Australia

  • Most Topular Stories

  • Business Migration to Australia

    Business Visas Australia
    Mege Dalton
    13 Jun 2013 | 2:29 am

  • Every Parent’s Nightmare (Part 1)

    Boomerang Books Blog
    Fiona Crawford
    14 Jun 2013 | 2:06 pm
    Almost every person in prison protests their innocence, but Australian Jock Palfreeman*, who is serving 20 years in a Bulgarian prison for the death of a Bulgarian national, arguably has more reasons to protest than most: it’s unlikely he committed the crime. For a little over five years (and while much of the Aussie-locked-up-OS attention has gone Schapelle Corby’s way), Jock’s been incarcerated in a Bulgarian prison under more-than-dubious circumstances. Jock’s story commences as any number of Australians’ does: He’s 19, restless, fearless, and setting out on the great European…

  • How to get a World Cup ticket

    The Sydney Morning Herald News Headlines
    18 Jun 2013 | 6:29 pm
    The Socceroos are heading for Brazil, are you?    

  • Jill Meagher's savage killer jailed for life

    NEWS.com.au | Top Stories
    18 Jun 2013 | 6:22 pm
    UPDATE: JILL Meagher's father says "justice has now been done" and thanks police after the sentencing of murderer and rapist Adrian Ernest Bayley.    

  • Scientists create supersized insects

    NEWS.com.au | Breaking News
    18 Jun 2013 | 6:32 pm
    AUSTRALIAN scientists have re-created a series of super-sized bugs in a Melbourne lab - but don't worry, they're just for research purposes.    
 
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Conversation

  • Art out of the wilderness: Turner exhibition shows how far we've come

    Joanna Mendelssohn, Program Director, Art Administration, School of Art History and Art Education. Editor in Chief, Design and Art of Australia Online at University of New South Wales
    18 Jun 2013 | 6:05 pm
    When visitors come to the Turner from the Tate exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia, the experience is to travel through time and space to early 19th century Britain. It was a time of social turmoil and war, when the French Revolution led to the rise of Napoleon and his defeat by the mighty British Navy. It is a beautiful illusion. The Turner exhibition comes to Australia as part of an international tour organised by the Tate in London, but the way in which the works are displayed, the narratives unfolding of the brilliant barber’s son who could draw in the classical tradition…

  • Disciplined and on-message, wind farm opponents are a force to be reckoned with

    Will J Grant, Researcher / Lecturer, Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at Australian National University
    18 Jun 2013 | 5:43 pm

  • Container deposit laws past their use-by date

    Dick Gross, Tutor in Climate Change at University of Melbourne
    18 Jun 2013 | 1:41 pm

  • Lack of dietary iodine threatens brain development in children

    Heather Yeatman, Associate Professor in School of Health Sciences at University of Wollongong
    18 Jun 2013 | 1:41 pm
    Iodine is naturally present in a range of food, especially seaweed and fish. So it may seem odd that the people of an island nation (most of whom live along its vast coastline) are not getting enough of this vital mineral. Insufficient iodine causes a range of problems including hypothyroidism (which can also be caused by too much of the mineral), high cholesterol, lethargy, fatigue and depression. But its most insidious impact is on brain development, and therefore, on children. Research recently completed in Adelaide shows that our primary attempt to address iodine shortage (by requiring…

  • Can ex-doper Matt White lead a clean pro-cycling team?

    Craig Fry, NHMRC Career Development Fellow at Victoria University
    18 Jun 2013 | 1:39 pm
    The official reinstatement of confessed doper Matt White as sports director of Australian World Tour pro-cycling team Orica-GreenEdge passed with surprisingly little media or public scrutiny last week. But while many fans may feel justified in switching off the drugs in sport saga, this latest development in Australian cycling deserves much closer focus than it is presently attracting. White’s return to Orica-GreenEdge comes eight months after his October 2012 admission to doping as a professional cyclist with Lance Armstrong’s US Postal Service team. He has since revealed that he doped…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    All Breaking News

  • MasterChef recap: Schooled in jaffle politics

    18 Jun 2013 | 6:37 pm
    Tonight it's back to school for MasterChef as Curtis Stone and Shannon Bennett choose to fly in the face of a society that has too long held onto the notion that children should be seen and not heard. No, the pair have chosen to have their own 20-year high school reunion by returning to their alma mata and pitching a new concept, children should be poisoned and not fed.    

  • Justice has been done: Jill's family

    18 Jun 2013 | 6:33 pm
    The family of murdered Melbourne woman Jill Meagher has thanked police and prosecutors after her killer was jailed for life.    

  • Paedophile former priest faces more questions

    18 Jun 2013 | 6:32 pm
    Infamous paedophile and former catholic priest Gerald Risdale will be interviewed for a second time over new sex abuse allegations.    

  • 'Mad beats muscle everyday': Bayley faces tough time in jail

    18 Jun 2013 | 6:29 pm
    The bulky frame of convicted murderer and rapist Adrian Ernest Bayley won't save him from beatings in prison, says former lawyer and convicted drug trafficker-turned author Andrew Fraser.    

  • Scientists create supersized insects

    18 Jun 2013 | 6:29 pm
    Australian scientists have re-created a series of super-sized bugs in a Melbourne lab - but don't worry, they're just for research purposes.    
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Women's Network Australia Blog

  • Aussies Have Quoted on the Best Companies for Customer Experience

    Danielle MacInnis
    18 Jun 2013 | 3:00 pm
    Nunwood is a consultancy that is known to do Customer Experience Excellence (CEE) research. They have just finished a survey of 5000 Australian consumers to uncover what specific needs count when creating value for money and a great customer experience in a study this year. Top Ten Brands Singapore Air, Air New Zealand RACQ (Royal [...]

