Under Cover is produced by RMIT Journalism students. 

Producer: Gabriel Mills-Connolly
Presenter: Courtney Holder and James Holding
Reporter: Olivia Sanders, Tiarna Condren, Matt Slocum, Ethan Benedicto, Adam Miller

A bit of warning: the story about The Tote, as befits the venue, has some strong language.

Producer: Mishelle Tongco
Assistant Producer: Olivia Sanders
Presenters: Matt Slocum and Ethan Benedicto
Reporters: Cloey Nash, Joe Horrigan, Annelise Ireland, Tess McCracken, Jack Langdon. 

We also have stories for you about the creation and influence of fashion label Jag, as well as how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered journalism.

Producer: Lulu Graham

Assistant Producer: Declan Bailey

Presenter: Amy Upton-Stokes

Reporters: Zoe De Koning, Declan Bailey and Sana Ahmadzai

Reporters: Rafael Gerster, James Dowling, Yiran Xue, Jackson Haddad and Courtney Holder

Presenters: Cloey Nash and Adam Miller

Producer: Che Parisi

For this episode, we are looking at the popularity of BookTok and its impacts on local book communities in Melbourne. We also have a story for you about digital drivers’ licences and why Melbournians want them, and the dilemma that Australian Rules league AFL has with concussion after the influx of past players coming forward with life-altering symptoms in this often-brutal sport. 

We also looked at the future of two things that many in Melbourne are very familiar with: the latest at Brunetti, that local institution in Melbourne that is now cleaving its future into two, and the future of Fairy Floss as an online community. Is it still a safe space for LGBT Australians?

Producer: Emilien Lopez

Assistant Producer: Patrick Doyle

Presenter: Eliza Freeman

Reporter: Eliza Freeman, Rochelle Putnikovic, Amy Upton-Stokes, Felix Pocius, Patrick Doyle

Australia takes pride in their sport and with some of our biggest athletes starting from the age they can hold a ball. But according to a recently published report by Women In Sport, more and more young girls are choosing to drop out of sports and other physical activities around their teenage years. So why teenage girls are becoming more dis-engaged with sports and what we can do to help? 

Story Two:

A new study has shown how climate change influenced disasters and environmental losses are taking an emotional toll on us. In recent times coral bleaching and flooding have severely impacted our great barrier reef. We explore what all of these recent events and findings mean for us and our beautiful reefs.

Story Three:

For some Dungeons and Dragons is just the geeky fantasy game, meant only for society's outcasts and nerds. But for some children, it could be the answer to help them cope and face the day. But one dad from the ACT who’s using this game to help kids with disabilities find a way to cope socially.

Story Four:

The AFLW has grown rapidly over its 7-season run, and with that growth comes increasing media pressure. We take a look at how players and media experts are training up this upcoming generation of female athletes.

Story Five:

As Melbourne's urban landscape grows, the effects it's having on our environment are devastating. Covering up our trees and vegetation with buildings and cement is creating causing us social and economic disadvantages. We investigate what the ‘heat island effect’ is and how it's affecting the City of Wyndham. 

Producer: Shantal Hayden

Assistant Producer: Paddy Grindlay 

Presenters: Amy Ross & Freya O’Donnell 

Reporters: Jordan Zoch and Ethan Dean

The extraction of groundwater that ends up in bottled water is big business for the companies that mine and sell the water. But for residents in the communities where the water is taken from, it’s often the cause of concern and controversy. 

Hear from some of the rural communities who are taking on the industry, over the hidden water beneath our feet.

Story 2: The Cost for Care

It's commonly said that Australia has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, but is it leaving some Australians out? Healthcare access is notably different for some Australians, especially in Rural and Regional communities. They not only have less access to important health care but often have to travel far for basic health needs. Hear from Healthcare professionals from various walks of life to hear about the cost for care in rural, regional and metro centres. 

Story 3: Independent Women 

With the upcoming federal election, there has been a particular anomaly taking place: ‘Teal’ Independents. These independent candidates have been making waves throughout the campaign - and the two major parties are concerned by what the presence of independent candidates within parliament could mean for decision making. Hear Independent candidate for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel, her media advisor, Angela Pippos and social media manager, Olivia Smith discuss their community backed push for independence. 

