Wildlife rescuers are increasing measures to prevent the potential spread of the deadly bird flu strain H5N1, which is yet to arrive in Australia, as they respond to reports of thousands of dead shearwaters along the east coast.

The model turns empty buildings into homes for vulnerable women and a shelter organisation wants it expanded to give more people a safe place to sleep at night amid the housing crisis.

The University of Wollongong has approached staff across 25 disciplines for redundancies in a restructure the union fears could abolish its degrees in history, mathematics, geography and languages.

The links between homelessness and substance abuse in the NSW Northern Rivers are in the spotlight today, with the state government's drug summit convening in Lismore. 

Builders in Ballarat say the lure of more work and money in Melbourne is taking away the vital workforce needed to meet the government's ambitious regional 2051 housing targets.

While some lament the recent growth of the Halloween tradition in Australia, residents in Exmouth have been celebrating the holiday for decades thanks to the strong presence of the US military in the town between the 1960s to early 90s. 

About 8,500 Aboriginal people who were underpaid or had their wages withheld due to discriminatory policy between 1936 and 1972 will be reimbursed by the state government following the court's decision.

Community events are a lifeline for rural and regional towns across Australia, but more organisers are making the "heartbreaking" decision to cancel them. 

Last month the Australian Defence Force unveiled a suite of weapons at the land autonomous systems and teaming demonstrations at the Puckapunyal Army Base in northern Victoria.

A recent report has called for a new First Nations tourism body. Those on the ground know the challenges faced by budding business owners.