  • Is Facebook Marketing Right For You?

    Natalie Alaimo
    16 Jun 2013 | 3:00 pm
    I’m sure you have heard from hundreds of people that you should be marketing your business on Facebook. And why not? Not only is it the world’s largest social networking platform but with almost 12 million Australians on Facebook, over half the population of Australia is using it! Before you jump on the Facebook bandwagon [...]

  • The Value of Link Building to Search Engine Optimisation

    Deb Jeffreys
    13 Jun 2013 | 2:53 pm
    Internet marketers and search engine optimisation (SEO) specialists have been buzzing and blogging about link building for years. And recently, the term has been gaining momentum as a discussion topic because of changes last year to the Google algorithms. Links are the way that pages of information on the Internet connect together. Traditionally, the ‘popularity’ [...]

  • Keep Them Keen

    Ruth Thirtle
    12 Jun 2013 | 3:00 pm
    I am really not sure who came up with the idea of “treat ‘em mean to keep them keen” and I would wonder where this ever applies – and it certainly doesn’t apply in your business. In order to keep people keen on having a relationship with you and your business you need to treat [...]

  • Now I have all 3 [tablet brands]!

    Heather Maloney
    11 Jun 2013 | 3:00 pm
    One of the benefits of working in the IT industry is that I get to try out all manner of new technology.  I’ve recently purchased the new Windows RT tablet (which adds to my collection of tablets including an iPad 2 and an Android Acer Iconia Tab A500). I’ve given all of them a good [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Australia Travel Guide

  • 10 Great Places to See in Australia’s Outback (Besides Uluru)

    Jessica
    10 Jun 2013 | 10:20 am
    Think of the Australian Outback, and it’s likely to be one image that comes to mind first – Uluru. There’s good reason for this, of course, as the great red rock is an iconic image of not just the Outback but of Australia itself. As you might expect, however, there’s much more to the Outback than just Uluru. Here are some of the not-to-be-missed destinations and attractions in central and western Australia – besides Uluru. Mount Augustus – There’s another great red rock in Australia’s Outback, and it’s actually bigger than Uluru. Mount…

  • Top 5 Attractions on the Gold Coast

    Jessica
    10 Jun 2013 | 1:16 am
    South of Brisbane lies the spectacular Gold Coast, 70 kilometres of coastline that blends sophisticated urban charms with some of the most beautiful natural settings in the world. While there are many state-of-the-art theme parks and amusements throughout the region, the knockout attractions are provided by nature with these 5 a must-see on your Gold Coast holidays. The Beach at Surfers Paradise Surfers Paradise, capital of the Gold Coast, is home to the region’s most popular beach. While there are quieter beaches and surfier beaches and some say even prettier beaches, the broad,…

  • Top 10 Dive Reefs in Queensland

    BootsnAll
    3 Jun 2013 | 4:45 am
    The clear warm waters and blue skies of Queensland make this region the number one dive haven in the world for Queensland holidays. Cod Hole at Ribbon Reefs in North Queensland offers scuba divers a large selection of local potato cod, as well as red bass, emperor and Maori wrasse. Divers can actually see the fish being fed by dive masters. Coral, anemone, giant clams and pyramid butterfly fish abound in this Queensland holidays paradise. Osprey Reef on the Coral Sea in North Queensland has a reputation as one of the most glorious dive sites worldwide is well deserved, for its pristine soft…

  • Campervan Travel in Perth and Western Australia

    BootsnAll
    31 May 2013 | 10:00 am
    Perth and Western Australia edge the Indian Ocean. The coastline has sandy beaches and Perth is on the lovely Swan River. The region has areas of agriculture, the Ningaloo Reef, forests, Shark Bay, and back-country wilderness, mountains, and dessert. The state also has national parks like Karijini and Kalbarri. While visitors to Australia typically head for Melbourne or Sydney, here are some cities in Western Australia to take your campervan, if you you plan to head west. Broome A popular getaway destination during the dry months of May through September, people come for the beautiful…

  • Top 5 Perth Outdoor Attractions

    BootsnAll
    2 Oct 2012 | 10:00 am
    Perth is slowly becoming one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations. With its fast-paced development due to the mining boom in nearby areas, it is slowly becoming a hub for both glamorous and laid-back lifestyles. Perth hotels range from cheap, long-term options to 5 star and luxury accommodation that sits on its outskirts by private beaches and lush forestry. It truly is a place that caters to any traveler and is well worth a visit, whether you’re an Australian native or an international traveler. Here are our top 5 Perth attractions, however rest-assured, this is just the…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Pearl Maple

  • Good Thoughts

    18 Jun 2013 | 3:15 am
    "If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely" Roald Dahl Have lots of fun new creative projects on the worktable to share soon, for now a wintery full moon from the beach because I know my Sky Watch Friday friends always enjoy a beach view.  

  • Celebrating Life

    14 Jun 2013 | 8:05 pm
    Project Life is making a big impact on the world of papercrafting and art journaling.  Those little pockets unleash a different kind of creativity and I love that focus on writing the story to go with the photos.   Last month we held a celebration of life for our mother with the kind help of Nici who helped us embrace the message of celebrating the beauty of our days.  At the same time

  • Perception

    14 Jun 2013 | 3:30 am
    "The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an extent that it changes the world you see."  Dr Robert Holden A quickie roadside photo from a morning commute. This time of year the sun is a blaze of colour in the early morning light. Sharing with my friends from Sky Watch Friday who love to find interesting views of the ever changing sky.  

