Child abuse cases start to rise again

Rachel Browne The number of child abuse and neglect victims rose 20 per cent last year, reversing a long-term decline.

Welfare Critical problem Investigators target worst cases of child abuse

Rachel Browne The number of proven child abuse and neglect victims rose 20 per cent last year, reversing a long-term decline.

Officials 'asleep' on nursing care

Rachel Browne and Vince Chadwick Aged-care advocates fear criminals are using a legal loophole to gain control of nursing homes.

230,000 seek help as housing affordability bites

Rachel Browne Almost a quarter of a million Australians - or one in 98 people - requested help from welfare agencies because they were either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, according to figures from the...

Charity offerings down but people power out in force

Rachel Browne THE groups that support needy people at Christmas are doing it tough themselves this year with charity organisations saying donations have slumped compared with last December.

Adoptions fall to historic low

Rachel Browne and Vince Chadwick The number of children adopted by Australians has fallen to a historic low, with only 333 children adopted in 2011-12.

Adoptions plunge as red tape adds to delay of getting a child

Rachel Browne SOCIAL AFFAIRS ADOPTION by Australians has fallen to a historic low, with 333 in 2011-12.

Aboriginal women in jail surge

Rachel Browne A jump in the number of Aboriginal women in custody has led to a marked increase in the number of women imprisoned in Australia.

Figures expose soaring rate of Aboriginal women in prison

Rachel Browne THE number of female prisoners has increased at 21 times the rate of male prisoners over the past 12 months according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.

Economy weighs on young minds

Rachel Browne The economy has overtaken the environment as the most pressing concern for young Australians.

Disabled youth more abused than others

Rachel Browne Children and young adults with disabilities are three times more likely to suffer abuse and neglect than their peers without disabilities, according to a policy paper released on Tuesday.

What young people fear most - and it's not the environment

Rachel Browne FORGET trees. The biggest concern for the next generation is finding a job to support their families.

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First year of marriage can become wedded hiss for the unhappy couple

Rachel Browne The honeymoon period is a myth, according to new Australian research which has found that couples are unhappiest in their first year of marriage.

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Don't worry, mum will do it: parents pick up the slack for Gen lazY

Rachel Browne IT'S generation Y's dirty little secret. They might be working, studying and roaming the globe but it's mum who still picks up their grotty socks and puts a hot meal on the table.

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Disabled workers challenge naive employers

Rachel Browne A fear of the unknown is deterring Australian employers from hiring more people with disabilities, according to the chief executive of one of Australia's largest companies.

What do you want to do when you grow up, sport?

Rachel Browne MICHAEL CLARKE, Benji Marshall, Cadel Evans - these are the names that fire the ambitions of Australian children.

Sport rules as career choice

Rachel Browne Australian children are more likely to say they want to be an athlete, while pre-teens from developing countries prefer the idea of being a doctor.

Homeless numbers surge despite pledge

Rachel Browne Ambitious pledge to halve homelessness by 2020, launched by Rudd government, is failing to reach its target.

More homeless despite $1 billion funding

Rachel Browne The rate of homelessness in Australia rose eight per cent between 2006 and 2011, despite public funding of $1.1 billion as part of a Federal Government promise to halve homelessness by 2020.