Latest news with #DemosAU
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Most Australians support male educators in childcare, poll finds
Most Australians do not support banning male educators from working with young children, polling reveals, as the nation scrambles to address safety concerns across the childcare sector. The polling, conducted by DemosAU, surveyed 1199 Australians after the case of a Melbourne childcare worker charged last week with sexually abusing children and infants in his care. Despite some calls from sexual abuse victims' families, less than a quarter of respondents wanted men banned entirely, although the figure was higher for parents with children under five. Brisbane mother-of-two Katie Vandevelde was among those to support men working in early education, saying one of her children had had an 'amazing' male educator at his centre. She said she was surprised by the extent of negative commentary shared on local mums' social media groups. Loading 'I was shocked [by] how strongly people felt against males … saying things like, 'there must be something wrong with a male if he wants to work with children',' she said. 'I don't agree with that at all.' Vandevelde was also positive about her daughter's daycare centre, and had 'absolute faith' in the measures taken to keep children safe.
The Age
6 days ago
- The Age
Most Australians support male educators in childcare, poll finds
Most Australians do not support banning male educators from working with young children, polling reveals, as the nation scrambles to address safety concerns across the childcare sector. The polling, conducted by DemosAU, surveyed 1199 Australians after the case of a Melbourne childcare worker charged last week with sexually abusing children and infants in his care. Despite some calls from sexual abuse victims' families, less than a quarter of respondents wanted men banned entirely, although the figure was higher for parents with children under five. Brisbane mother-of-two Katie Vandevelde was among those to support men working in early education, saying one of her children had had an 'amazing' male educator at his centre. She said she was surprised by the extent of negative commentary shared on local mums' social media groups. Loading 'I was shocked [by] how strongly people felt against males … saying things like, 'there must be something wrong with a male if he wants to work with children',' she said. 'I don't agree with that at all.' Vandevelde was also positive about her daughter's daycare centre, and had 'absolute faith' in the measures taken to keep children safe.
Sydney Morning Herald
01-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
No option to un-select the creepy alleys on your map app
Phone apps can warn users of road tolls, freeways, hills and stairs but when it comes to walking safe at night, there's no option to un-select the creepy alleys and dark, lonely streets. One solution? Belinda Mackay, an urban planner, prefers to walk next to a main road, which she says is more likely to have good lighting. 'If you're going to a new area, and Google Maps tells you it's a five-minute walk from the train station to where you need to go, there's no way of knowing that pathway that's being suggested is well-lit,' she said. 'You might find that, actually, the route suggested doesn't look particularly safe, so you're trying to then have to make a decision, mid-trip, on how to continue your journey while feeling safe. 'I'm following Google Maps, and I'm like, oh, down that alleyway? I think not actually – let's try another route.' DemosAU research reveals 84 per cent of Queensland women feel unsafe walking or running alone at night, compared with 47 per cent of men. 'It also shows that younger women and women aged above 55 are particularly concerned about safety, actively avoiding walking home or catching public transport because they don't feel safe,' DemosAU spokeswoman Casey-Ann Seaniger said. And as thousands of fans descend on Brisbane's Caxton Street and Suncorp Stadium for the Women's State of Origin and NRL Magic Round from Thursday, a group of volunteers will walk the streets nearby as part of a project to identify issues that need fixing to increase safety for women and girls, known as the Safe Streets Night Walk.
The Age
01-05-2025
- The Age
No option to un-select the creepy alleys on your map app
Phone apps can warn users of road tolls, freeways, hills and stairs but when it comes to walking safe at night, there's no option to un-select the creepy alleys and dark, lonely streets. One solution? Belinda Mackay, an urban planner, prefers to walk next to a main road, which she says is more likely to have good lighting. 'If you're going to a new area, and Google Maps tells you it's a five-minute walk from the train station to where you need to go, there's no way of knowing that pathway that's being suggested is well-lit,' she said. 'You might find that, actually, the route suggested doesn't look particularly safe, so you're trying to then have to make a decision, mid-trip, on how to continue your journey while feeling safe. 'I'm following Google Maps, and I'm like, oh, down that alleyway? I think not actually – let's try another route.' DemosAU research reveals 84 per cent of Queensland women feel unsafe walking or running alone at night, compared with 47 per cent of men. 'It also shows that younger women and women aged above 55 are particularly concerned about safety, actively avoiding walking home or catching public transport because they don't feel safe,' DemosAU spokeswoman Casey-Ann Seaniger said. And as thousands of fans descend on Brisbane's Caxton Street and Suncorp Stadium for the Women's State of Origin and NRL Magic Round from Thursday, a group of volunteers will walk the streets nearby as part of a project to identify issues that need fixing to increase safety for women and girls, known as the Safe Streets Night Walk.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'David and Goliath battle': leaders make final pitch
The electoral combatants have sharpened their pitch to Western Australian voters in a state poll that most people predict is a forgone conclusion. Labor is universally tipped to win a historic third term in Saturday's election after two landslide victories in 2017 and 2021. But the Liberals are hoping the party can significantly erode the incumbent's 53 of 59 seat stranglehold on the WA lower house. Two opinion polls published on Friday point to gains for the Liberals. A Demos AU survey of 1126 people predicts a 57-43 two-party preferred vote, with a 13 per cent swing against Labor that could put up to 11 seats in reach of the Liberals. Newspoll similarly predicts Liberal gains of up to 11 seats, with its polling showing a 57.5 to 42.5 two-party-preferred Labor lead from a 12.2 per cent swing, up from 56-44 a month ago. Liberal leader Libby Mettam said Labor had taken Western Australians for granted and after eight years it was time for a change. "If Labor are re-elected tomorrow, nothing will change," she told reporters on Friday at a polling station in Perth's northern suburbs. Labor is taking Western Australians for granted. If Labor win on Saturday, nothing will change. After 8 years, Labor haven't delivered for you. Families are struggling under cost-of-living pressures, our health system is broken, homes are unaffordable and hard to find, and… — Libby Mettam (@LibbyMettam) March 6, 2025 Ms Mettam said the health system was broken, housing was unaffordable and costs of living pressures and crime were out of control as she batted away questions about her predicted loss. "We appreciate it's a David and Goliath battle, but we're listening to the people of Western Australia," she said. "Only the WA Liberals have a plan and a team with experience, who have had real jobs, that are committed to fixing the priorities that Western Australians are talking about." Asked about her leadership if the Liberals lost the poll, Ms Mettam said she was comfortable in her position and she was focused on winning the election. Premier Roger Cook reminded voters about his party's Made In WA manufacturing strategy which has been its key pitch during the election. "We'll bring manufacturing back to the heart of our economy. We'll locally manufacture our trains, our ferries, our busses, our batteries, wind turbines, poles and wires as part of our decarbonisation and clean energy transition," he said from a metal works business in Perth's north. "Labor will keep the WA economy the strongest in the nation." Mr Cook, who is yet to win an election as premier off his own back after replacing Mark McGowan who down in 2023, also leaned in on Labor's track record in government. "In times of global uncertainty, WA needs experienced leadership. It needs a steady hand at the wheel and only WA Labor can provide that for the state," he said while flanked by Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti. Asked about Friday's polls, Mr Cook said that Saturday's election was the only poll that counted but he was buoyed by the results. "We're obviously pleased that our hard work is starting to be recognised, and if these polls are an indication of the outcome on Saturday, we'll be delighted. But we're not taking anything for granted," he said. More than 450,000 of Western Australia's 1.86 million electors had cast their pre-poll ballots as of Thursday, according to the state electoral commission.