  • To Live

    6 Jun 2013 | 3:28 am
    "To live, to err, to fall, to triumph, to recreate life out of life. " James Joyce A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Happy Sky Watch Friday friends, am working on some new creative projects to share with you soon, for now we have a pretty early morning moment with nature. Moments like this make me feel so alive and ready to see what the day brings.

  • New Light and New Projects

    25 May 2013 | 8:42 pm
    "I have found you have got to look back at the old things and see them in a new light" John Coltrane Getting back to creative projects again. . . . May’s prompt for One Little Word was easy for me, quotes and positive affirmations keep popping up for me each month as a way of keeping the focus. There are so many words that come our way each day, what information you value and keep makes a
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Audra's Australian Adventures

  • Repatriation FAQ

    1 Jun 2013 | 4:17 pm
    What?!                Yes, we are moving back to the United States.Why?I want to be closer to my family and the friends I have loved all my life.  I hate my job.  Kevin has been very sick and is finishing treatment and we want to start a new chapter.  We move every three years and the clock ran out on Adelaide last month.  I am bored.  There is no place like home.  Why not?Do you have jobs?                NoWhere…

  • 52 Card Pick Up

    1 Jun 2013 | 3:46 pm
    A little over 7 years ago, our life was in a bit of a lull.  Still reeling from the failure of our Mexico venture and the emotional chaos that followed Dusty’s suicide, we retreated to our house in Northern California and watched the rain fall.  Days became measured by the interval between the morning news and the commencement of happy hour, weeks by the gap in morning news programs, months by the stacks of recycling piled beside the garage.  With no jobs, no prospects, and a dwindling savings account, Kevin informed me that he had always wanted to live in Australia.  We…

  • A Game of Solitaire

    25 Apr 2013 | 7:31 pm
    Compulsively, once more, I shuffle the deck and flip the cards one by one, sorting them into four piles, count the cards in each. Even. Reshuffle. Do it again. The cards always fall the same.Spades1) My job sucks the joy out of my soul on a daily basis2) Relatively homogenous nationwide culture3) Bogans4) Prams5) Cost of Living6) Boring news programs7) Lack of local meteorologists 8) Serious lack of tacos9) Not belonging10) Seasonal incongruity of holidays11) Faded sense of adventure and discovery12) Grocery store locations13) Hugh JackmanDiamonds1) I work with a wonderful team of…

  • Goin' Bush

    2 Apr 2013 | 1:05 am
    I was feeling rather feral when I walked through my front door, like a precious housecat who had been locked out for 5 days and comes home dirty, fur matted, covered in scratches and smelling of urine.  A bath, the first order of business – but I am rather proud of my filthy appearance and wish to show it off.  Alas, Kevin is not home – no audience for bragging, so I retire to a hot tub to review the weekend.The plot begins with an invitation from Alison to spend the long-Easter weekend camping on her property near Bredbo in New South Wales – which, according to Apple Maps is…

  • Birthday Reflections

    19 Nov 2012 | 1:41 pm
    I am not prone to wallowing in superstition, especially Chinese superstition, which seems to be the most abundant variety.  Nonetheless, I am experiencing a disproportionate feeling of relief to bid farewell to the age of 44, the Chinese pronunciation of 'four' closely resembling the sound of the word for death.It has been a rough year, and while there is no particular reason to be more optimistic about the year ahead, I cannot help but feel a hurdle has been crossed.  Is it odd that I still feel that middle age is some vague destination that lies ahead of me, despite a deep knowing…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    armagnac'd

  • Extracts from a personal letter

    13 Jun 2013 | 4:49 pm
    I wrote a long and personal letter to an aunt and uncle who have always been close. They looked after me a lot when I was at boarding school, I remain friends with my cousins, who introduced me to underage drinking and heavy rock, amongst other important rites of passage. We have not seen much of them recently, but they have stayed in regular contact with my parents. Because of the particularly close relationship I had with them, and my aunt being my father's sister, one of the only people he might ever listen to in the world, I have struggled not to feel disappointed that they have not…

  • RIP Jeff Hanneman - and why I still respect one of the heaviest bands on earth

    2 May 2013 | 8:25 pm
    Two random autotrivias : 1) I once did a stint as a blow in DJ on a heavy radio show as 'metal REALNAME' 2) the riff to Slayer's Raining Blood was my best party trick back in 1991-2 (when I could actually play a bit of guitar). I have just unleashed a string of tributes to this band on Tumblr and facebook.My enduring respect for them may seem incongruous, and I listen to as much jazz as heavy rock these days (and very little true heavy metal). But some of those bands, Slayer in particular, were important for me at a very vulnerable time. Depressed and lost at 18, and…

  • The Guilty Christmas and the bitter aftertaste

    1 May 2013 | 7:07 pm
    "Christmas is Poo Poo!" was a Boi's summary, at the end of a day with my parents. He was angry and upset. And I was wondering why I did this to him.We spent last christmas with my parents in Queensland. Now this blog, as anyone still following knows, has in the past few years been dominated by, even poisoned by my issues with my father. This escalated after his grand statement that he would never come and visit us (and he hasn't). I unpacked fragments of a life of self-loathing and doubt here, I also took the plunge and spent quite a few hours with a counsellor.I reached a sort of…

