Pilbara change-makers named finalists in prestigious 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards
Three Pilbara trailblazers have been named finalists in the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards for their remarkable dedication to community, leadership and social change.
The Tom Price Emergency Services Cadet Corps is in the running for the connecting communities award for its dedication to developing young leaders.
Spanning Tom Price, Paraburdoo and the Wakathuni Aboriginal Community, the program has engaged more than 2000 young people aged 11-18. Through hands-on emergency services training, leadership development and community service, the cadets have clocked more than 40,000 volunteer hours.
Many cadets now volunteer with the SES, St John WA, fire and rescue service, and bush fire brigades.
Karratha Women's Place women's councillor and program assistant Fern Van Beek has been named a finalist in the young women leader award for her tireless commitment to women's wellbeing.
Ms Van Beek has played a key role in shaping the Karratha Women's Place into a critical support hub for women in regional WA, offering everything from counselling and community programs to mental health resources. Now a women's counsellor, Ms Van Beek provides free mental health services in an area where such support is often hard to find.
She also founded the Mums to Be and Bubs on Knee group to reduce isolation among new mothers. She supports thousands through in-person and online platforms, including Facebook groups, and was granted the young community citizen of the year award in 2025.
From coaching gymnastics to leading local Scout groups, Peta Baer wears many hats — all in the name of service. A finalist for the community service and volunteering award, Ms Baer devotes more than 30 hours a week to the Newman community.
She is also a tireless advocate for people living with disabilities. Last year, she took her message all the way to Parliament House, delivering a powerful speech calling for improved disability support across the Pilbara.
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Courier-Mail
2 days ago
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This woman isn't pregnant - but her belly is speaking volumes
Don't miss out on the headlines from Parenting. Followed categories will be added to My News. Scroll past the powerful photos on Chelsea BreeAnn Hardesty's 'Getting the Better of Endometriosis' Facebook page, and you might assume she's celebrating a pregnancy. That beautifully rounded belly, gently curved and soft, could easily be mistaken for a baby bump. But scrolling deeper, the caption shatters that assumption: this isn't joy - it's endo belly, the swollen, painful abdomen caused by endometriosis. Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. Chelsea BreeAnn Hardesty shared photos of her painfully bloated belly online. Image: Supplied The photos that stopped us in our scroll Look closely and you'll see a woman who appears joyously pregnant - but Chelsea is anything but. What you're seeing is massive endo belly, a symptom many describe as 'looking pregnant' even when there's no pregnancy at all. Chelsea suffers with bowel and urinary Endometriosis, her swollen abdomen a visual statement of a condition that's routinely misunderstood, under-diagnosed, and often brushed aside. What is endo belly - and why does it happen? The term 'endo belly' describes the sudden, painful abdominal swelling experienced by many people with endometriosis. But it's far more complex - and debilitating - than a bit of bloating. While endometriosis has long been explained as the presence of uterine-like tissue in places it doesn't belong, such as the ovaries, bladder or bowel, modern research shows that's not quite accurate. Speaking with Kidspot, Chelsea explains: 'The lesions caused by endometriosis are not just 'misplaced endometrial tissue' - they're structurally and functionally different, and don't behave like the uterine lining at all.' Instead, endometriosis is now better understood as a whole-body inflammatory disease. It can cause nerve involvement, autoimmune-like symptoms, and in severe cases, structural damage to organs. When it comes to endo belly, several factors are at play: inflammation from active lesions, scar tissue that restricts movement of the bowel, infiltration into the bowel wall itself, and even pelvic organ prolapse. Add in hormonal shifts, nerve disruption, impaired gut motility, and bacterial overgrowths and the result can be extreme distension, pain, and dysfunction. For many, this bloating isn't just uncomfortable - it's disabling. Bellies can become so swollen and tight they resemble a late-term pregnancy. Some can't walk properly. Some can't eat. Some are stretched to the point of skin damage. Chelsea explains: 'This is what chronic illness can look like. It's humiliating, exhausting, and often ignored. You can't 'just drink water' or 'take a laxatives' or 'go gluten free' to fix this.' RELATED: 'Endometriosis has ruled my life for 24 years' Trending in Parenting 'I want another baby… but I want to stay alive' I cracked. I started a WhatsApp group. It's common - but still unseen According to Endometriosis Australia, endometriosis affects about 1 in 7 people with a uterus. Yet diagnosis often takes 6–7 years, despite patients seeing an average of seven doctors before a definitive answer. Symptoms like severe period pain, gastrointestinal issues and fatigue are still widely dismissed as "normal" or misdiagnosed as IBS, anxiety or simply stress. Why Chelsea's story matters Her images stop the scroll, but it's the raw honesty of her words that pierce through: 'If you're in a similar fight, you are not alone. Your symptoms are real. Your pain is valid.' Not only is she shedding light on symptoms rarely discussed, but she's also highlighting how often you must fight simply to be listened to - especially in a medical system that demands a label before it acts. 