Latest news with #Danika
SBS Australia
5 days ago
- Health
- SBS Australia
Queensland's homeschooling parents pleased with outcome from review
A win for homeschooling parents in Queensland, fighting to make the system more accessible for families. The Queensland government has accepted all 8 recommendations of an independent review into the Home Education Unit. The regulatory review, which published its report in September 2024, was prompted by widespread opposition to the previous state government's attempts to enforce legislation that would impose the Australian curriculum on homeschooling students. That move was firmly rejected by parents like Danika, who homeschools her neurodiverse 8-year-old son Ben. Danika says she's most excited about a recommendation to trial a shorter style of written reporting, alongside an online interview. She says this would offer a promising alternative for Queensland parents, after a positive experience with a moderator while homeschooling in Western Australia. "Whereas in Queensland, you feel it's just cross your fingers and hope that you can continue to do, and there's a lot of uncertainty around the processes over here, and it is quite daunting to submit a report every 12 months with no real guidance, no real reassurance that you are doing what they require. Having a person to report to would be humanising to the procedure, so that would be quite nice to have someone, a face, face to the documents would be nice. So yeah, I think that it is very exciting to have that process possibly come into play for us and just alleviate that kind of stressor." Sunshine-based parents Danika and her husband Joel, made the shift to homeschooling in 2022 after Ben's classroom anxiety reached a tipping point. Danika is among thousands of Queensland parents who moved to homeschool their children after 2020, with the Queensland government saying there was a 230% increase in home education over the past 5 years. It brings the current number of homeschooling students in Queensland to more than 11,000. Brisbane-based Patricia Fitzgerald is campaign manager of the Free2Homeschool movement, which gathered more than 21,000 signatures opposing the former Queensland government's attempts to enforce the Australian curriculum on homeschoolers. She says the government's decision to accept all of the report's recommendations is a great move forward for the community. 'I just think that with the reviews, the recommendations that have been proposed, it's going to be a really good opportunity for the HEU to connect with the community and build that connection and more support rather than just having the regulatory side. Having that educational leader there to bridge that gap and to build that supportive side as well is going to help a lot of the families who are trying to find that information and trying to find the community." Ms Fitzgerald pointing to the first of the recommendations - to transform the Home Education Unit, which will be renamed Queensland Home Education, to ensure greater practical support and regulatory oversight. There are hopes the appointment of education leader Dr Renae Acton will improve processes for families, alongside enhancing resources, such as program templates and exemplar annual reports. Queensland's Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek told SBS he supports a parent's right to choose the best type of education for their family. "We as a government support choice, I've done distance education myself or correspondence as we called it, partly because I lived in another country in Papua New Guinea. And the important thing is that if parents choose to do it, we want to make sure we support them just as we support them in the other frames of schooling that they might choose, whether it's state or non-state schooling." Minister Langbroek couldn't outline a date for when the recommendations would be legislated, saying his government prioritises consultation. This comes as legislation to raise the age cut-off from 17 to 18 for homeschooling students is still under review, after it was tabled in March. But Mr Langbroek says some of the recommendations from the regulatory review are already being enacted - including changing the name of the unit to Queensland Home Education, as well as extending the stakeholder consultation via the Home Education Expert group, by another six months. "We used to criticise the former government for consulting but already having made a decision about something. So this is genuine consultation with the group, so we want to keep the momentum going about the positive work we've been able to do with parents and stakeholders, and then continue parent engagement before we try to make any legislative change." One of the key aspects of the recommendations is to enhance resources and supportive tools for parents meeting regulatory requirements. Danika welcomes access to learning programs and reporting