Story 4: The Harsh Reality of Homelessness

Homelessness is an experience that can affect anyone at any time. Amidst Victoria’s harsh COVID-19 lockdowns, the State government introduced its most successful program to date. However, the funding to the Homeless to a Home program has been cut drastically in this year’s state budget. Hear from Jenny Smith, CEO of Council to Homeless Persons to find out more. 

Producer: Ada Hall

Reporters: Mack Heard, Brigitte Murphy, Maya van Es and Rebecca Chin.

There is a distinct lack of footwear manufacturing industry in Australia due to the cost of labour, skill and machinery shortages, and lack of advanced technology. We chatted with an industry professional about how we can support and revive Australian made footwear.

A 2021 report outlined that the rate of teen pregnancy in the most disadvantaged parts of Melbourne is eight times that of the most advantaged suburbs. Who is supporting those young people who become parents while still at school? We spoke to a Victorian organisation that is helping young parents finish their education and transition into the workforce.

Producer: Sarah Liversidge
Assistant Producer: Erin Visagie
Presenter: Bridget Novak
Reporters: Lilian Bernhardt, Ella Cigognini and Erin Visagie

Male Contraception- How NOT to get pregnant. A problem that had no solution until the 1960s when The Pill changed everything for women. But that was the last millennium. Why hasn't there been a male pill in the six decades since? 
All this time, the only birth control option for men has been the condom. But that could soon change.

Indonesian AFL- Sport is a powerful way of bringing people from all walks of life together - and that’s exactly what one small Melbourne football club is doing. The Krakatoa's is a community football club affiliated with AFL Indonesia. It’s encouraging Indonesians living in Australia to play Aussie rules football.

Music Industry in COVID- The last two years of Covid lockdowns in Melbourne have been a challenge for everyone, affecting us all in different ways. One area that was hit pretty hard was the music industry. Clubs shut, venues weren't able to host shows, and it left artists in a pretty fragile space. We hear the story of a Melbourne musician to find out how he got through the limitations of lockdown with no gigs and no audiences.

Producer: Vidita Sharma
Assistant Producer: Georgie Carroll
Presenter: Mherhean Giray
Reporters: Georgie Carroll, Kendra Jewell, Harry Connell

At the same time, the inflation rate has nearly tripled since 2019. But with the costly cocktail of fuel price increases, expensive supermarket products and global supply chain issues, the most vulnerable people in our community are taking a hit to their hip pocket. We know these economic circumstances have been sparked by war in Europe’s east and staff shortages on home turf, but what are the day to day consequences for people who were already disadvantaged?

There are 1 in 9 women who have endometriosis, an incurable condition which plagues their body with pain. The sheer variability of the disease makes it very difficult to diagnose in primary care, resulting in an average of 7 years of suffering before an actual diagnosis is reached. It’s no wonder that a woman can then feel entirely trapped in, or even victim to her own body, and utterly perplexed that no one seems to care.

Producer: Jacqueline Stanley
Assistant Producer: Amelia Hirst
Reporters: Sara Lilley, Amelia Hirst and Tom Paizes

Story 2: What began as an investigation into how families were perpetuating vaccine misinformation at a niche anti-mask rally in Melbourne. What he ended up finding was a deep dive into a passionate, large movement that used religion to defend their anti-science beliefs. 

Story 3: The Victorian lockdown made a lot of people living with cancer feel more vulnerable and isolated. Chloe Karis interviews a cancer patient and speaks to one of canteen Australia’s psychosocial clinicians.

Story 4: Reporter Zahrah Ahmad has been researching compulsory vaccination for school aged children, looking at policies like “no jab no pay” and how COVID-19 vaccinations for young people might impact childcare services in the future.

Story 5: The government has said that vaccinations are available for everyone in Australia, but this information hasn’t actually reached everyone. Some refugees and those on bridging visas have fallen through the gap, unsure whether they are eligible to receive the vaccine and what the process will be like for them. 

