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A proposed dog park at Centenary Park in Robinvale has been put on hold due to concerns that the area contains Aboriginal ancestral remains. The site, traditionally known as Bumbang, is a ceremonial, massacre and repatriation site for the Tati Tati people.
A new school lunch program aims to tackle child hunger and improve student wellbeing in Moe, Victoria. The Spoonfull program provides every student at participating schools with a healthy lunch every day.
A Watch and Act bushfire warning has been issued for Central Gippsland communities as an out-of-control bushfire continues to burn in the region. Residents of Golden Beach, Paradise Beach, Seacombe, and Dutson Downs are advised to monitor conditions and prepare to leave.
Melbourne's beloved Italian-Australian icon, Franco Cozzo, is being fondly remembered for his larger-than-life personality and contributions to the city's cultural fabric. Cozzo's business empire, which began with a furniture showroom in North Melbourne in 1959, has been revived by his daughters in Brunswick.
A 50-year-old man was rescued after falling 30 metres down a rock crevice in San Remo, south-east of Melbourne. Emergency services faced challenging conditions in accessing the site, but a multi-agency response ultimately led to a successful rescue.
A unique housing scheme in Mildura has been providing funding to local schools for over 140 years, with 184 lots leased to individuals and organisations instead of being sold freehold. The scheme, set up by Canadian engineers William B Chaffey and George Chaffey, generates around $1.95 million annually for 27 primary and secondary schools.
Travellers Aid, a vital service helping Victorians and visitors navigate the state's public transport system, is celebrating 110 years of assisting those in need. The organisation provides a range of services, including mobility assistance, travel companions, and emotional support.
A regional GP has labelled the federal government's plan to cut migration as a 'circus' amid concerns that the changes will create doctor deserts in rural towns. The changes are expected to have a significant impact on the health care sector, particularly in regional areas.
A Gippsland mother has been charged by police after allegedly sewing a recording device into her non-verbal son's clothing in an attempt to uncover the reason behind his distress at school. The mother, who had been expressing concerns about her son's experience at school, was advised by a disability advocate to use the recording device.
A 33-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in Mildura after police intercepted an illegal drug importation. The drugs, 500ml of 1,4-Butanediol, were linked to sexual assaults and overdoses.
A brawl at Melbourne's Northland Shopping Centre has resulted in five arrests and a knife seizure. The incident is the latest in a series of violent events at Melbourne shopping centres.
Police intelligence suggests young people are stashing knives in public places across Melbourne, in an attempt to skirt Victoria's machete ban. The trend has led to concerns about the growing risk of violent crime in the city.
A rapid warming trend is set to bring the hottest September weather in years to south-east Australia this weekend, with temperatures soaring up to 12 degrees Celsius above average. The sudden change comes after a polar blast brought frigid air and snow to the region earlier in the week.
A growing number of young people are pushing back against the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in their daily lives, citing concerns over its impact on learning, the environment, and society. They argue that AI stifles independent thought and creativity, and are calling for a slowdown in its development and deployment.
A new film, Being Heumann, is set to make a significant impact on disability representation on screen. The movie tells the story of Judith Heumann, a key figure in the American disability rights movement.
A 20-year-old man has been charged in relation to a fatal shooting in Melbourne's north earlier this month. The arrest was made at Melbourne International Airport as the suspect tried to board a flight out of Australia.
A Geelong man has been charged with importing and possessing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug after allegedly trying to smuggle about 2,500 methadone pills into Melbourne Airport. The man was arrested at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday after Australian Border Force officers X-rayed his luggage and found five plastic bags containing nine kilograms of the opioid hidden inside.
A Victorian police officer has been charged with common assault against a teenager following an investigation into the use of force during an arrest in Ballarat last October. The officer allegedly unlawfully punched and kicked the teenager multiple times after they were handcuffed and compliant.
Police are seeking to extradite a Melbourne woman after detectives allegedly linked a gun from two Sydney shootings to the mistaken identity gangland murder of Marco Tapia. The 26-year-old woman, Amenah Abusud, is alleged to have been recruited by an organised crime network to participate in the shootings.
Netball Australia is taking steps to address the lack of elite Indigenous talent in the sport with the introduction of the Black Swans, the country's first-ever First Nations team, and the annual First Nations Tournament. The tournament has brought together players from across the country, providing a platform for them to connect and compete.
