|
If you have kids (and probably even if you don’t) you’re sure to be intimately familiar with Bluey. The Australian cartoon about a family of blue heelers – six-year-old Bluey, her little sister Bingo, mum Chilli and dad Bandit – has become an international hit, even picking up an Emmy award along the way.
New episodes are set to begin airing on ABC Kids from today, and so David Burton and Kate Cantrell have used the opportunity to take a close look at the dad of the family, Bandit. Everyone loves Bandit. He’s been called ‘father of the year’, and there is a Facebook group of 14,000 dads who identify as his fans. But, David and Kate ask, is he all he’s cracked up to be? Could it be that Bandit is less Number One Dad, and more … Australian larrikin?
As David and Kate describe him, Bandit is “the underdog who knocks authority, mocks pomposity, and regularly breaks the rules to get what he wants”. And you don’t really need to look very far at all to see what they’re talking about: it’s right there in his name.
Don’t worry. David and Kate conclude Bandit is an entertaining and engaged father, intimately involved in his kids’ lives. But it is worth a read to consider how we tell stories of Australian characters, and how the larrikin stereotype still plays large in our cultural imagination.
|
|
Jane Howard
Section Editor: Arts + Culture
|
|
David Burton, University of Southern Queensland; Kate Cantrell, University of Southern Queensland
He’s been awarded Father of the Year – but there is a darker side to this character we need to talk about.
|
Clare Collins, University of Newcastle
Newly reported study findings suggest a link between eating more fish and dangerous skin cancers. But the findings are based on observations only and more research is needed.
|
Gregory Melleuish, University of Wollongong
It’s early days for Littleproud’s leadership, but the policy issues the party faces – energy and live sheep exports, for example – are perennial.
|
Uri Gal, University of Sydney
Recently, concerns have been raised over the harm caused by misinformation in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and federal elections.
|
Anne Pender, University of Adelaide
The Pulitzer Prize winning writer’s latest novel, based on the true story of a champion thoroughbred, represents historical fiction at its best.
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Gregory Melleuish, University of Wollongong
It’s early days for Littleproud’s leadership, but the policy issues the party faces – energy and live sheep exports, for example – are perennial.
-
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Michelle Grattan discusses the political week that was with Emma La Rouche from the University of Canberra’s Media and Communications team
-
Larissa Christensen, University of the Sunshine Coast; Ashley Pearson, University of the Sunshine Coast; Dominique Moritz, University of the Sunshine Coast
Recent technological advancements mean fictitious children can now be almost indistinguishable from real children in child sexual abuse material.
-
Emma Lee, Swinburne University of Technology
An Indigenous Voice to parliament and government does not require a constitutional enshrinement or referendum to be enacted immediately. So why is the Australian government asking for a referendum?
|
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Clare Collins, University of Newcastle
Newly reported study findings suggest a link between eating more fish and dangerous skin cancers. But the findings are based on observations only and more research is needed.
-
Amanda Kvalsvig, University of Otago
The government’s COVID policy for schools needs to shift from insisting on attendance to supporting the well-being of children, staff and families wherever they are.
|
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Uri Gal, University of Sydney
Recently, concerns have been raised over the harm caused by misinformation in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and federal elections.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
Emmi van Harten, La Trobe University; Lindy Lumsden, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research; Thomas Prowse, University of Adelaide
Already critically endangered, the southern bent-wing bat is still declining in a drying climate. If we don’t step in, it will likely be extinct within three generations of bat.
|
|
Education
|
-
Tiffani Apps, University of Wollongong; Karley Beckman, University of Wollongong; Sarah K. Howard, University of Wollongong
The fast-growing educational technology industry is poorly regulated and profits from user data. Australian law, education departments and schools can all do more to improve safeguards for children.
|
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
David Burton, University of Southern Queensland; Kate Cantrell, University of Southern Queensland
He’s been awarded Father of the Year – but there is a darker side to this character we need to talk about.
-
Sasha Grishin, Australian National University
The Picasso Century at the National Gallery of Victoria is a remarkable exhibition that may change the way you will view Picasso.
|
|
Books + Ideas
|
-
Anne Pender, University of Adelaide
The Pulitzer Prize winning writer’s latest novel, based on the true story of a champion thoroughbred, represents historical fiction at its best.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Youngdeok Lim, UNSW Sydney; Ann Kayis-Kumar, UNSW Sydney; Chris Evans, UNSW Sydney
Tax advisers are more likely to act as “tax exploiters” for wealthy clients but “tax enforcers” for the rest of us.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Paul Ramsay Foundation
Sydney NSW, Australia
•
Full Time
|
|
|
Western Sydney University
NSW, Australia
•
Full Time
|
|
|
State Library of Queensland
South Brisbane QLD, Australia
•
Casual
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
Featured Events, Courses & Podcasts
|
View all
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