'This bloating photo was so much more than a visual,' says Chelsea. 'It is the result of years of being misdiagnosed, medically gaslit, and left to navigate a chronic illness that has taken a significant toll on every aspect of my life.' What to do if you - or someone you love - suspect endometriosis Recognise the signs Symptoms to be alert for include: Severe pelvic pain during and outside periods Bloating, nausea, constipation or diarrhea Pain during or after sex, or with bowel/urination Heavy or irregular bleeding Constant fatigue or unusual body swelling Track your symptoms Keep a journal or use apps like EndoZone. Record when symptoms appear, their intensity, and what you were eating or doing - that data empowers you and your GP. Find a GP who listens - and refer to specialists See a GP with experience or interest in reproductive and pelvic health. Ask for referrals to specialist clinics or gynaecologists, including public pelvic pain clinics. Advocate for investigations If symptoms persist, request imaging (ultrasound, MRI) and insist on a referral to a laparoscopic surgeon if warranted. Early intervention can reduce complications like cysts, adhesions and organ damage. Utilise support services Australia offers strong networks: Endometriosis Australia: symptom checkers, podcasts, support clinics QENDO (Queensland Endometriosis Association): 24/7 helpline 1800QENDO, peer support. Australian Coalition for Endometriosis: works with government to improve access, funding and training Explore treatment pathways Effective management includes: NSAIDs for pain relief Hormonal therapy (oral contraceptives, progestins—some on PBS) Laparoscopic surgery to remove lesions Pelvic physiotherapy, dietary changes (low FODMAP, anti-inflammatory), mental health support RELATED: 'My boss wouldn't have hired me if she'd known' Symptoms of endometriosis Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that forms the lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterine cavity. The lining of your uterus is called the endometrium. painful periods pain in the lower abdomen before and during menstruation cramps one or two weeks around menstruation heavy menstrual bleeding or pain in the lower abdomen before and during menstruation infertility pain following sexual intercourse discomfort with bowel movements lower back pain that may occur at any time during your menstrual cycle Source: Beyond the photo Chelsea's story resonates because it defies expectations: her body looks pregnant, but it carries pain, not life. It spotlights a condition that demands emotional, physical and medical resilience. Her openness encourages others to step forward. In Australia, we're moving forward. Specialist clinics are expanding, access to pain-informed care is improving, and new PBS medications are helping reduce symptom burden. But stigma remains, and the timeline to diagnosis can still feel unreasonably long. Your next step If these symptoms ring true - whether for you or someone you care about - start tracking, speak up, connect, and push for answers. Endometriosis may be common - but being taken seriously shouldn't still be rare. Originally published as This woman isn't pregnant - but her belly is speaking volumes
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Social media-sourced news grows, readers express 'distrust' with mainstream media
How you are reading this sentence - whether from a social media link or directly on a news website - may determine how much you trust it. According to an annual global study of news habits, it is most likely the former. Social media as Australians' main source of news has increased to 26 per cent and has overtaken online news sites (23 per cent) for the first time. Meanwhile, the number of readers who say they no longer trust news reporting has risen to 32 per cent (up 8 per cent since 2016). These figures come from the Digital News Report: Australia 2025 conducted by the News and Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra surveyed 2006 adults. It is part of a global annual survey of digital news consumption in 48 countries, commissioned by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford. The Report paints a picture of growing distrust in mainstream news and the perception of a polluted online information environment where people find it hard to discern facts from fake news. Worryingly, of the 48 countries surveyed, Australians have the highest level of concern about what is real or fake online, with three-quarters saying they are worried about it. This is especially true of social media where Australians see Facebook (59 per cent) and TikTok (57 per cent) as the two social media platforms posing the biggest threat of spreading misinformation. Facebook is still the most visited social media site for news (38 per cent) but other video-based platforms are gaining popularity with almost one-third of consumers saying they use YouTube and one-in-five using Instagram for news. TikTok is the fastest-growing social media platform for news at 14 per cent which is up 12 per cent since 2020, particularly among younger generations. The growing use of social media and the decline in trust is accompanied by a loss of interest in news, and growing news avoidance. Over the past decade, there has been a significant drop in news interest, particularly among women and those aged 35+. More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Australians say they often, sometimes or occasionally avoid the news. The reasons given range from the negative impact it has on their mood (46 per cent), perceptions of untrustworthiness or bias (37 per cent), and news fatigue (32 per cent). Trust is also an important factor that correlates with people's decision to avoid news. Consumers