The Sealers Cove walking track at Wilsons Promontory has reopened after a five-year closure due to storm damage. The $4.8 million rebuild involved a temporary camp and complex logistics.
Victoria's TAFE system is facing a funding crisis, with new research showing it has the lowest funding per hour of education delivered in the country. The Australian Education Union is calling for a change to the government funding model to address the issue.
New research has found that as vehicle sizes grow, so does the risk to pedestrians. For every 10cm of vehicle height, the odds of a pedestrian death rise by 11 per cent.
University leaders and students have expressed concern over the federal government's plan to bar most international students from bringing their families to Australia under sweeping migration changes. The move is part of a broader bid to lower overseas net migration numbers.
An 18-year-old woman was brutally assaulted and stabbed multiple times in an incident at Deer Park on Wednesday night, police are investigating a possible online dispute that led to the violent incident. The teenager suffered six stab wounds and was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
A man accused of murdering his tenant over a $2,000 rent dispute more than 20 years ago has faced trial in the Supreme Court. Steven Johnson has pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder, in relation to the disappearance of 38-year-old Christopher Jarvis near Warrnambool.
The historic Mount Buffalo Chalet in Victoria is set to reopen after 20 years, thanks to a partnership between Belgravia Outdoor Education and Parks Victoria. The chalet will host school camps and offer a unique experience for students and visitors.
A recent report has revealed the extent of deterioration and dangerous potholes across Victoria's state-managed roads, with the proportion of roads in poor or very poor condition increasing from 39 to 48 per cent between 2021 and 2024. The government has promised to fix half a million potholes this financial year, but experts say more needs to be done to prevent the problem.
A 24-year-old man from Aldinga Beach has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for multiple sexual offences against children. The offences, which occurred over a period of more than three years, included the indecent assault and unlawful sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl on a train in Adelaide's southern suburbs.
A public speaking event featuring former AFL player Ben Cousins has been cancelled following backlash from the Ballarat community. The event, titled 'Raw', was scheduled to be held at the George Hotel tonight.
The family of 71-year-old Peter "Tiki" Mason, who died after his motorcycle reportedly struck a pothole on a regional Victorian highway, is heartbroken at the "sudden and devastating loss". The family has released a statement asking that Mr Mason's death not be used to promote "political agendas".
A growing religious congregation in Melbourne's south-east will need to continue searching for a new spiritual home, after an application to build a new church was rejected by the local council. The Bethel New Life Christian Fellowship had applied to build the two-storey church in a green wedge in Cranbourne South.
The Spirit of Tasmania ferry booking website crashed temporarily due to high demand, with 150,000 visits in the first half hour after tickets went on sale. The new ferries, set to start sailing from October 31, have generated significant interest with ticket sales up almost nine times compared to last week.
Albury residents have concerns about a major industrial site being sold to a company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI). The site was sold by Visy to Sharon AI, which plans to return the underutilized brownfield site into a running operation that benefits the local community.
Experts are calling for more support for domestic and family violence in regional and rural Australia, as the country grapples with a crisis. A report has found Australia's response to be 'highly fragmented' with an uneven distribution of support services.
Residents in Melbourne's outer west say population growth is outpacing infrastructure, leading to long commutes and a lack of access to public transport. The City of Wyndham is one of Australia's fastest-growing urban regions, with a population expected to reach 480,000 in 20 years.
A revised plan for the Suburban Rail Loop's new Box Hill station will conserve more of the popular Box Hill Gardens, but displace additional residents and businesses. The updated proposal has sparked mixed reactions from local residents and business owners.
A 17-year-old girl found dead in a Ballarat squat house was under child protection and living in residential care. The coroner's court has heard that the girl, Mia, had a complex mental health history and had gone missing 94 times while in state care.
A 71-year-old motorcyclist from Ballarat died after hitting a pothole on the Western Highway in Victoria's south-west. The incident has sparked renewed concerns about the condition of the state's road network.
The Navarre Grasshoppers have won the Maryborough Castlemaine District Netball League grand final, defeating Carisbrook 58-51, in a highly emotional game played in honour of teammate Zanaiya Bergen, who died in a car accident on Thursday evening. The team, and the wider community, have come together to pay tribute to Zanaiya, who was remembered as a funny, energetic, loyal and kind person.