Story 6: There is also a lot of reluctance when it comes to getting the jab.Despite the vaccine now being made available to people over 40, Australia is still falling behind. Riley Barber looks at the role the media has played in its reportage of the AstraZeneca vaccine and related blood clot cases, and the impact on vaccine hesitancy this has had among Australians.

Story 7: In march this year, the Czech Republic went from being one of the safest countries in the world to being one of the worst hit by coronavirus cases. Claudia Forsberg looks into how Australia’s vaccine rollout program holds up against the Czech Republic’s.

Story 8: With the loads of information and misinformation uploaded every single day, it’s hard to know what to pay attention to, let alone keep up. Because of this, some have turned to a less traditional medium of spreading and getting their information.The video-game industry is a growing market, one that’s influence and content is ever changing and evolving with the world around it. With coronavirus being such a large part of our lives in the past year, it’s no surprise that gaming developers are creating COVID-19 related video-games.However, these games are not just for entertainment. They’re also created to help educate players on COVID-19 safety procedures and spread accurate information in an engaging and straightforward way.

Story 2: Regardless of what position you fall on the political spectrum, people across the board seem to be more hesitant than usual when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine. This paints a worrying picture as we have to achieve a high level of vaccination to reach herd immunity. Our next story will take us to NSW’s north coast, where reporter Warwick Jones investigates the 'anti-vax capital of Australia'. How are they responding to the COVID-19 vaccine? and what kind of ramifications will this have on the state’s road to recovery?

Story 3: The COVID-19 vaccination process has been one fraught with oppositions; from libertarians protecting their individual rights to the bohemians of Byron Bay. Liam Healy talks to a member of Australians vs the Agenda,  an anti-vax group who took to the streets of Melbourne last February to protest the government’s COVID vaccines roll out. 

Story 4: Young people are becoming more and more tech savvy by the day. This exposes them to all different kinds of information. But this information can be complicated, divisive and sometimes false, as we’ve seen with COVID-19 conspiracies and vaccine scepticism. Riley Galloway explores how misinformation is affecting children and teens and how our education system is playing catch up.

Find us on twitter: @cover_podcast 

To read up-to-date information on Australia’s vaccine rollout...  always check the government health website: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines 

Story two: As the Australian arts industry begins its slow recovery after being decimated by the global pandemic, it faces a new threat that could halt progress in its tracks - the anti-vaccination movement.

Story three: Many claims about the covid vaccine causing infertility in women are circulating social media platforms. Kaylah Baker talks to fertility specialist Dr Alex Polyakov on if there is any truth to the claim and explores the impact it is having on young women.

Story four: Around one-third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have some type of respiratory condition. Tyler Wright explores whether misinformation is making Indigenous Australians less likely to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Wright spoke with Ian Hamm, Chairperson of First Nations Foundation, and Alice Brooks from the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia to find out how AHCSA are pushing back against vaccination fear.

Story five: Throughout the pandemic, epidemiological modelling has provided governments and the public alike with key information on the course of outbreaks. Callum Allday speaks with Dr Trish Campbell to discuss how modelling can be used not just to predict outbreaks, but to fight misinformation too.

Find us on twitter: @cover_podcast and/or give us a call: 90185005. 

If you have any concerns about the vaccine, you can talk to your local GP. For updated information on the vaccine rollout, visit the Australia Government’s website: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines

Story Two: Coronavirus information has spread rapidly, particularly on YouTube. But what happens when important updates on COVID19 is demonetised or taken off from such a widely used platform?  Does this contribute to the misinformation, or does it actually prevent it? This story looks into whether or not YouTube’s demonetisation policy has encouraged the spread of COVID19 misinformation or reduced it. Reporter: Georgia Barry.

Story Three: The roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines hit trouble in Australia during mid-April. This was when Genene Norris, a woman from New South Wales passed away from blood clots just days after receiving the AstraZeneca shot.  With only citizens over 50 recommended to get this vaccine now, this story looks at how this is impacting the Australian public. Reporter: Sean Mortell. 

Story Four: In early February, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the government will give “all Australians the opportunity to be vaccinated” by October this year. This includes Australian citizens, permanent residents as well as most visa holders, which covers refugees and asylum seekers. But it’s uncertain how many refugees and asylum seekers have actually received the COVID vaccine so far. Reporter: Youssef Saudie. 

