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Program: Life Matters

Source:ABC Radio National

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Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. Let's talk! With trusted experts and your stories, Life Matters is all about what matters to you.

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Latest

full episode

Changes to family law focus on 'the best interests of the child'

The federal government recently passed major amendments to the Family Law act, which remove the presumption of shared parental responsibility and seek instead to prioritise the needs of the child.

Published: 11h agoTue 21 Nov 2023 at 10:00pmwith Hilary Harper

Duration: 54 minutes 26 seconds

segment 1 of 2

What does the 'the best interests of the child' mean for family law?

Ending a marriage or a serious relationship can be worst time of your life.

Published: 10h agoTue 21 Nov 2023 at 10:27pm

An empty court room in Australia

Duration: 38 minutes 7 seconds

segment 2 of 2

The value of lived experience

Anja Christoffersen was born with VACTERL Association, a cluster of physical abnormalities that led to many trips to hospital over her early years, including extensive surgery when she was only 5 hours old.

Published: 10h agoTue 21 Nov 2023 at 10:27pm

Photo of a young woman in a blue dress

Duration: 13 minutes 31 seconds

More from Life Matters

Why are people taking supplements they don't need?

More than one third of Australians take a dietary supplement, but far fewer people need to be.

Duration: 54 minutes 36 seconds

Published: MonMon 20 Nov 2023 at 10:00pmwith Hilary Harper

Who really needs to be taking supplements?

More than one third of Australians take a dietary supplement, but far fewer people need to be.

A pile of supplement capsules on a granite benchtop

Duration: 20 minutes 1 second

Published: MonMon 20 Nov 2023 at 10:00pm

Staying COVID safe over the Summer break

Australia is seeing another wave of COVID infections—our eighth—with Queensland and South Australia identified as the early epicentres. Nationally, there are about a thousand cases a week, on average.

Pink and green visualisation of covid-19

Duration: 16 minutes 34 seconds

Published: MonMon 20 Nov 2023 at 10:00pm

Brad's parachute failed, but he created a new life

Ten years ago Brad Guy was on top of the world, literally. Then a tandem skydive ended very, very badly. While it's been an extremely challenging road since then, Brad's story is ultimately one of hope.

Brad Guy is wearing a beanie and sitting in front of a colourful background

Duration: 14 minutes 5 seconds

Published: MonMon 20 Nov 2023 at 10:00pm

More from us

Leap

Leap is a series about people who have made a huge life change.

leap pic

Published: 8 Nov 2023Wed 8 Nov 2023 at 11:07pm

Life in 500 Words

Our theme for Life in 500 Words is My Happy Place. Tell us where you go in your mind when your brain needs a break. It could be a place you go physically, in your imagination or somewhere you're aspiring to get to one day.

Life in 500 words

Published: 13 Jul 2022Wed 13 Jul 2022 at 6:32am

Tiny Tasters

Award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavsky explores vital foodie factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of advice for better health at every age.

A woman in a pink jacket grins at the camera.

Published: 4 Nov 2022Fri 4 Nov 2022 at 12:54am

Get your voice on RN

You can now record your thoughts are share them directly with your favourite RN programs.

Published: 20 Jun 2022Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 1:34am

Feature Articles

How a lawyer's sex work side hustle turned into something much more

Mitch has always been open to new ideas. So when someone suggested sex work, the early-career lawyer decided to try it as a 'side hustle'. It turned into something more.

In an opulent room with ornate chairs, grand piano and golden candelabras, smiling man in black suit leans against piano.

Published: YesterdayTue 21 Nov 2023 at 4:26amby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Bec Zajac

Not everyone agrees special schools should be phased out. But there's consensus about one thing

After the disability royal commission called for the phasing out of special schools, it put the spotlight on how mainstream education could support more students with disability.

Empty classroom with several empty chairs and tables, set against large windows.

Published: 10 Nov 2023Fri 10 Nov 2023 at 5:08amby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Michele Weekes

This family spent their house deposit on a family holiday. It changed their lives

When life wasn't quite working for Sydney parents of four Jodi and Daniel, they decided to take a road trip. It proved to be a life-changing act.

Against a large red rock, a man and woman and four young children, wearing neat casual clothes, stand close together smiling.

Published: 8 Nov 2023Wed 8 Nov 2023 at 11:13pmby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Bec Zajac

How adults make it hard for young people to disclose they're in a violent relationship

One in three 18 to 19-year-olds in Australia has experienced intimate partner violence in the last 12 months. These young people's experiences show what might help.

Seen from behind, a young person with singlet and hair tied in bun sits on a bed in slightly dark room facing a large window.