scaffolds, which are particularly helpful in teaching a neurodiverse child with individualised learning. "The learning plan that I have for Ben being neurodiverse, we very much follow his interests at the time. And having an online reporting scaffolding will really help me just report as we learn because we do have a plan in place, but obviously following just natural interests and natural ways of learning, it does change as we go. So having a formalised reporting structure will help us just keep tabs on where we're at and what we're learning and how we're learning it." But she would like to see state and local governments offer greater support for homeschooling co-ops, which allow groups of homeschooling families to collaborate and provide educational and social opportunities for their children. "We really need the support from local government backed by, sorry local councils backed by government, to ensure that we are setting up safe spaces for our children. All the boxes are being ticked to keep it a safe environment for our children and that they can continue to build regular foundational relationships within those groups instead of being shut down every couple of months because local councils are getting one complaint from someone who doesn't agree with the way that we are teaching our children. So I think that's another way that the government could help us all support us on our journey." The Queensland Family and Child Commission released a separate report in December 2024, in response to concerns raised by the Child Death Review Board in their 2022-2023 report. It "affirmed a parent's right to choose the most suitable learning environment for their child", but called for improved information-sharing between state government departments to ensure child safety. Minister Langbroek told SBS that his government are considering the work of the Queensland Family and Child Commission, acknowledging past obstacles around information sharing. "And Premier Crisafulli has been very clear that he wants me as education minister working closely with the Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm, the Attorney General Deb Frecklington, and
NDTV
02-07-2025
- NDTV
Indian-Origin Woman Assaulted By Pedestrian In UK, Dies In Hospital
London: A 56-year-old Indian-origin woman succumbed to a head injury suffered during an assault while out on a street in the eastern England city of Leicester and a 23-year-old male suspect charged with her murder has been remanded in custody. Nila Patel died in hospital from her injuries last week after being attacked as a pedestrian and Leicestershire Police has said a post-mortem examination gave the "provisional cause" of her death as a head injury. Michael Chuwuemeka appeared before Leicester Crown Court sitting at Loughborough on Tuesday charged with her murder and also faces additional charges of dangerous driving, possession with intent to supply Class B or banned drugs, attempted grievous bodily harm relating to a prior incident and assault of an emergency worker following an alleged assault on a police officer after his arrest on June 24. He has been additionally charged with causing actual bodily harm in connection with a separate victim in London earlier. "A post-mortem examination has been conducted and a provisional cause of Nila's death has been given as a head injury," Leicestershire Police said. The force also shared a statement on Tuesday issued by Patel's son Jaidan and daughter Danika in tribute to their "kind-hearted and devoted" mother, who was a "loyal friend, and an incredibly hard worker". "We are heartbroken, but we want the world to know who our mum truly was - a beautiful, vibrant soul who deserved so much more," reads the statement. "Her love was quiet but powerful - shown through warm meals, thoughtful words, and a smile that could light up any room. She always put others before herself, offering comfort without ever asking for anything in return. Even when life was hard, she carried on with strength, dignity and a smile on her face," they said. Jaiden and Danika said she raised them with patience, love, and unwavering support, and that their greatest wish was always to make her proud. Their statement adds: "Mum's life was full of love, and the stories we've heard from those who knew her have reminded us of just how deeply she touched the lives around her. She was truly rich in love and generosity. "We will miss her more than words can ever express. We didn't get the chance to say goodbye, and that pain is something we carry every day. But we will continue to speak her name with pride, honour her memory, and live by the values she taught us. Mum's story matters. Her life mattered. We ask that anyone who hears her story helps us keep her name and memory alive." Leicestershire Police has set up an online portal to encourage people with more information into the attack on Aylestone Road in Leicester on June 24.