  • School is actually rather crap for working parents

    12 Mar 2013 | 4:26 pm
    Nuclear family is best, with mum doing 'schooly' stuff along with craft group, dad hard at work leaving all that to the missus.I mean it. I'm just passing on the sustained message we have received from our first year and a bit at school. Things are never going to be easy, dealing with fairly demanding careers while wanting to be part of our children's education. I have previously posted about the early, obvious challenges such as picking up at 3.30pm, or not, and a general emotional sense of wanting to be more involved. Not all of that can easily be fixed. But over and over I find decisions…

  • Crosscurrents of the intertubes

    25 Nov 2012 | 4:12 pm
    I am pulled in different directions, by my love for this blog and the history I have embedded here; by a desire to stretch my writing into prose and poetry that stands (or falls) alone, that I can attempt to foist or at least revisit and re-edit until it is the best that I can do; and by the ease of sharing and networking I have found in other places.So much of the current of daily life, especially concerning my family, now goes on facebook. Drop me a line at armagny [ATSYMBOL] gmail DOTT com if you want to stay in touch with my real life persona and share such news.I have recently played…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    APO - Latest Research

  • Summary report to the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee

    19 Jun 2013 | 10:55 am
    This report is an update on implementation of recommendations of World Heritage Committee decision: 36 COM 7B.8, Great Barrier Reef (Australia) (N 154).

  • Understanding the patterns, characteristics and trends in the housing sector labour force in Australia - final report

    Tony Dalton, Ralph Horne, Prem Chhetri, Jonathan Corcoran
    19 Jun 2013 | 10:27 am
    This study finds that the availability of labour for housing construction is not a contributor to poor housing affordability in Victoria or Queensland. Description This study utilises a mixed methods approach, including a literature review, exploratory interviews with industry stakeholders, quantitative analysis of spatial and temporal aspects of the industry, and focus groups with experienced residential builders.

  • Looking beyond offenders to the needs of victims and communities

    Mick Gooda, Emilie Priday, Louise McDermott
    19 Jun 2013 | 9:48 am
    As a result of increased advocacy for justice reinvestment in recent years, the Australian Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is conducting an Inquiry into the value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia. The Australian Human Rights Commission’s former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Dr Tom Calma, was one of the first proponents of the justice reinvestment approach in Australia in the Social Justice Report 2009.

  • Organisational sustainability of small councils

    17 Jun 2013 | 2:47 pm
    Over the past five years, the reliance of audited councils on government grants has grown substantially. While rates and charges have increased in real terms, this has not been enough to keep pace with councils' increases in costs. Several audited councils are projected to have deteriorating positions against key financial indicators, which places them at a higher risk of short-term and immediate sustainability concerns.

  • Congestion costing critique

    Todd Litman
    17 Jun 2013 | 2:35 pm
    The Urban Mobility Report (UMR) is a widely-cited study that quantifies and monetises (measures in monetary units) traffic congestion costs in U.S. metropolitan regions. This report critically examines the UMR’s assumptions and methods. The UMR reflects an older planning paradigm which assumes that “transportation” means automobile travel, and so evaluates transport system performance based primarily on automobile travel speeds; it ignores other modes, other planning objectives and other impacts.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Miscellaneous Mum - Trying to find the objective correlative, everyday

  • Kitchen Truths: It Looks Like This EVERY Day

    Karen
    17 Jun 2013 | 4:10 pm
    (Sometimes all day) Kitchen Truths: It Looks Like This EVERY Day is a post from: Miscellaneous Mum - Trying to find the objective correlative, everyday New book Crying in the Car: Reflections on Life and Motherhood available on Kindle!

  • I Will Week (Sponsored)

    Karen
    16 Jun 2013 | 2:10 pm
    I’m quite embarrassed to admit this, but I still haven’t made a Will. I’ve mentioned this point a few times over the years and you’d think this might’ve been enough to spur me into action. Alas, no. It appears I’m not alone in this situation: statistics show that 55 per cent of Australian parents with children under the age of 18 do not have a Will, and those who are expecting a baby aren’t far behind, with 70 per cent not having a Will either. Now, I’m not sure how many Victorians are aware but this week, from 17 to 23 June, is I Will Week. This campaign is…

  • What Has Been Your Biggest Reading Surprise?

    Karen
    12 Jun 2013 | 4:50 pm
    If the buzz over last week’s infamous ‘Red Wedding’ episode of Game of Thrones has anything to teach us, it’s how much people love a good surprise. But those of you were listening really carefully, if you could hear anything over the internet screams and memes of shock and YouTube films of people’s reactions, if you could get past all that there was something else … you would’ve heard the collective snorting of those people who’ve already read the books, knowing full well what was about to happen. After being questioned about what he thought…

  • An Abandoned Attempt At A Collaborative Post That Was Supposed To Demonstrate Undying Love But Instead Revealed A Startling Amount Of Ambivalence

    Karen
    9 Jun 2013 | 6:48 pm
    [KAREN bounds into the room, full of energy.] Karen: So, hey, I have this idea for a post where we could write a couple of quiz questions, thus revealing how much (or little) we know about the other and will – hopefully – be reasonably amusing and entertaining to boot. [Hands over a pad and pen already scavenged from the cupboard.] See? All ready to go. [ADAM places these writing tools in his lap and sighs heavily.] Karen: What’s wrong? Adam: Nothing, let’s get on with it. [KAREN notes his lack of enthusiasm but presses on, hoping it's temporary. She sits down beside…

  • Where Do We Go From Here?

