Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

Australia spends billions of dollars a year subsidising childcare centres. But what if that money flowed to parents, instead of providers?The debate is gaining attention as a Senate inquiry investigates the quality and safety of Australia's early childhood system.Supporters say it would give families more choice, while critics argue it's not what's best for children. So how might an expansion of the childcare subsidy work, and how much would it cost? 

Are your favourite things about work the breaks you get to take from it?Weekends, clocking off after an eight-hour shift, and taking paid holidays.There's a new proposal from the Australian Council of Trade Unions to increase annual leave from four weeks to five.So what would it take to make changes like this happen, and are they actually realistic?

Learning to drive is a rite of passage for many Australians, but when it's your turn to be the teacher you might question whether you're actually qualified for the task. A recent survey from one of Australia's largest car insurers has found some parents feel pretty apprehensive about teaching their teenagers to drive.So do we have the skills to prepare our learners to hit the road? 

Meals on Wheels has been around for more than 70 years, providing much more than food to the older Australians who rely on the service. But in a growing number of communities across Australia, Meals on Wheels is facing challenges.From the end of the month, Meals on Wheels clients in the Alpine Shire in regional Victoria will instead receive a fortnightly delivery of frozen meals from a private company.In other places, Meals on Wheels services are being forced to turn people away or put them on waiting lists because of funding shortfalls.So what does the future like for this much-loved community service?

If you had to rank your sex life between 1 to 10, where would you land? According to a recent survey, nearly half of Australians are unhappy with their sex lives, putting us well below the global average.So what's going on? How do everyday relationship dynamics create barriers to intimacy, and how can you create a safe environment to speak your mind in the bedroom?

What would you do if you discovered while grieving your partner that they had been unfaithful? How do you process the mixed emotions of betrayal and regret, and should you keep the secret?

Do you pay attention to unit prices at the shops?Maybe you even know the exact time your local supermarket discounts things so you can swoop in and grab a bargain.What if supermarkets started using those same tactics on you? With the rollout of electronic shelf labels — those little digital screens replacing paper tags — prices can be updated instantly at the push of a button.It's becoming more widespread in Australia, and although it's not inherently problematic, some are concerned that the way it's being used overseas could have implications for Australian shoppers. 

Ever experienced a toxic workplace?Nearly two thirds of Australians have — and 42% of them left their job because of it, according to SEEK research.As workplace culture makes headlines following the fallout between radio duo Kylie Sandilands and Jackie O, we look at how to recognise toxic behaviour, and what you can do about it.

Australia Post has warned the day will soon come when it delivers its last letter, with the rising cost to provide the service outstripping demand.While snail mail enthusiasts are clamouring to keep the art of letter writing alive, the volume of letters we're sending each other has dropped off a cliff, to levels not seen since the late 1930s.So what might a post-post world look like, and how will the record of history we leave behind change without letters?

Think about a piece of art that moved you — perhaps it triggered a treasured memory, or transported you to a different time and place.When we talk about the public value of the arts, we often focus on how it makes us feel, the way it helps us to connect with each other.It's a powerful force that can evoke strong emotions, change our perspectives and even motivate us into taking action, but could it save our lives?And how do we make more room for art in our lives when we're already overwhelmed by the demands of daily life?