'We're struggling': calls for childcare subsidy to include to grandparents
Ms Brow lives on a farm on the outskirts of Bibbenluke, 170km south of Canberra.
There is only one childcare centre in the nearest town, Bombala.
It is often full, and for Ms Brow, who works remotely for the charity Motherland Australia, finding appropriate care for her three young daughters has been a constant source of stress.
The situation is exacerbated because her parents and in-laws live between two and seven hours away.
Ms Brow is one of more than 12,000 signatories to a change.org petition calling on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be used for a broader range of care options, including grandparents.
"What I needed was financial support so I could put in stop gaps, so I could go back to work and it was affordable to go back to work," she told ACM.
"The childrens' grandparents have to travel many hours to look after them and being able to pay them to compensate for those expenses or a nanny would help."
Ms Brow said the lack of childcare options in regional and rural areas was a "massive" challenge for families.
"So many rural mothers that we work with across Australia are not even remotely near a childcare facility," she said.
"They just need affordable options (nannies or au pairs) to enable them to contribute to the workforce if that's what they choose to do ."
The petition started by For Parents calls on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be broadened to include grandparents, nannies, au pairs and co-working spaces.
Currently, the subsidy could only be used at an approved federal government child care service.
Co-founder of the petition, Jen Fleming, told ACM that parents needed more choice.
"We are in an economy where most families have both parents working to pay off a mortgage," she said.
Ms Fleming said the recent scandals in the childcare sector, including Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, who is accused of abusing dozens of children, resulting in thousands of kids requiring STD tests, had left parents "distrustful" and "heartbroken".
"We are saying if your child is eligible for the childcare subsidy, you should have more choice for who is looking after them, for some it is a nanny, for others a grandparent," she said.
Ms Fleming set up the petition with a couple of other local parents.
The mum of two lives in Camp Mountain, a semi-rural area 40km outside of Brisbane.
She said when her first child, Elsie, was in childcare, her daughter was routinely sick and did not manage to bond with the staff because of the high number of staff turnover.
Ms Fleming described the experience as "traumatic".
She now has her own business, and her father and a nanny look after her daughters three days a week.
"I'm not a rarity in this," she said. "As part of the petition, I've heard from a range of families who are struggling with this issue."
One family said that they could not put their children in childcare because a family member was immunocompromised.
"The one-size-fits-all is not working for a lot of people," she said.
Federal early childhood education minister Dr Jess Walsh was contacted for comment.
Access to childcare has been an issue for Kate Brow ever since she became a mum eight years ago.
Ms Brow lives on a farm on the outskirts of Bibbenluke, 170km south of Canberra.
There is only one childcare centre in the nearest town, Bombala.
It is often full, and for Ms Brow, who works remotely for the charity Motherland Australia, finding appropriate care for her three young daughters has been a constant source of stress.
The situation is exacerbated because her parents and in-laws live between two and seven hours away.
Ms Brow is one of more than 12,000 signatories to a change.org petition calling on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be used for a broader range of care options, including grandparents.
"What I needed was financial support so I could put in stop gaps, so I could go back to work and it was affordable to go back to work," she told ACM.
"The childrens' grandparents have to travel many hours to look after them and being able to pay them to compensate for those expenses or a nanny would help."
Ms Brow said the lack of childcare options in regional and rural areas was a "massive" challenge for families.
"So many rural mothers that we work with across Australia are not even remotely near a childcare facility," she said.
"They just need affordable options (nannies or au pairs) to enable them to contribute to the workforce if that's what they choose to do ."
The petition started by For Parents calls on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be broadened to include grandparents, nannies, au pairs and co-working spaces.
Currently, the subsidy could only be used at an approved federal government child care service.
Co-founder of the petition, Jen Fleming, told ACM that parents needed more choice.
"We are in an economy where most families have both parents working to pay off a mortgage," she said.
Ms Fleming said the recent scandals in the childcare sector, including Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, who is accused of abusing dozens of children, resulting in thousands of kids requiring STD tests, had left parents "distrustful" and "heartbroken".
"We are saying if your child is eligible for the childcare subsidy, you should have more choice for who is looking after them, for some it is a nanny, for others a grandparent," she said.
Ms Fleming set up the petition with a couple of other local parents.
