It was a fresh spring morning in late September, about 8.30am, when one of Melbourne’s favourite birds of prey felt something move in the nest beneath her. Under her belly, the first of her four eggs just beginning to crack open. Over the next six or so minutes the tiny chick squirmed and struggled its way free.  Thanks to a webcam fixed on the nest, viewers that morning could watch the small miracle unfold in real time from their breakfast table. In the hours that followed t

“It’s been a horror show … and probably worse in video games than in other industries.” Video game developer Tantalus Media’s CEO Tom Crago says when it comes to diversity in the Australian digital game industry, it’s been an uphill battle to get marginalised workers heard and respected. Despite increasing numbers of underrepresented genders getting a foothold in the industry, the ever-growing list of allegations against one of the world’s biggest video game companies, Acti

When Crystal Andrews realised that many young people relied entirely on social media for their news, she decided to take action. Using Instagram as a base, Crystal set up a site that published explainer features, breaking down news stories and social issues for young Australians. It’s aimed at those want to read beyond what’s published in traditional news channels, or that is usually available via social media. Established in 2019, Zee Feed has built a cult following of over

Elite athletes like Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and tennis champion Naomi Osaka broke the norms when it came to elite athletes talking about their mental health this year. Osaka withdrew from the French Open and Biles from several Olympic gymnastic events, both citing mental distress. The decisions created international social media uproars, and they were flooded with both support and condemnation – a reaction that highlights key stresses for elite athletes. Research by the

Jon Chey is humble about his capabilities and achievements to the point of self-effacement. Yet with a history behind the helm of legendary studios Irrational Games and 2K Australia, and a gaming resume replete with iconic, ground-breaking titles as System Shock 2 and BioShock , Chey’s body of work does all the talking for him. “Jon is a very clever [game] designer … he’s very efficient in a way that I’ll never be,” says Ken Levine, co-founder of Irrational Games and the cre

Alice Clarke, an award-winning freelance games journalist, copywriter and a regular columnist for The Age , had an unconventional start to her career in the industry. She says one of the best pieces of advice she was given in her career came from her mentor, and is a philosophy she still lives by. “Every day the clock resets to zero in journalism. It doesn’t matter how good you were yesterday, it doesn’t matter how much you sucked yesterday. All that matters is what you produ

It’s 2015, Isabelle had just turned 17 and was at her first “grown up” party. Beer bottles overflowed the bin and spilled liquor made the wooden floor sticky. Dancing around to the loud music, talking with her friends, and drinking something mixed with vodka, she was hitting it off with a boy she liked, talking, flirting, and laughing in the laundry room of the house. Suddenly he was on top of her and reaching to unbutton her jeans while he groped her. Tipsy and a little dizz

Alex Danes is starting a revolution. “I’m looking for recruits!” proclaims the creative entrepreneur through laughter, only half joking. “You don’t have to do anything, you don’t have to sell anything to anybody, you just have to walk around and be yourself, that’s how you’re going to join my revolution. It’s the easiest revolution in the world.” It’s a revolution, Alex hopes, that will help create a world where labels don’t have to matter, and everybody can express who they

As Australians struggle through lockdowns, mass job losses and business shutdowns, increasing numbers of people are struggling with mental illness and stress. Large-scale crises like the pandemic can have a large impact on psychological health, with Lifeline recording a 40 per cent increase in calls since 2019. Similar stresses were felt during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, when financial instability and job losses were also an extended concern for many around the nation

It takes a team to take back control of your health, says naturopath Nadia Woods. That team—of health professionals, specialists in their fields—is what brings the best results. But that doesn’t mean you should “manage with and put up with pain and discomfort”, which is what too many health professionals will tell you, Nadia says.  “Some conditions do come with age, but it’s important someone tells you—you don’t deserve to feel like this,” Nadia says. “It’s significant really

Mary Grech is just one of the millions of Melbournians currently experiencing their sixth state-wide lockdown since the beginning of the global coronavirus pandemic. As a senior mental health clinician, as well as a parent and partner, she understands the added pressures this period has placed on Victorians, including couples who’ve found themselves locked in together. “It’s times like these that all kinds of relationships can get stuck in a real rut, which can be hard to exi

Silent Hill 2 is a game that’s stayed with me since I first played it, always waiting in that dank crevice of my brain where I’m afraid to linger for too long. It’s a game that probes at my subconscious every so often, and it serves as a constant reminder of what the human psyche is able to do to itself. It transcends the average notion of what a videogame is, and contradicts the player’s perception of the world and of themselves, as all challenging art should do. I pray I’