Story Five: Many Muslims have turned towards their community faith leaders for advice about Coronavirus misinformation. So how are these leaders handling the confusion of those who trust them? Should there be concerns about the reliability of the guidance they provide? Reporter: Shamsiya Hussainpoor. 

Story two: Josh Farrell explains how the vaccine will prevent future lockdowns, what herd immunity is and the importance of the vaccine; speaking with Professor Catherine Bennett.

Story three: Health care workers have been at the front of the fight against coronavirus. But despite the Morrison government’s promises to protect front line workers, vaccine deadlines have not been met. Nick Hughes talks to those affected by the delay.

Story four: Despite promises that society’s most vulnerable would be vaccinated first, Victorian prisoners still haven’t received the jab. Sarah Oliver investigates why.

If you want to reach out, you can contact us on twitter. Our username is @cover_podcast. Alternatively, you can call us on 90185005.

If you have any concerns about the covid  vaccine, you can talk to your local GP. There is regularly updated information on 
the vaccine rollout on the Australian Government’s website: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines

Story One: The access to news and information has never been greater, but the circulation of misinformation in local football clubs is just as great, Eli Duxson dissects why.

Story Two: Caspar McLeod talks to psychologist Maria Marshall about the mental health impact misinformation and misconceptions have on queer individuals.

Story Three: Professional sport was ‘hit for six’ in 2020 thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Now one year on, athletes and sporting bodies must recognise their importance in a COVID world that is full of misinformation.

Story Four: Misinformation on social media spreads fast and wide, particularly when it comes to information about people's health. Skye Mitchell discusses this phenomenon with health communication expert Dr Amelia Burke-Garcia.

Story 2: The pandemic has been a test of faith for many. This pushed faith leaders to spread the message of God while also righting the wrong of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. While this may sound all positive, there are some concerns. This is a larger investigation we are conducting, but in this episode we speak with Tasneem Chopra OAM, a cross cultural consultant. Reporter: Shamsiya Hussainpoor.

Story 3: From rumours of 5G spreading the virus, to COVID-19 entering our homes through shipped packages, Australians have been influenced by a flurry of coronavirus misinformation over the past year. But how have culturally and linguistically diverse communities been affected? Undercover investigates Chinese messaging app WeChat as a vehicle for vaccine misinformation among the Chinese Australian community. Reporter: Eleanor Wilson.

Story 4: As the AstraZeneca injection becomes the centre of global conversation, two women living in Calwell, one of the most culturally diverse electorates in Melbourne, discuss how they feel about the COVID-19 vaccines. Mohini and Thruga work at the same aged care residence and in this story they tell us about finding a balance between personal and communal responsibilities. Reporter: Olivia Davendra

Story 5: Despite misinformation of Coronavirus vaccines spread across our media platforms, many elderly people have chosen to receive vaccinations. With the elderly being in a vulnerable group, coronavirus becomes much more severe, emphasising the importance of immunity. Reporter: 

No one could have predicted what this year would hold for us all, but it seems the corona-virus pandemic has caused family and friends to become more important than ever before. Karly Smith dissects the reality of relationships coming out of isolation.

Episode 2 | Where to?                              Siri Smith

With the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt on overseas travel, what lies in the distant future of those whose livelihoods depend on travel, and how has it affected people whose travels have been suddenly disrupted? Siri Smith examines the mental and sociological effects of a global pandemic on the travel industry. 

Episode 3 | Indonesia Now                         Sayee Ravi Sankar 

With COVID-19 affecting countries across the globe, Sayee Ravi Sankar looks at how Indonesia is handling the pandemic. She explores the current situation and examines what Indonesia has to do moving forward.

Episode 4 | Australia/Singapore Lockdown                 David Forster

David Forster compares the corona-virus pandemic to the SARS epidemic. He speaks with John McGrath about his experiences living through both SARs in Singapore and COVID-19 here in Australia. 