The mum of two lives in Camp Mountain, a semi-rural area 40km outside of Brisbane.
She said when her first child, Elsie, was in childcare, her daughter was routinely sick and did not manage to bond with the staff because of the high number of staff turnover.
Ms Fleming described the experience as "traumatic".
She now has her own business, and her father and a nanny look after her daughters three days a week.
"I'm not a rarity in this," she said. "As part of the petition, I've heard from a range of families who are struggling with this issue."
One family said that they could not put their children in childcare because a family member was immunocompromised.
"The one-size-fits-all is not working for a lot of people," she said.
Federal early childhood education minister Dr Jess Walsh was contacted for comment.
Access to childcare has been an issue for Kate Brow ever since she became a mum eight years ago.
Ms Brow lives on a farm on the outskirts of Bibbenluke, 170km south of Canberra.
There is only one childcare centre in the nearest town, Bombala.
It is often full, and for Ms Brow, who works remotely for the charity Motherland Australia, finding appropriate care for her three young daughters has been a constant source of stress.
The situation is exacerbated because her parents and in-laws live between two and seven hours away.
Ms Brow is one of more than 12,000 signatories to a change.org petition calling on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be used for a broader range of care options, including grandparents.
"What I needed was financial support so I could put in stop gaps, so I could go back to work and it was affordable to go back to work," she told ACM.
"The childrens' grandparents have to travel many hours to look after them and being able to pay them to compensate for those expenses or a nanny would help."
Ms Brow said the lack of childcare options in regional and rural areas was a "massive" challenge for families.
"So many rural mothers that we work with across Australia are not even remotely near a childcare facility," she said.
"They just need affordable options (nannies or au pairs) to enable them to contribute to the workforce if that's what they choose to do ."
The petition started by For Parents calls on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be broadened to include grandparents, nannies, au pairs and co-working spaces.
Currently, the subsidy could only be used at an approved federal government child care service.
Co-founder of the petition, Jen Fleming, told ACM that parents needed more choice.
"We are in an economy where most families have both parents working to pay off a mortgage," she said.
Ms Fleming said the recent scandals in the childcare sector, including Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, who is accused of abusing dozens of children, resulting in thousands of kids requiring STD tests, had left parents "distrustful" and "heartbroken".
"We are saying if your child is eligible for the childcare subsidy, you should have more choice for who is looking after them, for some it is a nanny, for others a grandparent," she said.
Ms Fleming set up the petition with a couple of other local parents.
The mum of two lives in Camp Mountain, a semi-rural area 40km outside of Brisbane.
She said when her first child, Elsie, was in childcare, her daughter was routinely sick and did not manage to bond with the staff because of the high number of staff turnover.
Ms Fleming described the experience as "traumatic".
She now has her own business, and her father and a nanny look after her daughters three days a week.
"I'm not a rarity in this," she said. "As part of the petition, I've heard from a range of families who are struggling with this issue."
One family said that they could not put their children in childcare because a family member was immunocompromised.
"The one-size-fits-all is not working for a lot of people," she said.
Federal early childhood education minister Dr Jess Walsh was contacted for comment.
Access to childcare has been an issue for Kate Brow ever since she became a mum eight years ago.
Ms Brow lives on a farm on the outskirts of Bibbenluke, 170km south of Canberra.
There is only one childcare centre in the nearest town, Bombala.
It is often full, and for Ms Brow, who works remotely for the charity Motherland Australia, finding appropriate care for her three young daughters has been a constant source of stress.
The situation is exacerbated because her parents and in-laws live between two and seven hours away.
Ms Brow is one of more than 12,000 signatories to a change.org petition calling on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be used for a broader range of care options, including grandparents.
"What I needed was financial support so I could put in stop gaps, so I could go back to work and it was affordable to go back to work," she told ACM.
"The childrens' grandparents have to travel many hours to look after them and being able to pay them to compensate for those expenses or a nanny would help."
Ms Brow said the lack of childcare options in regional and rural areas was a "massive" challenge for families.
"So many rural mothers that we work with across Australia are not even remotely near a childcare facility," she said.
"They just need affordable options (nannies or au pairs) to enable them to contribute to the workforce if that's what they choose to do ."
The petition started by For Parents calls on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be broadened to include grandparents, nannies, au pairs and co-working spaces.
