastle is using the power of music to uplift people impacted by the condition.     Each week, a choir group, known as ‘The Unforgettables’, meet providing a creative outlet for people with dementia, as well as support and fri...

Newcastle woman Kelly Kay has experienced every parent's worst nightmare. Last year, her 20-year-old son Kahi Simon took his life, just days after being discharged from a hospital mental health ward.  Ms Kay says her son's death highlights gaps in Australia's mental health system.  Now, she is bringing Kahi's unrealised dreams of being a designer to life, creating a clothing brand in his honour, w...

Spending hundreds of dollars on a designer dress or luxury outfit is out of the budget for many people, but a trend has emerged across the country: to hire instead. While suit hire has been around for decades, designer-dress hire businesses are popping up around Australia, including here in Newcastle, and they're busier than ever.  So, what's the appeal? Consumers say it's a cheaper, more sustaina...

Trying a new sport or hobby can be very exciting, but it can also be really daunting, especially if you're just starting out as an adult. Take ballet for example, which is traditionally the domain of children, or professional dancers.  But now, one dance studio in Newcastle is opening its doors to all ages - challenging the exclusivity and stereotypes surrounding ballet. Credits: Presented and pro...

Born without a uterus, Amelia knew she needed to take a different path to motherhood. 

A haircut can make you feel stronger, but did you know it can potentially save your life?

Mark West reckons rhymes and back beats are key to expressing how he feels.

When Emily Large was at a mainstream school, her attendance rate was something like 6 per cent. 

Attitudes to death are slowly changing in Australia.

At least one in nine Australian women will suffer symptoms of endometriosis and finding appropriate treatment can be a real struggle. That's only exacerbated if you live in a regional area.

Newcastle's most quintessential sights don't just include the beautiful beaches — the gigantic bulk carriers that come into dock in the Port of Newcastle every single day of the year are unmissable.

If you grew up in Newcastle in the 1980s and 90s, if you remember Miss Kim and Big Dog, you probably remember Super Hubert.

When you think of Newcastle, what sounds come to mind?

In the 1980's, a homemade, vertical halfpipe in a suburban backyard put Newcastle on the map.

We go inside the history of Rising Tide and their mission to stop coal exports from the Port of Newcastle.

2023 really has been the year of the Matildas. 

Fast rail almost feels like Australian myth or folklore at this point. For nearly 40 years, successive governments have promised a stretch of high speed rail that would make travelling up and down the east coast very quick and very easy.

Did you know that Hexham was once rumoured to be where a bunyip was spotted?

For teenage parents in regional NSW, it can be difficult to finish their schooling while caring for their children. But at the Young Parents College in Newcastle, students are getting the opportunity to get an education while navigating motherhood. This week, Laurise Dickson takes you inside one of the few schools in Australia that is structured to support teenage parents. 

Dementia is one of the most prevalent conditions associated with ageing and it affects not only those living with it but also the families who care for them.

How a group of refugee women are gaining confidence and skills in the construction field.

Could you go without your phone for 6 hours a day? From this week, that's the reality for NSW high school students.

Did you know that the first Arnott's biscuits were made on the banks of the Hunter River?

What is Australia's tallest house doing in the middle of the bush in rural NSW?