Published: 1 Nov 2023Wed 1 Nov 2023 at 6:41am

Too Hard Basket

Too Hard Basket: who takes the apartment block bins out?

You've lived in a small apartment block for about a year, and never taken the bins out. One day, your downstairs neighbour aggressively tells you off for this, despite them always being out by the time you return home on bin night.

A woman drags a wheelie bin in front of a house

Duration: 12 minutes 59 seconds

Published: ThuThu 16 Nov 2023 at 11:59pm

Too Hard Basket: the politics of Zoom calls

You're on the organising committee of a volunteer community group that meets via video call, and your leader demands that everyone turns their cameras on. You resent this, because after a long busy day, the last thing you feel is camera ready.

Over the shoulder shot of a woman taking notes while on a group video call on her laptop

Duration: 10 minutes 45 seconds

Published: 10 Nov 2023Fri 10 Nov 2023 at 2:16am

Too Hard Basket: the Halloween party duel

You are planning a Halloween party when you learn a close friend is planning to hold one on the same night. You agree to move yours to the night before and you both agree to attend both.

A woman dressed as a devil and a woman in a skeleton costume stand back to back at a party holding drinks

Duration: 11 minutes 45 seconds

Published: 3 Nov 2023Fri 3 Nov 2023 at 12:13am

Too Hard Basket: my child thinks I'm flirting with my male friend!

You have a great rapport with the father of one of your child's schoolfriends. You see each other often, have great platonic chemistry and hope to become better friends.

Couple in denim looking shocked and embarrassed at the camera

Duration: 11 minutes 21 seconds

Published: 26 Oct 2023Thu 26 Oct 2023 at 11:44pm

Life in 500 Words

Life in 500 Words: Sharyn's happy place is the family farm

When Sharyn Hall grew up her family owned a hobby farm in Seeton in the Gippsland region of Victoria. Although the property is no longer in the family, she can enjoy the memories of that time and place.

Two children play in a red rattler train carriage

Duration: 4 minutes 24 seconds

Published: MonMon 20 Nov 2023 at 3:04am

Life in 500 Words: Roschelle's happy place helped her get through a tough time

While Roschelle Don was in hospital recovering from strokes, she imagined herself getting back to the beach at Shoal Point in Mackay. Happily, she was able to do just that. The theme for Life In 500 Words is My Happy Place.

Roschelle with her arms wide open on the beach with bay behind

Duration: 4 minutes 13 seconds

Published: 8 Nov 2023Wed 8 Nov 2023 at 11:33pm

Life in 500 Words: Anne-Marie's trip to Tanna

When Annemarie Smith is ready to meditate, she closes her eyes and revisits a family holiday to the island of Tanna. It has beautiful beaches and coconut trees, as well as an active volcano. The theme for Life In 500 Words is My Happy Place.

Sun setting over the water with lush green trees and bushes in the foreground

Duration: 4 minutes 58 seconds

Published: 24 Oct 2023Tue 24 Oct 2023 at 11:53pm

Life in 500 Words: Catherine's homecomings

Catherine Bell reflects on her childhood, time spent away from home at boarding school, and how much it meant to come back. The theme for Life In 500 Words is My Happy Place.

A black and white photograph of a weatherboard farmhouse

Duration: 4 minutes 59 seconds

Published: 18 Oct 2023Wed 18 Oct 2023 at 12:54am

Life Matters Turns 30

Life Matters turns 30: John Hinde AM

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with beloved ABC journalist and film critic, John Hinde, from 2002. At the time, John had just been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

Duration: 19 minutes 58 seconds

Published: 7 Dec 2022Wed 7 Dec 2022 at 12:22am

Life Matters turns 30: Breaking Bad star R.J. Mitte on acting and kick-ass advocacy

From the 30th birthday archives, actor, advocate, brother, son and a runway model for Vivienne Westwood’s show, R.J. Mitte talks candidly.

Duration: 24 minutes 34 seconds

Published: 19 Dec 2022Mon 19 Dec 2022 at 5:14am

Life Matters turns 30: Sir Ken Robinson

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with British creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson from 2009.

a head shot of a smiling fair haired man wearing glasses

Duration: 25 minutes 38 seconds

Published: 7 Dec 2022Wed 7 Dec 2022 at 4:31am

Life Matters turns 30: Shirley MacLaine and her beloved dog Terry

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with Shirley MacLaine from 2004. Shirley speaks about life, intimacy, and how her dog Terry changed her life.

Duration: 18 minutes 56 seconds

Published: 7 Dec 2022Wed 7 Dec 2022 at 4:23am

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