    Karen
    5 Jun 2013 | 4:21 pm
    Tired. So very post-festival tired. More than last year, I think. I had grand plans of jumping back into writing/blogging (and I have a deadline, in fact), but instead I’ve been doing a fair bit of staring into the middle distance. Listening to upbeat music to push through the energy slump. I’ll be back to normal* soon. But, in the meantime, if anyone has any suggestions as to what they’d like me to blog about, hit me up as this is the moment! If you went to the EWF – did you enjoy it? (I did, but that’s a given.) I’d love to hear! *Yes, whatever that might…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Karen Cheng's Fashion and Life

  • Celebrity Styling Charity Fundraiser

    admin
    17 Jun 2013 | 9:59 pm
    Hey! I’m excited to announce my latest charity and fashion project! To celebrate the brand new fashion season, 7 West Australian celebrities were invited to put together a winter outfit for Rockingham Shopping Centre … to raise money for 7 different charities. And I have been chosen to be one of those “celebrities”. Haha! I’ve never actually been called a “celebrity” before! Also participating, are 3 Australian Football League players, a radio DJ, a local Mayor, and another fashion blogger. Each celebrity nominates their favorite charity… and my chosen…

  • A Million Golden Reminders

    admin
    15 Jun 2013 | 11:58 pm
    Looking up at the trees this morning, I was struck by the thousands of leaves waiting to fall to the ground… with each leaf being the brightest and happiest yellow I’ve ever seen. New beginnings. Fresh start. Anticipating the new. I’m not exactly sure what kind of symbolism inspired me. But I was filled with the warmest sense of happiness and contentment… about life, about my loving husband, children, parents and friends. And I was once again humbled by how blessed I am. So here’s me wishing all my readers a wonderful start to the week! Love and sunshine to you…

  • Blue Tweed

    admin
    15 Jun 2013 | 12:44 am
    Meet my new favourite jacket! It’s a light weight, classic tweed jacket with a speckled blue and metallic colour. While my overall dress style is not so ”ladylike”… I like that it gives a big nod to Chanel’s iconic tweed jacket and I like that I can wear it with boyfriend jeans, for a bit of modern contrast. I popped it over my black and white outfit, to amp up the style and also to soften the leather pants. I’m already looking forward for the weather to warm up so I can wear it with summer shorts and mini skirts. Outfit Details: Blue Tweed Jacket by Shinn…

  • Seriously Blogged Up

    admin
    13 Jun 2013 | 8:00 am
    My 4 year old and I went for a long cycle the other day. We rode through parks and playgrounds, and eventually we stopped at the top of a little hill, looking down into a small pond. Our eyes widened. We know this pond quite well. The edge is usually full of green water reeds, and it is teaming with ducks, water birds and insects. Today however, the pond looked as if there was some major construction or dredging going on. The water was gross, brown and septic looking. It was dirty, muddy and messy. “Whoa! What’s going on??” The both of us exclaimed. Upon careful observation, it looked…

  • Silver Shoes and Pink Lips

    admin
    12 Jun 2013 | 8:00 am
    So I’m currently lusting after some silver heels! Metallics are set to be my new neutrals. You? Outfit: Zoe Karssen sweater from Shopbop Veda leather skirt from The Outnet Michael Kors watch from Amazon Fashion Silver heels from ASOS Dannijo earrings from Shopbop Pink Lips clutch from LuisaViaRoma ( See all my Daily Outfits here ) Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Boomerang Books Blog

  • Every Parent’s Nightmare (Part 1)

    Fiona Crawford
    14 Jun 2013 | 2:06 pm
    Almost every person in prison protests their innocence, but Australian Jock Palfreeman*, who is serving 20 years in a Bulgarian prison for the death of a Bulgarian national, arguably has more reasons to protest than most: it’s unlikely he committed the crime. For a little over five years (and while much of the Aussie-locked-up-OS attention has gone Schapelle Corby’s way), Jock’s been incarcerated in a Bulgarian prison under more-than-dubious circumstances. Jock’s story commences as any number of Australians’ does: He’s 19, restless, fearless, and setting out on the great European…

  • Doodles and Drafts – A Blog Tour Adventure with The Littlest Bushranger

    Dimity Powell
    13 Jun 2013 | 3:46 pm
    I was one of those horsey girls as a kid. Loved them. Couldn’t accept parents’ refusal to keep one of them in our backyard. So I transformed my trusty bike – the one with the chopper-style handlebars – and the dog’s leather lead into the best little mare you could imagine. I actually steered the bike around for months using those ‘reins’; through pitted canons and deeply wooded forests (our backyard was large and varied in landscape). Imagination. It’s every kid’s greatest gift and most alluring asset. And Alison Reynolds’s and Heath McKenzie’s latest picture book,…

  • A book thrice launched

    George Ivanoff
    11 Jun 2013 | 4:06 am
    This month sees the release of my new teen novel, Gamers’ Rebellion. It is the third book in the Gamers series (YAY, I’ve achieved trilogy status) and it’s a book that’s getting three launches. Three launches? Am I being greedy? Well, there is method to my madness. Allow me to explain. Gamers’ Rebellion is aimed at kids and young teens. The first two books, Gamers’ Quest and Gamers’ Challenge, are on the Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge booklist for Years 5&6 and Years 7&8. So it seemed logical to aim a launch at this age group. That happened a few weeks ago at…

  • Review – All Aboard the Nutmobile!