Episode 5 | Take A Breath                            Laura Green

Corona-virus has forced people to adapt in all areas of life. Laura Green explores how a Gellong engineer adapted his manufacturing business to supply respirators to hospitals to cope with the demand COVID-19 has created.                 

Episode 6 | Reverse Culture Shock                     Meg De Jong

Are people anxious about life returning to normal after lockdown? Meg de Jong explores the concept of ‘reverse culture shock’ that many Australians are experiencing as restrictions begin to ease, and how it may impact on people’s mental health and relationships. 

Episode 7 | Environmental Impacts                    Gabriella Payne

Could COVID-19 have a positive impact on climate change? Gabi Payne talks with Sarah Bekessy, Professor of Sustainability and Urban Planning at RMIT, about animals returning to the urban landscape during lockdown, how the pandemic has led to a reduction in carbon emissions around the world and what this could mean in regards to climate change.

Over the past few months, coronavirus has put restraints on both domestic and international travel. Places that rely heavily on tourism like Byron Bay have become ghost towns, rendering locals unemployed and businesses indefinitely closed. However, the unprecedented event also brought some positive change - an unyielding community spirit.

Story 2 | Van Life                                   April Austen
In recent years, #vanlife has been the dream of many millennials worldwide. Boundless freedom, a low cost of living and a home wherever you please. The lifestyle is not just a means to travel and see the world - it’s about escaping the structure of society as most of us know it. But what happens when coronavirus-imposed restrictions hit just as you’re about to set out on your epic journey?

Story 3 | Economic Recovery              Stephen Ganavas
The pandemic is likely to lead to Australia’s first recession of the century. Economic policy advisor Yaz Naji explains what this means in terms of a range of key topics. Should JobSeeker remain at the increased rate? Does government debt matter? How are mortgages slowing down our economy? And what will the Australian economy look like post-pandemic?

Story 4 | Special Needs                          Ned O’Bryan

COVID-19 has undoubtedly increased healthcare requirements across the globe, let alone Australia. Specialised carers for people with special needs have had their work doubled over the emergence of the pandemic. In this story, Ned O’Bryan speaks to a selfless young founder of an organisation that trains carers tailored for children with special needs.

Story 5 | Essential Workers                   Samantha Burgess

Retail workers, some of the lowest-paid workers in our community, have never typically been viewed as ‘essential’. Now, they’ve been anointed as heroes, putting their health on the line on a daily basis in their interactions with customers. But at what cost? Anxiety and customer abuse are just some of the things these workers are now having to cope with.

Story 6 | Diversity In Lockdown           Isabella Krebet
While doctors are forced to prioritise critically ill patients over others, people who rely periodically on medication have had their schedules thrown into disarray. More often than not, these individuals already found it difficult to procure their medicine. How will they handle having a disrupted distribution schedule?   

We’ve all turned to different coping mechanisms during isolation, but one many share is an affinity for the drink. Liquor store owners are comparing their commercial boon to Christmas, with the nation increasing their spending on booze by at least a third on average. But illegal drug use is also on the rise in less traceable ways and in ways you wouldn’t expect.

Story 2 | Dog Walking                                                               Reporter: Mikayla van Loon

With the surplus of free time, many people are spending far more time with their furry friends than usual. But frontline workers are less lucky. While clocking 12-hour days, their pets are missing them at home. Dog walkers are being faced with surprisingly unprecedented demand.

Story 3 | Funeral Celebrant                                                       Reporter: Sam Watson

It’s hard to grieve in a time where death is a ticking number on a news outlet. It’s even harder when you can’t attend the funeral. Funeral celebrants in Australia are grappling with the Coronavirus-induced restriction of attendees to ten people, and adapting to live streams.  With increased privacy comes the cost of shared affection, and a sad increase in business.

Story 4 | Refugee Experiences                                                  Reporter: Nicholas Obst     

All of us are vulnerable during the coronavirus crisis, but what about those that don’t even have anywhere to call home? Refugees are falling through the ever-widening cracks, and losing their access to charity and housing without eligibility for Jobkeeper. Advocacy seems to be lost in the constant roar of the pandemic news cycle, and it’s hard to know when people might listen to some of our most vulnerable again.