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Makes you angry with God' – Barry McGuigan speaks powerfully about struggles after losing a child
BARRY McGuigan has spoken of his anger with God in the years since his daughter Danika died from bowel cancer. The rising actress was only 33 Advertisement 2 Danika died only six weeks after her cancer returned Credit: PA:Press Association 2 The boxing hero spoke movingly about losing a child while on I'm A Celeb last year Credit: Australia Media Her boxing legend father has since described the constant pain that has stuck with him, wife Sandra and their other three children since Danika's death in 2019. Most recently he acknowledged in a chat with Sadly, her untimely passing isn't the only grave misfortune to have hit his family over the years either. He set out: "I can't talk about it, because if I talk about it I get upset. Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport "It makes you just angry with God. I can't really explain any more. "I spent my life dedicated to God and I feel so let down and so sad by what happened. "My brother died of suicide at 34, my father died at 52, my sister died in 2021 with breast cancer, we've had a horrific, dreadful, dreadful time. "You ask yourself when is it gonna end, when is it gonna stop? Advertisement Most read in Boxing "It's hard to believe in anything when you have had a tough time like that." That sombre moment came towards the end of what was an otherwise quite upbeat interview as he promoted an upcoming event in his native Clones that'll mark the 40th anniversary of him becoming a world champion. Eddie Hearn teases Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury in 2025?! + Allen KOs Fisher | Split Decision | Sun Sport The Clones Cyclone became an Irish sporting great when This Sunday week will see the commemoration of that momentous victory by showing the full 15 rounds of ring action at a special screening at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan Town. Advertisement The 64-year-old will field questions after guests watch the bout back on the big screen. While he's famed for the prowess of his fists, the former He actually boasts quite impressive musical lineage since his dad Pat represented Ireland in the 1968 The event is set to run from 1pm until 6pm with tickets Advertisement If you're affected by any of the issues raised in this article, the following organisations provide support: Samaritans freephone 116 123, free-text HELLO to 50808 for an anonymous chat, contact Pieta any time at 1800247247 or Aware from 10am-10pm on 1800804848.
Irish Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Barry McGuigan's son fights back tears as pays emotional tribute to late sister
Barry McGuigan's son Shane gave an emotional interview after running the London Marathon in honour of his late sister, Danika. Danika, who was a much-loved actress, passed away in 2019 at the age of 33 after a brief battle with cancer. And her brother Shane, himself a well-respected boxing coach, said that his family is still coming to terms with her death. After crossing the London Marathon finishing line, Shane told BBC: 'My sister got diagnosed with leukaemia at 11 to 13, and she got through it, and then she unfortunately passed away with bowel cancer at 33. "So yeah, I'm doing it for her.' The 37-year-old encouraged people to push themselves and prioritise their health. 'Go and do something, go and challenge yourself. Health and fitness are such a big part of people, it should be a big part of people's lives,' he added. Shane's boxing hero father Barry spoke candidly about his daughter's death when appearing on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. "It was hard for weeks in the hospital, just watching, shocking," McGuigan said tearfully.
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Barry McGuigan's son chokes back tears as he dedicates London Marathon to late sister who tragically died from cancer
SHANE McGUIGAN dedicated his involvement in the London Marathon to his late sister Danika. Actress Danika McGuigan 2 Danika McGuigan died from bowel cancer in 2019 2 Her brother Shane ran the London Marathon in her honour She has been lovingly remembered every day since by her boxing legend dad Barry, and her boxing trainer brother Shane. He completed the race with an impressive time of 3:08:17 while raising vital funds for Young Lives vs Cancer, the UK's leading charity for children and young people with cancer. And speaking to the BBC after crossing the finish line of the London Marathon, he held back tears as he paid tribute to her. He said: "My sister got diagnosed with leukemia at 11 to 13. Read More on London Marathon "She got through it and then she unfortunately passed away with bowel cancer at 33 so I'm doing it for her." Asked if he had a message for those watching on and considering doing the marathon or any other form of exercise, he said: "Do it, go push yourself. "I saw a lot of people unfortunately collapsing with dehydration and stuff, so within your limits, push yourself but go and do something. "Go and challenge yourself. Most read in Athletics "Health and fitness is such a big part of people - it should be a big part of people's lives. "You only get one body, you only get one life and there are plenty of people who are not able to move so go out there and move." I'm A Celeb's Barry McGuigan breaks down in tears as he opens up about daughter's heartbreaking death live on GMB Shane's dad earned plaudits from fans when he shed tears remembering Danika on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here last year. And speaking to The Sun after he was voted off the show, the 63-year-old revealed He told The Sun: 'It was the saddest thing that's ever happened to me and my wife. We'll never recover from that. 'I can't explain to you how sad it's been for us for the last five years. 'She was with me in there. She watched the show regularly. 'I probably wouldn't have got as far as I did without her being with me and I know she travels everywhere with me. 'I believe that 100 per cent. And we'll see each other again sometime.' He added: 'I think about Nika all the time. She would have loved to have seen me on this show. She would have been so proud of me, I know that. 'I know she was responsible for me getting into this. I just know she was.'
