Picture this: You’re sitting in a café with a friend, and instead of the usual, “How’s work?” they casually ask, “So, what’s your inner child been up to?” And it’s not weird at all! You sip your coffee and say, “Oh, just reconnecting with some childhood fears;...
Off Campus
Boy Sober: Lessons From Celibacy
I am 22 and I haven’t had sex in 3 years, because ever since I was a little girl I have believed that romantic love should be a priority in my life. The media I consumed heavily informed this belief. I loved the 1999 romantic comedy Never Been Kissed starring Drew...
Tempting Taboos
I open my laptop, with an email staring back at me, as if it knows exactly what I feel, a wave of curiosity and a high tide of shame. “TODAY ONLY: Bellessa air vibe PRO 60% off get yours today.” How does a chunky, curvy vibrator like that even fit inside anyway? In...
Afterpay: are students paying the price for buying now?
In 2022, the Australian Finance Industry released a report that showed how Afterpay created a catch-22: people would use it to pay for essentials, yet it's been reported some would also need to cut back on essentials just to make the required repayments. Today, 40% of...
The 24-Hour Work Rule: A Blessing or a Burden for International Students?
Ah, the life of an international student in Australia. Between classes, assignments, and learning to pronounce “Straya” like a local, we’re also juggling jobs to keep those rent payments and weekend avocado toasts coming. Enter the infamous 48-hour work limit, a rule...
Book Fair 2024: A Celebration of Stories, Creators and Community
(Front entrance in line waiting to get into Book Fair. Photo Credit: Luci Kugathasan, 2024) On November 2nd, 2024, Book Fair Australia hosted its annual event at Sydney Olympic Park, bringing together an incredible myriad of writers and a diverse range of genres and...
You have a new notification: social media banned for anyone under 16 || opinion piece
Author: By Barsha Rai (Edited by Eugenia Kourkoutas) From Barsha Rai: It’s mid-April 2026. You just got home after a stressful shift at Maccas. You want to unwind, so you decide to scroll through Instagram reels, laugh at memes, and make a TikTok video. Or maybe...
How to Enjoy Sydney Summers as a Student Without Breaking the Bank
Are you new to Sydney, wanting to explore and seize the summer but on a budget? Or are you worried about saving up for rent and utilities, while your friends are posting Insta stories with all the summer fun, leaving you with major FOMO? Don't worry. Here's how...
UOW’s Encampment Shut Down & Solidarity with WSU Students.
On the 24th of September 2024, the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) non-hierarchical grassroots collective organisation, Palestinian Liberation Zone (UPLZ), held an encampment protest on campus. This encampment was called by UPLZ to end UOW’s alleged relations with...
Imagining Extinction
Imagine. You and your family are, for some reason, one of a kind. Maybe you can fly, maybe you have 8 arms, maybe you’re made of a precious material. You’re special. Unique. Your purpose is to exist, to continue your species. There’s 3 members of your entire...
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Is TikTok the Future of Journalism?
(Hamish Macdonald and Rully Kurniawan speaking during event. Photo credit: Garish (Luci) Kugathasan, 2025) Early in 2025, acclaimed journalists Hamish Macdonald and Rully Kurniawan attended Western’s Parramatta South campus for a journalism masterclass. They discussed...
Jacinda Ardern: A Different Kind of Powerful Woman
(Front cover of ‘A Different Kind of Power’ by Jacinda Ardern. Photo credit: Natasa Aster-Stater, 2025) Reading this memoir made it clear that Jacinda Ardern has been one of the people that she is trying to serve. She isn’t from a dynasty like the Kennedys or the...
How to stay kind to yourself in a world of plastic?
Are you doing/did you do Plastic Free July? Plastic Free July (PFJ) is exactly what it sounds like – a whole month without single-use plastic. There are often two reactions to this. The first is: “that’s impossible”. The second is: “well, a month isn’t going to make a...
Rooted in Ghana, Growing in Western Sydney ~ In conversation with Adjoa Assan
When you meet Adjoa Assan, you’re struck not just by her eloquence, but by the quiet strength that anchors it. A Western Sydney University graduate with three degrees:- Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), Bachelor of International Studies (with Distinction), and...
Using AI: Good vs Bad
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a common tool for university students and lecturers today. Yet, confusion and limited awareness of what counts as ethical use of AI remains. Academic Integrity teams are working alongside Subject Coordinators, Academic Program...