Women make up slightly more than half of Australia’s population but they only account for three per cent of qualified tradespeople, at most.

New research done by a team at Charles Sturt University has found that the obstacles begin at school with girls being steered towards university rather than trades.

Lead author Dr Donna Bridges tells Mark more can be done to make trades more attractive to women.

Queensland bush firefighters have enough on their plate dealing with dozens of dangerous blazes across the state without having to deal with deliberately lit fires.

Sadly, it has been revealed that a group of teens may have been responsible for a bushfire on the Sunshine Coast that destroyed at least one home, while there have been several cases in Brisbane over the last 24 hours of children lighting fires.

It’s not just children though and now Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has established a special task force, Task Force Overcross, to track and prosecute the firebugs.

Every dog owner knows the difference they can make to your life, but a program being run at the RSPCA in Brisbane has had miraculous results for one young autistic man.

Bryce Plantener left school at the end of grade 9 but discovered a love for animals.

Since taking part in the Happy Paws Happy Hearts program not only is he more social and less anxious, his mother Josella tells Mark he’s found his calling in life.

The Mitchelton Football Club in Brisbane is reeling after thieves used one of its tractors to crash through a clubhouse wall and steal the weekend takings.

The thieves came prepared with grinders to break into the equipment shed and once into the club house they knew exactly where the money was.

The club is due to host a number of semi-finals next weekend and club president Gary Green tells Mark the community response has been overwhelming.

The peony is one of the world’s most popular flowers, especially loved by wedding organisers and florists come mothers’ day.

The problem is peonies won’t grow in Queensland because they prefer cold climates.

When University of the Sunshine Coast student Krista Bogiatzis tried to source some plants to conduct trials one nurseryman simply hung up in her ear.

She tells Mark after three years of trials she has found a way to grow them in Queensland which could open up opportunities for local horticulturists.

Looking for something to do this weekend?

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To many the 80s was the decade that music and fashion forgot, but a new generation of music lovers and musicians are discovering the fluoro fashions and the bands that defined the era.

On the 20th of September the Eatons Hill Hotel will go wild hosting the Ultimate 80s Fluro Party featuring the likes of Brian Mannix from the Uncanny X Men, Dale Ryder from Boom Crash Opera, Dave Sterry from Real Life and Ally Fowler from the Chantoozies.

Also on the bill is Scott Carne from Kids In The Kitchen and he tells Mark after not being able to get arrested in the 90s, he’s now loving all the renewed interest.

https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ultimate-80s-fluro-party-tickets/artist/2636008

Not every puppy has the makings of a Guide Dog and those that do face years of training from a very early age.

Tomorrow Guide Dogs Queensland is throwing open the doors at its Bald Hills headquarters for people to meet their newest recruits and watch them put through their paces.

Mark was joined in the studio by Jamie-Leigh Mason from Guide Dogs Queensland... and Ayla.

Bravehearts has marked National Child Protection Week with its annual White Balloon Day.

This year it has wanted to highlight the fact that it is not only men who sexually abuse children.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that 10% of alleged perpetrators were women.

Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnson tells Mark that while her organisation has come a long way in 23 years, there is still a long way to go.

https://whiteballoonday.com.au/pledge/

Australia’s consumer watchdog has put the operators of the country’s large customer loyalty schemes on notice after handing down a damning report into the way they conduct business.

Almost nine in ten Australian adults are members of loyalty schemes and the average person has at least four.

The ACCC has raised red flags about whether consumers are actually getting the benefits advertised, and how the companies are dealing with members personal information.

They are concerns shared by Lizzie O’Shea from Digital Rights Watch.