Currently, the subsidy could only be used at an approved federal government child care service.
Co-founder of the petition, Jen Fleming, told ACM that parents needed more choice.
"We are in an economy where most families have both parents working to pay off a mortgage," she said.
Ms Fleming said the recent scandals in the childcare sector, including Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, who is accused of abusing dozens of children, resulting in thousands of kids requiring STD tests, had left parents "distrustful" and "heartbroken".
"We are saying if your child is eligible for the childcare subsidy, you should have more choice for who is looking after them, for some it is a nanny, for others a grandparent," she said.
Ms Fleming set up the petition with a couple of other local parents.
The mum of two lives in Camp Mountain, a semi-rural area 40km outside of Brisbane.
She said when her first child, Elsie, was in childcare, her daughter was routinely sick and did not manage to bond with the staff because of the high number of staff turnover.
Ms Fleming described the experience as "traumatic".
She now has her own business, and her father and a nanny look after her daughters three days a week.
"I'm not a rarity in this," she said. "As part of the petition, I've heard from a range of families who are struggling with this issue."
One family said that they could not put their children in childcare because a family member was immunocompromised.
"The one-size-fits-all is not working for a lot of people," she said.
Federal early childhood education minister Dr Jess Walsh was contacted for comment.
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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
'We're struggling': calls for childcare subsidy to include to grandparents
Access to childcare has been an issue for Kate Brow ever since she became a mum eight years ago. Ms Brow lives on a farm on the outskirts of Bibbenluke, 170km south of Canberra. There is only one childcare centre in the nearest town, Bombala. It is often full, and for Ms Brow, who works remotely for the charity Motherland Australia, finding appropriate care for her three young daughters has been a constant source of stress. The situation is exacerbated because her parents and in-laws live between two and seven hours away. Ms Brow is one of more than 12,000 signatories to a petition calling on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be used for a broader range of care options, including grandparents. "What I needed was financial support so I could put in stop gaps, so I could go back to work and it was affordable to go back to work," she told ACM. "The childrens' grandparents have to travel many hours to look after them and being able to pay them to compensate for those expenses or a nanny would help." Ms Brow said the lack of childcare options in regional and rural areas was a "massive" challenge for families. "So many rural mothers that we work with across Australia are not even remotely near a childcare facility," she said. "They just need affordable options (nannies or au pairs) to enable them to contribute to the workforce if that's what they choose to do ." The petition started by For Parents calls on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be broadened to include grandparents, nannies, au pairs and co-working spaces. Currently, the subsidy could only be used at an approved federal government child care service. Co-founder of the petition, Jen Fleming, told ACM that parents needed more choice. "We are in an economy where most families have both parents working to pay off a mortgage," she said. Ms Fleming said the recent scandals in the childcare sector, including Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, who is accused of abusing dozens of children, resulting in thousands of kids requiring STD tests, had left parents "distrustful" and "heartbroken". "We are saying if your child is eligible for the childcare subsidy, you should have more choice for who is looking after them, for some it is a nanny, for others a grandparent," she said. Ms Fleming set up the petition with a couple of other local parents. The mum of two lives in Camp Mountain, a semi-rural area 40km outside of Brisbane. She said when her first child, Elsie, was in childcare, her daughter was routinely sick and did not manage to bond with the staff because of the high number of staff turnover. Ms Fleming described the experience as "traumatic". She now has her own business, and her father and a nanny look after her daughters three days a week. "I'm not a rarity in this," she said. "As part of the petition, I've heard from a range of families who are struggling with this issue." One family said that they could not put their children in childcare because a family member was immunocompromised. "The one-size-fits-all is not working for a lot of people," she said. Federal early childhood education minister Dr Jess Walsh was contacted for comment. Access to childcare has been an issue for Kate Brow ever since she became a mum eight years ago. Ms Brow lives on a farm on the outskirts of Bibbenluke, 170km south of Canberra. There is only one childcare centre in the nearest town, Bombala. It is often full, and for Ms Brow, who works remotely for the charity Motherland Australia, finding appropriate care for her three young daughters has been a constant source of stress. The situation is exacerbated because her parents and in-laws live between two and seven hours away. Ms Brow is one of more than 12,000 signatories to a petition