who trust the news are much less likely to say they avoid it (60 per cent) than those who distrust the news (79 per cent). People who are concerned about misinformation are also much more likely to say they avoid news (71 per cent) compared to those who are not worried about it (53 per cent). This implies that the environment in which news is situated has an impact on audiences' attitudes toward it. While they may not necessarily see misinformation on news platforms, the sheer volume of information online and concerns about false information can lead people to withdraw from news consumption. How can news organisations re-engage audiences who are losing faith in news? While much of the data reflects the decline of mainstream news consumption, it also points to possible remedies for these downward trends. In this year's survey, we asked if respondents had received any type of education or training - formal or informal - about how to use the news. News literacy is a sub-concept of media literacy and refers to the skills that help audiences have control over their relationship with news, alongside knowing how news is produced and distributed. News literacy education aims to develop a critical understanding of news, and how to analyse and assess the quality of sources. In Australia, there are few news literacy programs. However, broader media literacy education has been conducted in primary schools since 2012 after the Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority identified it as a mandatory learning objective. But, for adults and vulnerable social groups, there is not much on offer. The majority of participants (70 per cent) in our survey say they have not had any news literacy education or training. There is a big generational gap. Only 5 per cent of participants aged 65 or older say they have received any kind of education about the news over their lifetime, compared to more than half of 18-24-year-olds. Notable differences are also found between men (29 per cent) and women (19 per cent), city (26 per cent) and regional participants (19 per cent). More importantly, there are critical differences in the attitudes and behaviours between Australian consumers who have received news literacy education and those who have not. Not only are people with news education more likely to pay for news, they are also more interested in news and less likely to avoid it. While they are more likely to be concerned about misinformation, their knowledge of how things work in an online environment means people with news literacy are not deterred by this because they feel more confident in their ability to discern misinformation. When it comes to checking online information that may be false, misleading, or fake, people who have received news literacy education are much more likely to say they go to news sources they trust (50 per cent) compared to those who have not (36 per cent). They are also more likely to turn to official websites and fact-checking. These active verification behaviours confirm the importance of news literacy education in helping Australian consumers navigate the complex online environment. Combined, this year's data provides a strong signal to policymakers and the news media to educate the public about how the news works, its role in society and how to critically evaluate it. Given concerns about social cohesion in Australia, and the rise of more populist approaches to politics, there is a growing need for citizens to be equipped with news literacy education. With half of people who pay for news saying they have received some kind of news literacy training, increasing media literacy levels across the population also makes good economic sense for the news industry. Digital News Report: Australia is produced by the News and Media Research Centre (N&MRC) at the University of Canberra. YouGov conducted the survey in January-February 2025. The data are weighted for age, gender and region. Education and political quotas were applied. In Australia, this is the eleventh annual survey of its kind produced by the N&MRC. How you are reading this sentence - whether from a social media link or directly on a news website - may determine how much you trust it. According to an annual global study of news habits, it is most likely the former. Social media as Australians' main source of news has increased to 26 per cent and has overtaken online news sites (23 per cent) for the first time. Meanwhile, the number of readers who say they no longer trust news reporting has risen to 32 per cent (up 8 per cent since 2016). These figures come from the Digital News Report: Australia 2025 conducted by the News and Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra surveyed 2006 adults. It is part of a global annual survey of digital news consumption in 48 countries, commissioned by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford. The Report paints a picture of growing distrust in mainstream news and the perception of a polluted online information environment where people find it hard to discern facts from fake news. Worryingly, of the 48 countries surveyed, Australians have the highest level of concern about what is real or fake online, with three-quarters saying they are worried about it. This is especially true of social media where Australians see Facebook (59 per cent) and TikTok (57 per cent) as the two social media platforms posing the biggest threat of spreading misinformation. Facebook is still the most visited social media site for news (38 per cent) but other video-based platforms are gaining popularity with almost one-third of consumers saying they use YouTube and one-in-five using Instagram for news. TikTok is the fastest-growing social media platform for news at 14 per cent which is up 12 per cent since 2020, particularly among younger generations. The growing use of social media and the