The Quicky

It's World Breastfeeding Week and this year's theme is 'Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility', but what does that look like in 2021? The old adage of 'breast is best' still taunts many mothers who can't or simply don't want to breastfeed, and yet partners and other friends, family and even society often do little to support them, even when they do want help. The Quicky speaks to three mo...

Every day, the state and Federal Governments are begging us to go and get vaccinated for COVID-19, not only for our own benefit, but also for others as millions of Aussies remain in lockdown and suffering from pandemic fatigue. But what happens when we do reach a point when most of us have had the jab? Could vaccine passports be the way to guarantee a future free from lockdowns and travel restrict...

Most of us have seen some major changes in the way we work over the past 18 months, but could working from home be just the start of a major work revolution? The concept of a four day week has been considered and even trialled in many countries, but so far, very few Aussie companies have gotten on board with the idea, but those that have are finding it's not only possible, but hugely profitable. T...

The Olympics have brought some much needed light relief, but the Games haven't been without controversy, especially when it comes to female athletes' uniforms. And it isn't just the Olympics that are in the spotlight... pop star Pink has offered to pay the fines handed out to the Norwegian Women's Beach Handball team who refused to wear bikini bottoms at the European Championships. The Quicky spea...

It's been 18 months since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and despite everyone's hopes that it would all be over by now, there is still no end in sight, so what impact is that having on our mental health? The Quicky speaks to a psychologist and researcher to find out what we can all do to keep our spirits up, focus on the future, and help one another to keep going during this unprecedented time in ou...

Last week, Australia successfully lobbied enough countries to prevent UNESCO from labelling the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef as 'in danger'. But pushback from environmental campaigners and several other nations who were furious about the move, and desperately want to see the iconic landmark better protected, has kept the spotlight on our Government. The Quicky speaks to two reef expert...

With millions of Aussies still in lockdown, it's tempting to look overseas and assume that other countries must be doing a better job when it comes to rolling out the vaccine, and rolling back the restrictions. But one week after people in England celebrated their so-called 'Freedom Day', what has the impact been of removing almost all restrictions, supposedly once and for all? The Quicky speaks t...

We might not like to admit it, but many of us spend the night snoring like a foghorn, which is not only annoying for anyone sharing our bed, but can also be a sign that something more problematic is going on with our health. The Quicky speaks to a man who spent years living with sleep apnea before finally finding a solution, and an expert in the science of sleep to find out why we suffer from disr...

Reaching the Olympic or Paralympic Games is one of the hardest things an athlete will ever achieve, but no-one could have predicted just how much tougher it would be in the middle of a global pandemic to make it to the delayed Tokyo 2020 events. To find out just how much hard work athletes put in to their mental wellbeing as well as their physical performance in these extraordinary times,  Th...

At Mamamia we regularly speak to doctors about the pandemic, but it is often what is said off the record or within the privacy of a GPs office that we find out the most interesting facts and opinions. So to bring some of this information to light without breaking their trust The Quicky has spoken to a number of medical experts anonymously to discuss their most candid thoughts about what is really...

Earlier this month, a family on the NSW Central Coast was left devastated after their much-loved family pet went into the bedroom of their five week old baby in the middle of the night and mauled him to death. That attack renewed calls from some that American Staffordshire Terriers should be banned from our communities outright, but is it the breed that is to blame, or might the training and socia...

Australia's closed international borders has been frustrating for many of us to say the least, but for some Aussies the price of 'Fortress Australia' has now become too high, leaving them with no choice but to exit the country for good. Many of these people are highly skilled migrants, who came here for a better life and brought with them a wealth of experience and expertise that will be hard to r...

It's estimated that 500,000 Aussies are currently walking around with type 2 diabetes, and don't know it. Outdated stereotypes about who is most at risk from this condition are partly to blame, as it's easy to assume if we feel fit and healthy that we are ok. The Quicky speaks to a well-known personality who just found out she has the condition, and an expert in diabetes research to debunk the myt...

Making a will can be uncomfortable which is why many of us put it off, but the cutting out of Liz Hurley's son Damian from his late father, Steve Bing's family trust shows that even when you do have a will in place there are no guarantees. We asked for your stories about family disputes over inheritance and were overwhelmed with sad responses, proving that even when you don't have millions of doll...

It's tax time once again, but after a very unusual year during which many of us worked partly or entirely from home, you might be wondering how to maximise your return, and what you can and can't claim. To find out what constitutes a legitimate deduction, and everything you need to know before submitting your 2021 tax return, The Quicky speaks to a finance expert to find out all the tips and trick...

Low pay, outrageous amounts of paperwork, and non-stop contact from parents and students are just some of the reasons why Aussie teachers are quitting at an alarming rate. So what would it take to attract and keep our best and brightest teaching the next generation? The Quicky speaks to the President of a teachers union, and a current high school teacher who is on the verge of resigning to find ou...

Like many mental health conditions, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, better known as ADHD, is poorly understood and riddled with stereotypes, making it difficult for girls and women in particular to receive a diagnosis. This means many people get well into adulthood before anyone finally realises they are suffering from the condition, or can offer them any treatment. The Quicky speaks to...

Love it or loathe it, cleaning our homes is something we all have to do, or at the very least outsource to a professional, but how clean should the place where we've been spending a lot more time recently be? For many people, the pandemic has sparked new enthusiasm for disinfectant products and sanitisers, but is it possible that we could be doing damage to our health by being too squeaky clean? T...

It's been nearly 18 months since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, but millions of Aussies are still living under lockdown and ongoing restrictions, fuelled by a slow vaccine rollout. As a result, many of us have more questions than ever as misinformation continues to spread via social media, which isn't helped by confused and mixed messaging from our political leaders. The Quicky speaks to an e...

We often hear news stories about new research that suggests younger Aussies are choosing to drink less than those in older age groups, but is that true and if so, why? It's easy to assume that lowering your consumption of alcohol can only be a good thing for your health, but might there also be some benefits to a moderate amount of drinking? The Quicky  speaks to a young, former drinker and a...

It's been nearly 30 years since the High Court of Australia finally recognised that Australia was never 'Terra nullius', or 'land belonging to no-one', so why do we continue to see irreplaceable sacred sites being destroyed by corporate interests? And when it comes to land rights, how much of Australia is really now back in the hands of our First Nations people, and where?  The Quicky speaks...

Last week Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that vaccinations against COVID-19 will become mandatory for Aged Care workers, but few details were released about the new policy. That has many people wondering if it's even legal for the Government to compel anyone to be vaccinated against their will, or to make them lose their jobs if they are willing but cannot access a vaccine? The Quicky spe...

It's NAIDOC Week 2021 and this year's theme is Heal Country! Tragically for the Anangu people of South Australia, their country may never heal from a series of nuclear blasts carried out by the British in the 1950's and 60's. The Quicky speaks to a local First Nations campaigner who comes from a long line of outspoken traditional owners, an academic on Australia's dark nuclear past, and a nuclear...

With tax time upon us once again it's no surprise that a number of new scams have popped up, but in 2021 it seems there are more people out to get our money and data than ever before, fuelled by the pandemic. The Quicky speaks to an expert in scams to find out how you can protect yourself, your personal information and your loved ones from the nefarious plans of those who will do anything to try a...

As more and more cities go into lockdown to try and stop the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, mixed messaging about who can or should get the Astra Zeneca vaccine against COVID-19 has left millions of Aussies feeling dazed and confused. The Quicky speaks to an expert epidemiologist, and a national political reporter to cut through the overload of information to find out what the medi...