calling on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be used for a broader range of care options, including grandparents. "What I needed was financial support so I could put in stop gaps, so I could go back to work and it was affordable to go back to work," she told ACM. "The childrens' grandparents have to travel many hours to look after them and being able to pay them to compensate for those expenses or a nanny would help." Ms Brow said the lack of childcare options in regional and rural areas was a "massive" challenge for families. "So many rural mothers that we work with across Australia are not even remotely near a childcare facility," she said. "They just need affordable options (nannies or au pairs) to enable them to contribute to the workforce if that's what they choose to do ." The petition started by For Parents calls on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be broadened to include grandparents, nannies, au pairs and co-working spaces. Currently, the subsidy could only be used at an approved federal government child care service. Co-founder of the petition, Jen Fleming, told ACM that parents needed more choice. "We are in an economy where most families have both parents working to pay off a mortgage," she said. Ms Fleming said the recent scandals in the childcare sector, including Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, who is accused of abusing dozens of children, resulting in thousands of kids requiring STD tests, had left parents "distrustful" and "heartbroken". "We are saying if your child is eligible for the childcare subsidy, you should have more choice for who is looking after them, for some it is a nanny, for others a grandparent," she said. Ms Fleming set up the petition with a couple of other local parents. The mum of two lives in Camp Mountain, a semi-rural area 40km outside of Brisbane. She said when her first child, Elsie, was in childcare, her daughter was routinely sick and did not manage to bond with the staff because of the high number of staff turnover. Ms Fleming described the experience as "traumatic". She now has her own business, and her father and a nanny look after her daughters three days a week. "I'm not a rarity in this," she said. "As part of the petition, I've heard from a range of families who are struggling with this issue." One family said that they could not put their children in childcare because a family member was immunocompromised. "The one-size-fits-all is not working for a lot of people," she said. Federal early childhood education minister Dr Jess Walsh was contacted for comment. Access to childcare has been an issue for Kate Brow ever since she became a mum eight years ago. Ms Brow lives on a farm on the outskirts of Bibbenluke, 170km south of Canberra. There is only one childcare centre in the nearest town, Bombala. It is often full, and for Ms Brow, who works remotely for the charity Motherland Australia, finding appropriate care for her three young daughters has been a constant source of stress. The situation is exacerbated because her parents and in-laws live between two and seven hours away. Ms Brow is one of more than 12,000 signatories to a petition calling on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be used for a broader range of care options, including grandparents. "What I needed was financial support so I could put in stop gaps, so I could go back to work and it was affordable to go back to work," she told ACM. "The childrens' grandparents have to travel many hours to look after them and being able to pay them to compensate for those expenses or a nanny would help." Ms Brow said the lack of childcare options in regional and rural areas was a "massive" challenge for families. "So many rural mothers that we work with across Australia are not even remotely near a childcare facility," she said. "They just need affordable options (nannies or au pairs) to enable them to contribute to the workforce if that's what they choose to do ." The petition started by For Parents calls on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be broadened to include grandparents, nannies, au pairs and co-working spaces. Currently, the subsidy could only be used at an approved federal government child care service. Co-founder of the petition, Jen Fleming, told ACM that parents needed more choice. "We are in an economy where most families have both parents working to pay off a mortgage," she said. Ms Fleming said the recent scandals in the childcare sector, including Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, who is accused of abusing dozens of children, resulting in thousands of kids requiring STD tests, had left parents "distrustful" and "heartbroken". "We are saying if your child is eligible for the childcare subsidy, you should have more choice for who is looking after them, for some it is a nanny, for others a grandparent," she said. Ms Fleming set up the petition with a couple of other local parents. The mum of two lives in Camp Mountain, a semi-rural area 40km outside of Brisbane. She said when her first child, Elsie, was in childcare, her daughter was routinely sick and did not manage to bond with the staff because of the high number of staff turnover. Ms Fleming described the experience as "traumatic". She now has her own business, and her father and a nanny look after her daughters three days a week. "I'm not a rarity in this," she said. "As part of the petition, I've heard from a range of families who are struggling with this issue." One family said that they could not put their children