    Dimity Powell
    9 Jun 2013 | 6:17 pm
    Australia is well-known for its myriad of contrasts and tempestuous weather. Devastating bushfires, consuming floods, and cyclonic furies can weary even the staunchest of spirits. But, seldom ones to lie down in defeat, Aussies love to rise above a challenge; plucking inspiration, hope, and incredible optimism from the deepest of floods waters. This is precisely how the team of Macadamia House reacted following the Queensland 2010/2011 floods. They rebuilt their farm and salvaged their business. And from this rescued kernel of a nut, grew the idea for their first picture book. All Aboard the…

  • Stephen Michael King’s Baker’s Dozen – Classics you’ve read to your kids

    Dimity Powell
    6 Jun 2013 | 7:04 pm
    Every now and then it’s nice to reflect and remember the golden moments of yesterday. And nothing conjures up warm, snugly memories better than a magic word or two, shared and cherished with those you love. When I asked children’s illustrator author, Stephen Michael King, what his reading list looked like, he trumped the idea with a list of classics reads, dredged up from his recollection of days spent reading them with his children. Have a look. Do you recognise any of your favourites? Perhaps you’ve shared one or two of them yourself… One dozen classic stories I’ve…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Visas Australia

  • Business Migration to Australia

    Mege Dalton
    13 Jun 2013 | 2:29 am

  • Australian Business Visas

    Mege Dalton
    12 Jun 2013 | 9:15 pm
    Mege Clara Dalton LLB, PGCertLP, PGDipLP Australian Registered Migration Agent MARN) 0501113 Australian Solicitor (Queensland Supreme Court) Give your Australian Business Visa Application The Best Chance of Success Many business owners, investors and senior managers each year emigrate to Australia to pursue new business and family lives down under. Business migrants are influences by a range of factors to emigrate, some quite personal and other factors commonly shared – a desire to live in a warmer climate for example or perhaps to pursue a new business opportunity. One of the biggest…

  • Australian Skilled Occupation List Changes

    Grainne Coyne
    12 Jun 2013 | 4:57 am
    The Australian Department of Immigration announced changes to the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), effective July 1st 2013. Nothing too drastic, with the removal of only five occupations from the current list, so you could still be swimming with the dolphins. Here are the occupations that have been removed…….read more

  • 457 Billboard Campaign Highlights Union Hype

    Grainne Coyne
    27 May 2013 | 2:41 am
    One of the major Australian trade unions has launched a billboard campaign in Sydney and Melbourne aimed at inflaming voters to put pressure on their local members to curb the number of 457 visas granted. The billboards stating “More Apprenticeships, fewer 457 visas” are part of the ongoing immigration debate in the lead up to the general election in September…….read more

  • Minimum Wage Increase causes War of Australian Sectors

    Grainne Coyne
    21 May 2013 | 6:29 am
    After the controversial 2013 Budget last week, the Australian government continue their charm offensive in the lead of to the general elections by increasing the minimum wage. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said, “The Australian government supports an appropriate increase in the National Minimum Wage and award wages in 2013. Any increase should take account of changes…….read more
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Interpreter

  • Can G20 leaders save the multilateral trading system? Will they bother?

    18 Jun 2013 | 6:43 pm
    This week saw the US and EU agree to launch talks on what has been described as potentially the 'biggest bilateral trade deal in history.' The proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is the latest in a series of so-called 'mega-regional' trade arrangements. Australia is a participant in negotiations over two other mega-regional deals, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which recently completed its 17th round of negotiations in Lima, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which held its first round of negotiations last month. As Geoff Miller…

  • Interview: Kishore Mahbubani's great convergence, part II

    18 Jun 2013 | 4:07 pm
    Below, part 2 of my interview with Kishore Mahbubani, one of Asia's most prominent world-politics commentators and author of The Great Convergence. Part 1 here. SR: You're very critical in The Great Convergence of international institutions such as the UN, WTO and World Bank, which you point out tend to either exclude or give too little weight to emerging economies, particularly those in Asia. This is an imbalance which you argue needs to be corrected. Can you explain why the task of making the key institutions of world order more representative is important? And secondly, how do we get there…

  • Indonesia's police: The problem of deadly force

    17 Jun 2013 | 10:38 pm
    Jim Della-Giacoma is the Asia Program Director for International Crisis Group. Watch video My four year-old daughter recently came home from her Jakarta kindergarten with a story about a visit to the school from the head of our local police station. 'If there is a robber and he's running away, the policeman will pull out his gun, fire in the air, and if he doesn't stop then he will shoot him in the leg', she recounted breathlessly. I have spent 25 years working in and around conflict zones, including more than a decade in Indonesia. My reaction might not have been that of the average parent.

  • From APEC to Abbott: Adieu, Australia

    17 Jun 2013 | 8:55 pm
    Australian diplomacy had a very different look and feel when I arrived here at the back end of 2006. John Howard was still the prime minister, just as George W Bush and Tony Blair remained in charge in Washington and Westminster. Consequently, there was a strongly post-9/11 'war on terror' feel to the conduct of foreign affairs. The big global story then was not the rise of China, but the fall of Saddam Hussein. The Howard Government was embroiled in the oil-for-wheat AWB scandal and under attack from a workaholic shadow foreign affairs minister by the name of Kevin Rudd, who was seeking to…

  • US-Europe FTA + TPP = Super FTA?