Story 5 | Nannies & Babysitters                                                 Reporter: Isabelle Harris

Coronavirus is a two-pronged economic and public health crisis. Few areas illustrate the dilemma in addressing both spikes as well as the traditionally casual work of babysitting. Parents who need them while they adjust to home-schooling their children are scared of the risk of infection involved in letting a babysitter into their home. Some parents can’t afford them, even if they need them. Babysitters are either out of a job or are forced to work under serious risks.

Story 6 | Cam Girls                                                                                  Cai Holroyd

Coronavirus has created a dating crisis. We’ve never craved connection quite like we have while locked away in our homes, unable to touch or see others in the flesh. Sex workers who normally account for shortages in intimacy have a lot more work on their plate, and have been forced to move into the domain of “camming”, where they perform on camera. But they’re being forced to contend with unprecedented demand, legal ambiguity, and competition in the well established cam girl community.                                  

For weeks, Australian supermarkets were a place of stress, anxiety and empty shelves. The public panicked and hastily overstocked on supplies. As a result, supermarket workers often copped the brunt of our fear and aggression. Ruby Maclean-Swann is one of those workers. 

Reporter - Katie Martin

Story 2 - Mask Explainer

Face masks. Everyone is scrambling to get them, but how much do we really know about them? What kind of masks do we need? What will protect us? And what will not? Reporter Emma Sullivan speaks to experts in the field to answer all these questions and help you understand more about the globe's newest and hottest commodity.

Reporter - Emma Sullivan

Story 3 - Sex Work

The COVID-19 restrictions have been hard for everyone, but some of the Australians who have been hit the hardest are those who require physical contact to make money. Brothels and independent sex workers have found themselves in a world where their work is completely banned, not to mention incredibly dangerous. However, some workers have taken to the online world to adapt to the circumstances.

Reporter - Abbir Dib

Story 4 - Social Security

Unemployment rates are steadily rising amid the pandemic, and to combat this, the Australian government has doubled their welfare payments in order to allow australian families to survive the crisis. But what does this increase say about the original welfare payments if they’re being doubled to ensure family survival? And what happens to those who rely on it when the payments are reduced in six months' time?

Reporter - Ayden Dawkins

Story 5 - Rural Teaching

While families and students all around the country prepare themselves for remote classes for the foreseeable future, there's some schools who seem to be getting left behind. Rural schools with small amounts of funding and resources are struggling. When online learning focuses so heavily on technology, how are schools and families who don't have access to these facilities supposed to keep up?  

Reporter - Jonathon Magrath 

Story 6 - VCE Learning

There's no doubt about it, VCE students have a lot to lose during the COVID-19 restrictions. With no one-on-one teacher support, no in-class learning and testing, and no stable idea of what their year is going to look like, they are facing a whole new type of VCE. 

Reporter - Tamara Clark

Story 7 - Cinema Scope

As an industry that is renowned for sharing stories with thousands audiences on a daily basis, the cinema has become one of the most powerful entertainment experiences in modern society. But as restrictions imposed around the nation have caused all cinemas to shut their doors, this unique mode of storytelling has now been put on hold. Now, a reset within the industry will happen with our own refreshed realisation of the cinema’s importance in society. Something that has the scope of being magical, spectacular and even revelatory.

Reporter - Nick Angus

For the first time in Australian history, a school semester has started without students in the classroom. While the transition from classroom to online has been mostly seamless, there are still many challenges to face. For Tyrone Bean, Indigenous programs coordinator at Trinity Grammar School in Melbourne, remote learning could set back years of work to close the gap between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous students. 

Reporter: Georgia Bennett-Murphy

Story 2 | YA Communication              

For many young adults, communication pre COVID-19 consisted of texts, Snapchats and instant messages. Now, since real human contact doesn’t go much further than immediate family, and seeing friends has become a distant notion, many young adults are craving more meaningful contact than the instant messages. So what do they do? They are relearning the skill of making a phone call.

Reporter: Katelyn Kalaafatis

Story 3 | Online Dance                   

The introduction of social distancing restrictions has seen the closure of dance studios around the country. Taking this in their choreographed strides, instructors and dancers have taken to the internet to teach and perform, and found new ways to move and communicate in the process. 

