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Teenagers

Kids are spending big on skincare not meant for them and the risk of damage is real

Social media is alive with "skinfluencers" sharing beauty routines, promoting products and posting wildly popular "get ready with me" videos, and tweens and teens are paying close attention.
A teen with a towel on her head putting cream her cheeks, against a blue-apricot starburst background, with beauty products.

Silver Lining school getting kids on track through growing veggies, rearing livestock and trying rodeo

Silver Lining Ficks Crossing is a school intended to stop the "school-to-prison pipeline", where giving Indigenous youth a sense of purpose is a key outcome. 
Indigenous students from Silver Lining Ficks Crossing tend to a veggie patch on their South Burnett property.

More young people than ever have harmful relationships with gambling. But there's little support

Luke's parents had to leave the house to gamble, but his generation has a casino in its pocket. He worries about the impact.
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A young man with mousy hair and blue eyes stands in front of a pokies machine and frowns at the canberra

Police are coaching kids in the boxing ring to build relationships, and demand is in the rise

In a western NSW sports hall, dozens of young people gather each week to hone their hooks, jabs and upper cuts. And while it might sound serious, the sessions at Bourke PCYC are also full of laughter and conversation.
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Kids participating in the boxing program with the help of a boxing coach and officers.

Youth crime is at the forefront of Queensland minds. But in one city, police say things are getting better

An alleged murder outside a shopping centre pushed youth crime into the spotlight in this regional city. A year later, the rate of offending is going down. But a criminologist says numbers can be deceiving.
A police image of young people boxing

How Taylor Swift became 'the most god-like superstar on the planet'

As the megastar prepares to grace Australian stages later this week, Swift's name is everywhere — from the schoolyard to scholarly symposiums. So what is it about Tay Tay that keeps fans coming back for more?
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A composite graphic on a pink background featuring a smiling Taylor Swift, friendship bracelets, an Eras poster and ticket.

analysis:With kids getting their periods as young as eight, do we need to talk about menstruation in schools sooner?

Managing menstruation in public can be challenging at the best of times, but imagine being eight years old and having to deal with your period at school. Here's how teachers can make it easier.
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You view an illustration of a menstrual pad on a pink background.

'It's given me more in life than anything else would': Becoming a dad at a young age

Young parents aren't as common as they once were, but experts say supporting them is crucial to break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage. The Brave Foundation is supporting Anton to change careers which he hopes will provide a more secure income.
Anton Gower showering with son Elijah Neilson-Gower.

Concerns for outback students' mental health as mould infestation disrupts start to school year

A mould infestation at a Broken Hill high school is so severe the NSW Department of Education has declared it too dangerous for students to return, forcing them to start term one scattered around different campuses.
Teenagers in white and black school uniforms walk along a black fence.

They know it's harmful but young Australians still think it's cool to be tanned

Hearing "slip, slop, slap" and "no hat, no play" in childhood hasn't kept today's teens and young adults out of the sun. But there is hope social media campaigns can change attitudes about tanning.
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Three young women wearing bikinis smile. A graphic of sunscreen, sunglasses and a juice are in front of them.

Teens scare staff while 'swarming' remote supermarket, sparking fears of wider trend

Concerns are raised about groups of children stealing from supermarkets, after a "distressing" incident at a remote Kimberley store during which teens stole drinks and confectionary and tried to break into a cigarette cabinet.
Teenagers harass supermarket

Emma never planned on becoming a 'gaming mum'. It turns out that joining her son's games could have benefits beyond fun

New research shows more than half of young children who play online games wish their parents would game with them — and that joining in can help keep kids safe online.
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Mum Emma and son Julian gaming together on the couch.

Girl allegedly stabbed 10 times by woman at dance school

A 34-year-old Bundaberg South woman has faced court after a teen was treated for injuries to her back.
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Side photo of Queensland police car.

Living in south-west Sydney where it takes an hour to drive 30km

Young people say a "flaky" train system and limited bus timetable in Western Sydney leave them reliant on driving, as a state parliamentary inquiry considers the current and future needs of public transport in the booming region. 
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Teenage girl sitting inside a car holding a steering wheel

Roger Cook's stance on youth justice is markedly different from Mark McGowan's — he says it's about doing 'what's right'

Since becoming WA premier last year, Roger Cook has made youth justice a key part of his leadership, telling ABC state political reporter Keane Bourke the issue is too important to politicise.
A man in a dark suit with a red tie sits in a darkened room.

As another school year begins, what does the future hold for the class of 2023?

As another school year begins, the ABC speaks to 10 recent high school graduates from all over country Australia about their hopes, dreams and fears for the future. 
A profile shot of four young people.

In Alice Springs, rap is helping young people process their emotions and stay on track

As youth crime continues to dominate Alice Springs headlines, young people say rap classes are giving them a positive outlet.
A teen boy in a dark room in front of a microphone wearing a green cap

Zahli wanted to become a child safety officer. But heavy caseloads made her decision to walk away easier

The Queensland government has announced it's to increase the graduate salaries of child safety officers as experts say heavy caseloads and a lack of staff are creating delays in response times.
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Woman looks at camera with neutral expression

Queensland children in adult watchhouses could amount to ‘child abuse’

A Cairns psychologist working for the state government has gone public with her deep concerns about possible human rights breaches in police watch houses.
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ABC News Current
Duration: 7 minutes 13 seconds

Psychologist doesn't understand why Qld government accepts 'abhorrent conditions' in police watch house

Inside a watch house in Cairns, children as young as 10 are locked into cells designed for adults, sometimes four at a time with their mattresses on the floor.
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Photo of Cairns police watch house entrance including signs on door saying 'No Smoking'

Army cadets make a comeback as youths look to unlock leadership opportunities

Army cadets used to be in almost every school and country town. Over the years the program fell out of popularity, but now it seems numbers are rebounding.
A group of army cadets in uniform sitting around on seats and talking.

Angel never thought she'd see her niece again, then she saw a handprint at her high school

The vibrant handprint display tells hundreds of unique stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture and unites some of the country's most respected Indigenous trailblazers.
A young woman on the floor next to a wall covered in painted handprints.

Fourteen-year-old Canberra boy accused of driving stolen car in crash that killed 'mate' released on bail

A 14-year-old Canberra boy who was allegedly driving a stolen car at the time it collided with another vehicle, killing a 19-year-old man and injuring two other boys, is facing charges of culpable driving causing death, driving a motor vehicle without consent, and culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm.
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The scene of a car crash at night.

Young Canberra man Joshua Stewart killed in car crash where 14yo boy was allegedly at the wheel

Police allege four young people were in a stolen car when it ran a red light, killing one passenger. They say the driver was just 14 years old.
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The scene of a car crash at night.

Two teenagers in fatal car crash in Sydney's north-west remembered as 'beautiful boys'

Matthew Simpson and Addison Bhimjiani were passengers in a car being driven by another 17-year-old, when they ploughed into a power pole on Windsor Road on Monday night.
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Matthew Simpson, 16, and Addison Bhimjiani, 17 were passengers in a fatal car crash