in childcare because a family member was immunocompromised. "The one-size-fits-all is not working for a lot of people," she said. Federal early childhood education minister Dr Jess Walsh was contacted for comment. Access to childcare has been an issue for Kate Brow ever since she became a mum eight years ago. Ms Brow lives on a farm on the outskirts of Bibbenluke, 170km south of Canberra. There is only one childcare centre in the nearest town, Bombala. It is often full, and for Ms Brow, who works remotely for the charity Motherland Australia, finding appropriate care for her three young daughters has been a constant source of stress. The situation is exacerbated because her parents and in-laws live between two and seven hours away. Ms Brow is one of more than 12,000 signatories to a petition calling on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be used for a broader range of care options, including grandparents. "What I needed was financial support so I could put in stop gaps, so I could go back to work and it was affordable to go back to work," she told ACM. "The childrens' grandparents have to travel many hours to look after them and being able to pay them to compensate for those expenses or a nanny would help." Ms Brow said the lack of childcare options in regional and rural areas was a "massive" challenge for families. "So many rural mothers that we work with across Australia are not even remotely near a childcare facility," she said. "They just need affordable options (nannies or au pairs) to enable them to contribute to the workforce if that's what they choose to do ." The petition started by For Parents calls on the federal government to allow the childcare subsidy to be broadened to include grandparents, nannies, au pairs and co-working spaces. Currently, the subsidy could only be used at an approved federal government child care service. Co-founder of the petition, Jen Fleming, told ACM that parents needed more choice. "We are in an economy where most families have both parents working to pay off a mortgage," she said. Ms Fleming said the recent scandals in the childcare sector, including Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, who is accused of abusing dozens of children, resulting in thousands of kids requiring STD tests, had left parents "distrustful" and "heartbroken". "We are saying if your child is eligible for the childcare subsidy, you should have more choice for who is looking after them, for some it is a nanny, for others a grandparent," she said. Ms Fleming set up the petition with a couple of other local parents. The mum of two lives in Camp Mountain, a semi-rural area 40km outside of Brisbane. She said when her first child, Elsie, was in childcare, her daughter was routinely sick and did not manage to bond with the staff because of the high number of staff turnover. Ms Fleming described the experience as "traumatic". She now has her own business, and her father and a nanny look after her daughters three days a week. "I'm not a rarity in this," she said. "As part of the petition, I've heard from a range of families who are struggling with this issue." One family said that they could not put their children in childcare because a family member was immunocompromised. "The one-size-fits-all is not working for a lot of people," she said. Federal early childhood education minister Dr Jess Walsh was contacted for comment.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
'It's a living nightmare': inside the regional wood fire pollution crisis
Lisa Cunial cannot go for a walk in the beautiful wetland behind her house. A few minutes in the garden and she can't breathe. "Gardening is one of my passions," she tells ACM. "It is such a shame." Ms Cunial has lived in Orange in the NSW Central West for more than 25 years. "I used to live out of town as a kid and wonder why all my friends in town were always sick and had asthma," she said. Every year, winter brings the haze of wood fire smoke and she is "always on the cusp of a reaction". "Your sensitivity to the smoke gets worse". Agricultural burn-offs in the surrounding areas exacerbate the problem. After the bushfire season in 2019, she was diagnosed with Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS), a type of asthma-like condition that develops after high-level exposure to an irritating substance such as corrosive material, gas, vapour or fumes. "I couldn't breathe," she said. "If I come across wood smoke, it impacts me immediately. I cannot get better." Ms Cunial's story is not unique. ACM has spoken to dozens of people from regional Australia dealing with wood heater pollution. Around 10 per cent of Australians use wood heaters as their main source of heating. For some, they have become a "lifestyle" accessory. But the health effects are dire. Wood heaters emit large amounts of fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5) into the atmosphere. These particulates could reach deep into the lungs, causing respiratory issues and asthma symptoms. NSW Health's former top doctor, Kerry Chant, said wood fire heaters were so detrimental to health that she would consider banning them. "Long-term exposure to particulate pollution, especially finer particles (PM2.5), can cause heart and lung disease while brief exposures can aggravate asthma and worsen pre-existing heart and lung conditions," she said. Children, the elderly, and people with existing health issues were most at risk. NSW Health advises that "instead of using a wood-burning heater in your home, consider using heating alternatives that