The Conversation Hour

A new study has highlighted the importance of outdoor play for kids, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore why it is important for young people and what needs to happen in the education sector to better support young people playing outside. Also in this edition, a Kyneton groundskeeper has won the World's Ugliest Lawn competition, but can there be environmental benifits to a bit of m...

As Victoria endures a heatwave, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore how we can design and build homes that stay cool, without an over reliance on air conditioning. Also in this edition, caring for your pets in the heat, all the latest from the tennis and just how hard it is to make a career pivot midlife?

Well, there has been a bit on the internet this week about wedding reception dancefloors and in this edition of The Conversation Hour we delve into dancing in midlife and why some feel they loose their skill. Also in this edition, the latest from the tennis and later in the hour, what underpins the decline in emergency volunteers.

The light will win is the theme of today's National Day of Mourning to honour the victims of the Bondi terrorist attack. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we meet an artist for whom the theme has special resonance. Joel Adler is the artist behind a behind a sculptural Hanukkiah titled 'Sunnukiah' being used as a temporary memorial at Bondi and he joined the program to discuss the meaning an...

As the summer holiday slowly fades, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore the concept of holidays in the suburbs and the suburban caravan park. Plus, have you heard of the tunnel fits phenomenon? Well, you may have seen one last night when Naomi Osaka made her entrance into the Austalian Open. Also in this edition the impact of climate on seabirds.

Safer Care Victoria, a State Government agency, has recently released a set of guidelines for clinicians to help them navigate situations where a woman rejects their medical advice. The guide is titled the Respectful Maternity and Newborn Care Framework and is described as "a practical tool that supports clinicians and consumers genuine partnership — especially when a woman makes an informed decis...

Has your social media feed filled up with pictures of your friends 10 years ago? #2016 is suddenly trending along with selfies, holiday pics and plates of fancy restaurant cuisine. But what is all this telling us about how the way we use Instagram has changed over the last decade? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what underpins that shift. Also in this edition the role bull bars...

Earlier in the week we talked insurance in the wake of fires, and today, it's floods down at Wye River and the surrounding communities . In this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at the impact of flooding events on caravan parks and will they get harder to operate insurance wise. Also in this edition, did you know that flies are actually pretty good for the environment? We might find them p...

 As Victorian beaches get busier over summer in this edition of The Conversation Hour we talk to the dos and don'ts of claiming a spot on the beach particularly when it comes to cabanas. Also in this edition,  why people are loving the new tv series Heated Rivalry, the rise of dementia-inclusive societies plus how regional business is going as Victoria continues to recover from the recent bushfire...

Mattel has recently launched its first autistic barbie and in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore how the doll has been received by the autistic community, and how far will it go in moving in the dial on inclusion and representation. Also in this edition, as the State recovers from the recent bushfires, we discuss what safe vegetation along our roadsides should look like. And later in...

We have seen some iconic music performances at sporting events over the last year, and with the The Australian Open just around the corner Australian bands are also limbering up to hit the stage. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what role these types of events play in raising the profile and exposure of artists and whether audiences have an appetite to see live music with their...

In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore how much prefab housing could be used as a form of temporary housing particularly in the wake of catastrophic bushfires. Also, in this program, do we need better support for renters after bushfires, do they slip between the cracks?

What did your school holidays look like when you where a kid? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at how the social media ban for under 16s will change what kids do during the holiday and if they could start to look something like the holidays of previous generations. Also in this edition, has annotating books become a thing on BookTok? Music festivals are in full swing over summer, b...

It's been a big day for year 12 students, as they receive their ATAR score, but is it actually ok to ask what someone got? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what the best way to approach the conversation is, and what the best approach is if you are a student who doesn't want to discuss it. Also in this edition, why there has been an increase in sharks around Byron Bay, the rise o...

A rare dinosaur skeleton will be going to auction in London. Nicknamed Spike, inspired by its pointy skull, it has been described as a "colourful bird-like beast." In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss the ethics of investing in dinosaur fossils and whether they should just stay in the domain of museums and the scientific community. Also in this edition, Fanny Lumsden talks auditioni...

Well, Christmas is almost upon us and in this edition of The Conversation Hour we hear your unique Christmas traditions and catch up with the co-founder of Elf on a Shelf.  Also in this edition, who is up for a nomination at this year's Golden Globes, how much does body language matter in how we communicate plus we take you to parliament to hear The Victorian government's historic apology to Abori...

A Government spokesperson has told The Conversation Hour that they are addressing duplication by bringing the work of VicHealth into the larger Department of Health. In this edition of the program we discuss whether VicHealth needs to maintain a certain level of independence and what this move means for preventive health more broadly. And later in the hour, the complex relationship women have with...

A recent study has exposed a gap in the amount of time allocated to teaching primary school students how to type and in this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss why learning to type still matters and what is best practice in teaching it.  Also in this edition, the danger posed by potholes to Victoria's motorcycle community, the extraordinary lengths one man has gone to raise awareness of t...

Today marks  International Day of People with a Disability and in this edition of the Conversation Hour we discuss the prevalence of discrimination in the workplace towards blind and low vision people and how to combat discriminatory attittudes and practices.  Also in this edition, we celebrate 80 years of The Country Hour, discuss what is behind the Prada buying Versace, plus  US hip hop artist K...

New research indicates that nightclubs could be doing more to prevent sexual harm in their venues. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we talk through what sorts of of things venues could be doing to decrease the risk. Also in this edition, keeping pets safe in high density housing, just how much will the metro tunnel reshape the way we travel in the years ahead plus, we speak to a linguist w...

The Metro Tunnell is go and in this special edition of The Conversation Hour we broadcast live from Town Hall Station. We speak with architects, train drivers, station masters and public transport researchers and you on this momentous day for Melbourne.

Two schools in Berwick went into lockdown yesterday, a Department of Education spokesperson said the incident involved a "young student who behaved in a dangerous matter".In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss whether lockdown drills are necessary in Victorian schools and how to do them without perpetuating a sense of fear and anxiety in young people. Also in this edition, why this ye...

In this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at where things are currently at with banning single use plastics and discuss the impact it continues to have on marine life. Also in this edition, Stranger Things returns for its final season we talk how to write the perfect ending. The Tik Tok awards were last night, so what role they play in bolstering cultural capital of the platform?  And we ca...

Melbourne has a new staff-free 7-Eleven, which is essentially comprised of vending machines.  In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss if this is the way of future for retail and what underpins the move.  Also on the show, actor Chris Hemsworth has released a film that documents a road trip with his dad who has early-onset Alzheimers, we speak with the dementia community on how the docu...

Over the past couple of months a group of 65 plus citizen scientists have hit the streets of Melbourne, mapping their experiences to capture how to make our suburbs more livable for our older population. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what they discovered the work they are doing with researchers in the field to improve our streets and cities. Also in this edition, Stahl House...