Reporter: Simone Etheve

Story 4 | Business Survival                 

COVID-19 has brought a fair amount of challenges for everyone. But it has hit businesses, particularly small ones, the hardest. Many have gone from thriving to just trying to survive almost overnight. “Adapt or die” is the ultimatum many Australian businesses are facing at the moment. Two companies, Stagekings from Sydney and BC Global in Melbourne, are proving the best way to survive is by utilising existing skills in new ways.

Reporter: Willem Van Denderen

Story 5 | Introverts                

Who would have thought that in 2020, introverts and extroverts would be spending their Friday nights the same way? Yet, here we are. Luckily for us who are more extroversion inclined, two introverts have recognised our plight and are here to discuss what it is like being an introvert in isolation and share a few tips along the way.

Reporter: Saba Hashmi

For now, staying home is our safest option to ensure our health and safety. But for those in the community experiencing family violence, home is often the most unsafe place they can be. Where can victims go when they have been told to stay home? 

Warning: This story includes descriptions of violence against women in abusive relationships.

Reporter: Alexandra Middleton

The Right Words for Loneliness

During the last month we adjusted to a new ‘normal’. One of staying at home and being socially distant to help slow the spread of Coronavirus. The term ‘social distancing’ has become part of society’s everyday vernacular. But the phrase is proving to be more isolating than intended. 

Reporter: Phoebe Humphrey

Elderly in isolation

For most of us, our time in lockdown has consisted of Zoom meetings, Netflix watch parties and daily iso walks to get some fresh air. But for some, going online or outside is simply out of the question. Australia’s elderly population have been told to stay home for their own safety, but what happens when they still need help? And will these few months leave them more alone than ever? We hear from Robert, 92, who, despite the challenges he faces, is still pretty upbeat. 

Warning: This story contains descriptions of Christmas in 1967 (which is always a sign of a good story!)

Reporter: Eliza Sears

COVID-19’s impact on local arts and music

During the bushfire season, arts and music events raised millions of dollars in aid by bringing people together. But when the artists and musicians have lost a lot of their traditional sources of income, who is going to raise millions of dollars for them? COVID-19 has changed lives of many of these artists and musicians. What does this mean for the arts and music industry, which relies so much on live events and mass gatherings, and what will they do?

Reporter: Leyla Arrykova

Scams and pandemics

Natural disasters can bring out the best and the worst in people. Some want to help those around them in any way they can, while others can get a little bit selfish. But then there are other people who try to make money off those who have fallen into hard times. As journalists, we are trained to be skeptical. But the reality could often be more interesting. What looked like a scam or a soulless bot turned out to be something else. 

Reporter: John Moyle

Dating in isolation

Relationships are tricky at the best of times. So what happens when you add a global pandemic and a strict stay at home rule into the mix? For many of us, the answer is not a positive one. But that doesn't have to be the case. Here's a story to help you handle love and relationships when you can’t even leave your house.

Reporter: Jess Boland

We generally like to think of ourselves as free. Free to go about our lives the way we choose to. Coronavirus has changed that for a lot of us, especially for people with invisible illnesses who are more at risk than most people. In the time of coronavirus, they face a new question: will keeping it a secret put them in danger?

Reporter: Eva Marchingo

Freedom Run

Ella Barry, like most, is feeling more trapped than ever amid the coronavirus outbreak. But things become more real when she discovers her cousin has been infected by the deadly virus. Feeling like all that is good has been taken away, and when the daily bickering and arguing with her family becomes too much, Ella has found a way to feel free again.

Reporter:  Sophie Jacobsen

Public Transport

Victorian public transport has introduced changes to make their services as infection-free as possible, which means trains, trams and bus services in Victoria have been reduced or stopped altogether, leaving some Victorians who don’t drive stranded. 

Reporter: Sharee Ratten

Distancing

We are now a society at a distance, forced to separate in order to survive. Along with the shut down of non-essential services, citizens returning must now follow new isolation measures which could see them spend time in isolation before they can be reunited with their family. What does that feel like? What can we do to take care of our mental health while in isolation?

Reporter: Giulia Raneri