decline in trust is accompanied by a loss of interest in news, and growing news avoidance. Over the past decade, there has been a significant drop in news interest, particularly among women and those aged 35+. More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Australians say they often, sometimes or occasionally avoid the news. The reasons given range from the negative impact it has on their mood (46 per cent), perceptions of untrustworthiness or bias (37 per cent), and news fatigue (32 per cent). Trust is also an important factor that correlates with people's decision to avoid news. Consumers who trust the news are much less likely to say they avoid it (60 per cent) than those who distrust the news (79 per cent). People who are concerned about misinformation are also much more likely to say they avoid news (71 per cent) compared to those who are not worried about it (53 per cent). This implies that the environment in which news is situated has an impact on audiences' attitudes toward it. While they may not necessarily see misinformation on news platforms, the sheer volume of information online and concerns about false information can lead people to withdraw from news consumption. How can news organisations re-engage audiences who are losing faith in news? While much of the data reflects the decline of mainstream news consumption, it also points to possible remedies for these downward trends. In this year's survey, we asked if respondents had received any type of education or training - formal or informal - about how to use the news. News literacy is a sub-concept of media literacy and refers to the skills that help audiences have control over their relationship with news, alongside knowing how news is produced and distributed. News literacy education aims to develop a critical understanding of news, and how to analyse and assess the quality of sources. In Australia, there are few news literacy programs. However, broader media literacy education has been conducted in primary schools since 2012 after the Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority identified it as a mandatory learning objective. But, for adults and vulnerable social groups, there is not much on offer. The majority of participants (70 per cent) in our survey say they have not had any news literacy education or training. There is a big generational gap. Only 5 per cent of participants aged 65 or older say they have received any kind of education about the news over their lifetime, compared to more than half of 18-24-year-olds. Notable differences are also found between men (29 per cent) and women (19 per cent), city (26 per cent) and regional participants (19 per cent). More importantly, there are critical differences in the attitudes and behaviours between Australian consumers who have received news literacy education and those who have not. Not only are people with news education more likely to pay for news, they are also more interested in news and less likely to avoid it. While they are more likely to be concerned about misinformation, their knowledge of how things work in an online environment means people with news literacy are not deterred by this because they feel more confident in their ability to discern misinformation. When it comes to checking online information that may be false, misleading, or fake, people who have received news literacy education are much more likely to say they go to news sources they trust (50 per cent) compared to those who have not (36 per cent). They are also more likely to turn to official websites and fact-checking. These active verification behaviours confirm the importance of news literacy education in helping Australian consumers navigate the complex online environment. Combined, this year's data provides a strong signal to policymakers and the news media to educate the public about how the news works, its role in society and how to critically evaluate it. Given concerns about social cohesion in Australia, and the rise of more populist approaches to politics, there is a growing need for citizens to be equipped with news literacy education. With half of people who pay for news saying they have received some kind of news literacy training, increasing media literacy levels across the population also makes good economic sense for the news industry. Digital News Report: Australia is produced by the News and Media Research Centre (N&MRC) at the University of Canberra. YouGov conducted the survey in January-February 2025. The data are weighted for age, gender and region. Education and political quotas were applied. In Australia, this is the eleventh annual survey of its kind produced by the N&MRC. How you are reading this sentence - whether from a social media link or directly on a news website - may determine how much you trust it. According to an annual global study of news habits, it is most likely the former. Social media as Australians' main source of news has increased to 26 per cent and has overtaken online news sites (23 per cent) for the first time. Meanwhile, the number of readers who say they no longer trust news reporting has risen to 32 per cent (up 8 per cent since 2016). These figures come from the Digital News Report: Australia 2025 conducted by the News and Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra surveyed 2006 adults. It is part of a global annual survey of digital news consumption in 48 countries, commissioned by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford. The Report paints a picture of growing distrust in mainstream news and the perception of a polluted online information environment where people find it hard to discern facts from fake news. Worryingly, of the 48 countries surveyed, Australians have the highest level of concern about what is real or fake online, with three-quarters saying they are worried about it. This is especially true