    17 Jun 2013 | 6:29 pm
    Geoff Miller is a former Director-General of the Office of National Assessments Reading this morning's news from the G8 Summit and thinking back to recent discussions of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), I was struck by the announcement of the likely opening of negotiations for a US-Europe FTA. One salient feature of both the TPP and a US-Europe FTA is that both involve the US, the world's biggest economy. Another salient feature is that, between them, they would cover a very high proportion of the world's trade. If, as I suppose is possible, both sets of negotiations succeeded, you would…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Gigajobs

  • Senior Web Designer – Malta

    Apollinebettingco
    18 Jun 2013 | 6:45 am
    Our client is a high-growth online and mobile igaming company based in Malta that has rapidly become one of the largest online casino game operators in their country. They believe quality entertainment should be available for anyone, anytime, anywhere. They deliver multiple online products to a growing number of geographic regions and their existing team is looking for bright and highly motivated individuals to help them get there. They are a data driven business with a strong emphasis on ROI, optimization and business development.As a Senior Web Designer in their international team you will…

  • QA/Test Engineer

    admin
    7 Mar 2013 | 5:07 am
    We are young, fast-growing enterprise software company that is needing a experienced QA/Test Engineer to create an automated testing package for our solution. We use a Microsoft .Net technology stack, running on the Microsoft Azure hosting environment. Our QA strategy will be built around DDD and BDD in order to foster a seamless and effortless integration of QA in our software development life cycle. In addition to having experience with similar projects (automated testing development), the candidate must have experience in the following technologies:- Microsoft .Net (C#)- MVC (preferred…

  • Non-Functional Test Lead

    admin
    20 Feb 2013 | 5:28 am
    Non-Functional Test lead to join a well established test program on a permanent basis based in Melbournes CBD. Key responsibilities will include the following: Develop and document test plans that are appropriate for an individual project/change. Develop and document Test Scripts that are appropriate for an individual project/change. Execute the Tests, identifying and capturing any defects. Liaise with various key project stakeholders an understanding about the project scope and testing requirements. Work with the Test team, Project Manager/s, Application Support team, third-parties and with…

  • Automated Test Analyst

    admin
    20 Feb 2013 | 5:24 am
    Radius Solutions Group have an immediate opening for a Automated Test Analyst, who has specialised in Selenium, to work on long term new build project. We are looking for a test analyst to work on anew build web application using .net technologies. You will be working as the solo tester on this project, working closely with the development team. The role will be based at my clients site in Sydney North Shore area (free onsite parking available) . We can offer a long term contract opportunity as you will be getting involved in this project at the very early stages. Skills and…

  • Automation Test Analyst (Selenium)

    admin
    19 Feb 2013 | 2:51 am
    My field leading Client is looking for a Automation Test Analyst with solid experience using Selenium in an Agile .NET environment for a exciting contract opportunity based on the north shore. To be successful you will have the following: Selenium Testing in a .Net/C# enviroment Experience with TFS (Team Foundation Server) Agile (scrum) methodilogy exp Excellent written and verbal communications You must have experience as a Test Analyst in a .NET Agile Development Environment with solid experience using Selenium & Test Complete etc, for this project you would be the sole teser working…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Australia Visa Immigration Information

  • How to determine the right Australian visa for you

    National Visas
    17 Jun 2013 | 10:05 pm
    It can be said that Australia has a highly structured visa application system; however, this does not mean that the process for lodging a visa application is always overly complex. To assist applicants to determine the most appropriate visa, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship launched a system called ‘Visa Wizard’ in September 2008. The Visa Wizard system is an online questionnaire that helps applicants to identify the right type of visa for their specific circumstance. It is important to note, however, that the Visa Wizard only includes the most common types of visas out of…

  • 4 upsides to living Down Under

    National Visas
    17 Jun 2013 | 8:26 pm
    The ‘island continent’ is far more than just a large landmass way down south. It has been cultivated through millennial by wet and dry climates. Although Australia is one-third arid, getting to the country in its real essence—that is, experiencing the Aussies’ ways of living, governing, and working—can result in knowing a historically and culturally rich jewel. It’s no wonder why foreigners want to consider the country as their second home; a decision that may be solidified further by the following benefits of living in the Land Down Under. Favorable migration programs Among…

  • Choosing the best Australian visa that matches your needs

    National Visas
    16 Jun 2013 | 6:56 pm
    Getting an Australian visa is similar to finding a job that can support you for many years to come. There are many choices and each can offer a different set of opportunities related to your goal. National Visas, a professional migration firm, can help you determine the right visa type out of the many Australian visas available. Before helping you lodge one, the company can also help you understand the nature, requirements, and processes related to the Australian visa that applies to your situation. Travel Visa (Australian Visitor Visa) If you want to visit Australia for a vacation or short…

  • Steps for lodging an Australian Visitor Visa application

    National Visas
    14 Jun 2013 | 12:27 am
    Migration to Australia is as active as ever, as indicated in the December 2012 report by the Department of Immigration: 6.4% and 1% increases in tourism and business Visitor visa applications, respectively; 97.8% grant rate for all Visitor visas; and 9.2% increase in the number of Visitor visa holders. As of 2012, there are more than 400,000 holders of Visitor visas for Australia, and this number is bound to escalate as the Department continues its initiatives to make online lodgement applicable to all countries, to allow travel without passport label, and to establish more Australian Visa…

  • Key steps in applying for an Australian student visa

    National Visas
    13 Jun 2013 | 7:41 pm
    Getting a degree in Australia is one of the significant boosts that you can have for your future career. Supported by Australia’s growing economy and commodious workforce, entering Down Under as a foreign student has become even more possible. Despite the strict migration laws in the country, securing an Australian student visa should not be that complicated, especially because there are professional migration firms like National Visas who can assist you in every step of your visa application. If you want to study in Australia, the following reminders from National Visas shall guide you in…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Bondville

