Graeme Turner AO FAHA, a distiguished humanities and education scholar, passed away on 25 November 2025.

Australian National Dictionary Centre granted lifeline by ‘anonymous donor’, while ANU music school’s future remains unclear * Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast There will be no more forced job cuts at the Australian National University, its interim vice-chancellor has announced, however, Julie Bishop will continue in her leadership role and a restructure at the embattled institution will continue. Addressing an all-staff town hall on Thursday morning, the interim vice-chancellor, Prof Rebekah Brown, became visibly emotional and held back tears before confirming there would no more involuntary redundancies as part of the restructure process, named Renew ANU. Continue reading...

Workers affected by university restructure advised to ‘remove themselves from the hazardous work environment’ if they believe they are at psychosocial risk • Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Almost 30 staff at the Australian National University’s humanities school have stopped work after an internal report warned of psychological hazards in their workplace related to the institution’s restructure. The report was prepared by the health and safety representative (HSR) officer in ANU’s College of Arts and Social Sciences (Cass), who issued a cease-work order on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Some Māori believe that when they die, their spirit travels up New Zealand to the tip of the North Island – souls flying like birds * Australian bird of the year 2025: nominate your favourite now After a long struggle with her health, Mum died in Auckland in 2012. At the end of her funeral service a blackbird (Turdus merula) flew inside the church. It fluttered and hopped about her coffin, which was laid on the floor in front of the altar on a beautiful Tongan tapa cloth. The blackbird lingered next to Mum for some time, then flew back out the open doors. I stayed at my sister Lisa’s home for a week after the funeral. The morning after the ceremony, a blackbird appeared in the back yard. I noticed it as I sat outside. It stayed around for a few days, sometimes perched in the sunshine on a brown wooden fence, often poking around for insects in the new spring grass. Those days were warm, still and quiet – far from how I felt. I found solace in the blackbird. Continue reading...

Chancellor Julie Bishop resists call to resign but fails to quell staff concerns about a drastic restructure, job losses, declining rankings and allegations of a toxic work culture

Resignation follows tumultuous period marked by redundancies, proposed course closures and allegations of a toxic work culture

Independent senator claims there was ‘no faith’ in leadership of Genevieve Bell or Julie Bishop among university staff

Experts say national tests put undue pressure on students and argue many factors are important to help children thrive

Recommendations to remove funding from institutions or charities that fail to act on antisemitism are ‘deeply dangerous’, critics say

Literature lovers braved wintry weather to pass thousands of books from Hill of Content’s original Bourke Street premises to its new home

YouTube video by Guardian Australia

Education reporter Caitlin Cassidy talks to Reged Ahmad about the teachers speaking out about why they are leaving the profession

Here’s a catchup guide to what the rest of us have viewed over the past 25 years

‘When academics fear travelling or partnering with US institutions, the impacts ripple through the entire global knowledge ecosystem,’ Dr Alison Barnes says

‘When academics fear travelling or partnering with US institutions, the impacts ripple through the entire global knowledge ecosystem,’ Dr Alison Barnes says

‘When academics fear travelling or partnering with US institutions, the impacts ripple through the entire global knowledge ecosystem,’ Dr Alison Barnes says

Who will win the federal election? We have no idea, but luckily that’s not one of the questions * Polls tracker; election guide; full federal election coverage * Anywhere but Canberra; interactive electorates guide * Listen to the first episode of our new narrative podcast series: Gina * Get our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcast Continue reading...