of social media where Australians see Facebook (59 per cent) and TikTok (57 per cent) as the two social media platforms posing the biggest threat of spreading misinformation. Facebook is still the most visited social media site for news (38 per cent) but other video-based platforms are gaining popularity with almost one-third of consumers saying they use YouTube and one-in-five using Instagram for news. TikTok is the fastest-growing social media platform for news at 14 per cent which is up 12 per cent since 2020, particularly among younger generations. The growing use of social media and the decline in trust is accompanied by a loss of interest in news, and growing news avoidance. Over the past decade, there has been a significant drop in news interest, particularly among women and those aged 35+. More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Australians say they often, sometimes or occasionally avoid the news. The reasons given range from the negative impact it has on their mood (46 per cent), perceptions of untrustworthiness or bias (37 per cent), and news fatigue (32 per cent). Trust is also an important factor that correlates with people's decision to avoid news. Consumers who trust the news are much less likely to say they avoid it (60 per cent) than those who distrust the news (79 per cent). People who are concerned about misinformation are also much more likely to say they avoid news (71 per cent) compared to those who are not worried about it (53 per cent). This implies that the environment in which news is situated has an impact on audiences' attitudes toward it. While they may not necessarily see misinformation on news platforms, the sheer volume of information online and concerns about false information can lead people to withdraw from news consumption. How can news organisations re-engage audiences who are losing faith in news? While much of the data reflects the decline of mainstream news consumption, it also points to possible remedies for these downward trends. In this year's survey, we asked if respondents had received any type of education or training - formal or informal - about how to use the news. News literacy is a sub-concept of media literacy and refers to the skills that help audiences have control over their relationship with news, alongside knowing how news is produced and distributed. News literacy education aims to develop a critical understanding of news, and how to analyse and assess the quality of sources. In Australia, there are few news literacy programs. However, broader media literacy education has been conducted in primary schools since 2012 after the Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority identified it as a mandatory learning objective. But, for adults and vulnerable social groups, there is not much on offer. The majority of participants (70 per cent) in our survey say they have not had any news literacy education or training. There is a big generational gap. Only 5 per cent of participants aged 65 or older say they have received any kind of education about the news over their lifetime, compared to more than half of 18-24-year-olds. Notable differences are also found between men (29 per cent) and women (19 per cent), city (26 per cent) and regional participants (19 per cent). More importantly, there are critical differences in the attitudes and behaviours between Australian consumers who have received news literacy education and those who have not. Not only are people with news education more likely to pay for news, they are also more interested in news and less likely to avoid it. While they are more likely to be concerned about misinformation, their knowledge of how things work in an online environment means people with news literacy are not deterred by this because they feel more confident in their ability to discern misinformation. When it comes to checking online information that may be false, misleading, or fake, people who have received news literacy education are much more likely to say they go to news sources they trust (50 per cent) compared to those who have not (36 per cent). They are also more likely to turn to official websites and fact-checking. These active verification behaviours confirm the importance of news literacy education in helping Australian consumers navigate the complex online environment. Combined, this year's data provides a strong signal to policymakers and the news media to educate the public about how the news works, its role in society and how to critically evaluate it. Given concerns about social cohesion in Australia, and the rise of more populist approaches to politics, there is a growing need for citizens to be equipped with news literacy education. With half of people who pay for news saying they have received some kind of news literacy training, increasing media literacy levels across the population also makes good economic sense for the news industry. Digital News Report: Australia is produced by the News and Media Research Centre (N&MRC) at the University of Canberra. YouGov conducted the survey in January-February 2025. The data are weighted for age, gender and region. Education and political quotas were applied. In Australia, this is the eleventh annual survey of its kind produced by the N&MRC. How you are reading this sentence - whether from a social media link or directly on a news website - may determine how much you trust it. According to an annual global study of news habits, it is most likely the former. Social media as Australians' main source of news has increased to 26 per cent and has overtaken online news sites (23 per cent) for the first time. Meanwhile, the number of readers who say they no longer trust news reporting has risen to 32 per cent (up 8 per cent since 2016). These figures come from the Digital News Report: Australia 2025 conducted by the News and Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra surveyed 2006 adults. It is part of a global annual survey of digital news consumption in 48 countries, commissioned by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford. The Report paints a picture of growing distrust in mainstream news and the perception of a polluted online information environment where people find it hard to discern facts from fake news. Worryingly, of the 48 countries surveyed, Australians have the highest level of concern about what is real or fake online, with three-quarters saying they are worried about it. This is especially true of social media where Australians see Facebook (59 per cent) and TikTok (57 per cent) as the two social media platforms posing the biggest threat of spreading misinformation. Facebook is still the most visited social media site for news (38 per cent) but other video-based platforms are gaining popularity with almost one-third of consumers saying they use YouTube and one-in-five using Instagram for news. TikTok is the fastest-growing social media platform for news at 14 per cent which is up 12 per cent since 2020, particularly among younger generations. The growing use of social media and the decline in trust is accompanied by a loss of interest in news, and growing news avoidance. Over the past decade, there has been a significant drop in news interest, particularly among women and those aged 35+. More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Australians say they often, sometimes or occasionally avoid the news. The reasons given range from the negative impact it has on their mood (46 per cent), perceptions of untrustworthiness or bias (37 per cent), and news fatigue (32 per cent). Trust is also an important factor that correlates with people's decision to avoid news. Consumers who trust the news are much less likely to say they avoid it (60 per cent) than those who distrust the news (79 per cent). People who are concerned about misinformation are also much more likely to say they avoid news (71 per cent) compared to those who are not worried about it (53 per cent). This implies that the environment in which news is situated has an impact on audiences' attitudes toward it. While they may not necessarily see misinformation on news platforms, the sheer volume of information online and concerns about false information can lead people to withdraw from news consumption. How can news organisations re-engage audiences who are losing faith in news? While much of the data reflects the decline of mainstream news consumption, it also points to possible remedies for these downward trends. In this year's survey, we asked if respondents had received any type of education or training - formal or informal - about how to use the news. News literacy is a sub-concept of media literacy and refers to the skills that help audiences have control over their relationship with news, alongside knowing how news is produced and distributed. News literacy education aims to develop a critical understanding of news, and how to analyse and assess the quality of sources. In Australia, there are few news literacy programs. However, broader media literacy education has been conducted in primary schools since 2012 after the Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority identified it as a mandatory learning objective. But, for adults and vulnerable social groups, there is not much on offer. The majority of participants (70 per cent) in our survey say they have not had any news literacy education or training. There is a big generational gap. Only 5 per cent of participants aged 65 or older say they have received any kind of education about the news over their lifetime, compared to more than half of 18-24-year-olds. Notable differences are also found between men (29 per cent) and women (19 per cent), city (26 per cent) and regional participants (19 per cent). More importantly, there are critical differences in the attitudes and behaviours between Australian consumers who have received news literacy education and those who have not. Not only are people with news education more likely to pay for news, they are also more interested in news and less likely to avoid it. While they are more likely to be concerned about misinformation, their knowledge of how things work in an online environment means people with news literacy are not deterred by this because they feel more confident in their ability to discern misinformation. When it comes to checking online information that may be false, misleading, or fake, people who have received news literacy education are much more likely to say they go to news sources they trust (50 per cent) compared to those who have not (36 per cent). They are also more likely to turn to official websites and fact-checking. These active verification behaviours confirm the importance of news literacy education in helping Australian consumers navigate the complex online environment. Combined, this year's data provides a strong signal to policymakers and the news media to educate the public about how the news works, its role in society and how to critically evaluate it. Given concerns about social cohesion in Australia, and the rise of more populist approaches to politics, there is a growing need for citizens to be equipped with news literacy education. With half of people who pay for news saying they have received some kind of news literacy training, increasing media literacy levels across the population also makes good economic sense for the news industry. Digital News Report: Australia is produced by the News and Media Research Centre (N&MRC) at the University of Canberra. YouGov conducted the survey in January-February 2025. The data are weighted for age, gender and region. Education and political quotas were applied. In Australia, this is the eleventh annual survey of its kind produced by the N&MRC.