  • Ellie Beck recycled skateboard jewellery

    17 Jun 2013 | 1:27 am
    Hang on - super-cool necklaces and bangles handmade from recycled/upcycled skateboard decks? I'm in! My friend Ellie Beck and her husband Sam Messina make these amazing jewellery pieces using their stash of broken skateboards in the hinterland of Murwillumbah in Northern NSW. They're bright, fun, sustainable and each piece is one-of-a-kind - totally my style. These bangles are cut, sanded and finished by hand. Each has a coloured side and a cool scratched-graphic side to amp up the cred. Most skateboards are made from seven-ply of Canadian Maple in a rainbow of colours. The rainbow skateboard…

  • Bondville's Australian online shopping directory

    15 Jun 2013 | 1:00 pm
    We have so many amazing small businesses in Australia working all hours to bring you great products for Mum, Kids and Home through their online stores (so we can shop from the comfort of home!). Many of these businesses support Bondville so I can continue to write and share Australian design with you. Here is a quick snapshot of the fabulous stores in the Bondville online shopping directory and some of my favourite pieces: 1. Paddington jacket (charcoal marle) from eeni meeni miini moh | 2. Yellow bubble dress from Minyaka Design | 3. Nova Harley Manhattan nappy bag from Tots n Tales | 4.

  • Rachel Castle's kids' rooms in I Love My Room book by Megan Morton

    14 Jun 2013 | 3:13 am
    If you follow uber-stylist and champion-of-beauty Megan Morton on any social media, you will know that her exuberance and love of life is infectious. This joyfulness has translated beautifully into her new book showcasing... wait for it... children's rooms!!!! I Love My Room documents kids' rooms with heart and soul, by some of Australia's most talented parents. Would you like a sneak peek? I'm so thrilled to showcase the rooms of artist/homewares designer Rachel Castle's children Cleo (10) and Lucky (7) in Sydney. The use of judicious colour against a neutral base and lots of Rachel's lovely…

  • JAB Designs Australian animal melamine plates at UrbanBaby - 25% off

    13 Jun 2013 | 5:27 am
    You know I'm a sucker for good Australiana and I love these melamine plates featuring Australian animals by JAB Designs. Head to UrbanBaby where they are currently 15% off, and get an extra 10% off with the code JUNE10 through until 16th June, 2013. Perfect for the kids and the mono-colour photo prints are so on-trend right now. Image: UrbanBaby

  • Hello Tokyo fabric range from Lisa Tilse at the red thread - 30% off

    12 Jun 2013 | 4:50 am
    Lisa Tilse (the red thread) is well known for her beautifully designed craft panels and softie DIY kits, as well as her graphic design, craft, styling and art. Lisa has taken her love for cute Japanese kawaii-style design and created a gorgeous range of fabric and craft panels for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. I got a sneak-peek of the fabrics when Lisa came over to do a mini photo-shoot in my daughter's bedroom: The Hello Tokyo range is absolutely gorgeous in real life too. I love the fun, bright colour palette, and of course those super-cute Japanese kokeshi dolls and sweet kitty cat character…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Daily Derp

  • New Zealand parliament breaks into song after legalising gay marriage – video

    Lindsey Mabry
    17 Jun 2013 | 11:02 pm
    New Zealand becomes the first country in the Asia Pacific to legalise same sex marriage. The public gallery in parliament breaks into song following the vote

  • Security alert: notes from the frontline of the war in cyberspace

    Debra Crawford
    17 Jun 2013 | 11:02 pm
    The battle for control of cyberspace is turning nasty, with young hackers, pirates and activists facing long prison sentences. We report from the frontline A short, handsome man bounces outside the colossal courthouse on Walnut Street, Newark, New Jersey. He’s doing it to keep warm – it is freezing today – and also because he’s fired up. His name is Andrew Auernheimer, but he’s known across the internet as “weev”. His 20 or so friends are young and pale, as if they spend too much time indoors. One, a good-looking woman, starts crying. “I’ll miss…

  • Helicopter crashes into sea off Auckland – video

    Doris Gilliland
    17 Jun 2013 | 11:02 pm
    The world’s first carbon-fibre helicopter crashes into the sea off Auckland, New Zealand

  • Cat wars break out in New Zealand

    Edgar Barnhart
    17 Jun 2013 | 11:02 pm
    Plan to prevent felines from killing much-prized native birds causes consternation Call it the Kiwi cat wars. In the island nation said to harbour more cat owners per capita than any other country, a furore has broken out over a crusade to eradicate man’s second-best friend. The charge is being led by Gareth Morgan, a nationally renowned economist turned environmental activist, who has dubbed cats “natural born killers” that are menacing the native bird population and bringing some to the verge of extinction. In late January, the philanthropist launched a website outlining…

  • Does Kim Dotcom have original 'two-factor' login patent?

    Nancy King
    17 Jun 2013 | 11:02 pm
    Owner of Mega and MegaUpload sites fighting US extradition says Google and others should help his defence fund in return for using his patent, but earlier filings cast doubt on claim Kim Dotcom, the New Zealand-based creator of the MegaUpload file-sharing site who is fighting an extradition demand from the US, is asking Google, Microsoft and others to contribute to his multimillion-dollar defence fund in return for a licence he claims to hold on a key patent. However it has emerged that the patent is not valid in Europe, having been cancelled in Europe in 2011 following opposition from…
Log in