cause less pollution, such as reverse cycle air-conditioning, flued gas or electric heaters". New modelling from the Centre for Safe Air at the University of Tasmania shows the toll of wood fire heater pollution. The modelling estimated long-term exposure to smoke from wood heaters contributed to 729 premature deaths every year in Australia. In regional and rural locations, where it is colder and more people use wood heaters, emissions are highest. Regional locations take out the top five worst areas for wood fire heater pollution. Find out the emissions for your area: Launceston and Hobart in Tasmania, the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, Armidale in the Central West in New South Wales, and Bunbury in Western Australia top the list for wood-heater pollution. Centre for Safe Air director, professor Fay Johnston, told ACM the modelling found the areas with the most wood heater pollution tend to be "cooler places where wood burning is common and where towns and cities are located in valleys and basins that trap air pollution during winter". The most premature deaths associated with wood heaters, however, tend to be in areas with the highest population densities. "Sydney's basin-shaped topography and high urban density result in over 300 earlier-than-expected deaths every year, more than any other Australian city," Professor Johnston said. Professor Johnston said that many people are surprised by the impact of wood heaters. "When it comes to air pollution, many people think of exhaust pipe emissions from cars and trucks, smoke from coal-fired power stations or hazard reduction burns," she said. "It is often a surprise to learn that the health impacts of wood heaters are much greater than any of these sources of pollution in most Australian towns and cities." Melbourne community advocate for clean air, Arabella Daniel, said wood pollution was behind a raft of neighbourhood disputes. "People exposed to wood smoke often don't get empathy from a neighbour who is burning," she said. "Those who complain can often experience sociopathic revenge behaviour and retaliation." Managing wood smoke pollution is the responsibility of local councils, which were either reluctant to deal with the problem or not resourced to police chimney smoke, she said. "We are stuck without a remedy. We need state and federal laws to protect health." In 2023, the ACT Government announced that it would phase out wood heaters in the territory by 2045. Ms Daniel said it was a welcome step, but the timeline "was absolutely not good enough". "We consider this a public health emergency," she said. "There is very little political will. We need a hero to step up." She wants no new installations of wood heaters and a subsidised phase-out replacement program converting to split systems. Canberra University's Environmental Public Health Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis told ACM that "decisive and rapid policy action" was needed on wood heater pollution in Australian cities and towns. "This is a major public health issue in many ways similar to smoking in public places, which needs to be urgently addressed," he said. Prof Vardoulakis said new installation of wood heaters need to be banned in new and existing properties in urban areas and suburbs. Mandating the removal of wood heaters before a property can be sold would also reduce the number of older wood heaters, he said. Targeted financial incentives also need to be considered, particularly for low-income households. Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council is currently reviewing a draft policy that would restrict the installation of wood heaters in some urban areas. For some, any action comes too late. Tasmanian resident Jane (surname withheld) still lives with the trauma from wood fire heaters. She was living in a rural town in north-west Tasmania when friendly relationships with neighbours turned sour after she approached them about their wood heater. "The situation caused a lot of trauma and despair," she said. "I lost work days because I was so sick." She said the smoke intensity coming into her weatherboard house became "alarming". The council would only act if she provided evidence of 10 minutes of footage of the burning. She went to the EPA in Tasmania, which calculated that the emissions from the heater were at dangerous levels, but the council still would not intervene. "Why does it appear that people with wood heaters have all the rights?" she said. "I understand they are cosy, but they are a significant health compromise. How can the government say on one hand smoking kills, but allow heaters to burn 24 hours a day?" Do you know more? Email the journalist: Lisa Cunial cannot go for a walk in the beautiful wetland behind her house. A few minutes in the garden and she can't breathe. "Gardening is one of my passions," she tells ACM. "It is such a shame." Ms Cunial has lived in Orange in the NSW Central West for more than 25 years. "I used to live out of town as a kid and wonder why all my friends in town were always sick and had asthma," she said. Every year, winter brings the haze of wood fire smoke and she is "always on the cusp of a reaction". "Your sensitivity to the smoke gets worse". Agricultural burn-offs in the surrounding areas exacerbate the problem. After the bushfire season in 2019, she was diagnosed with Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS), a type of asthma-like condition that develops after high-level exposure to an irritating substance such as corrosive material, gas, vapour or fumes. "I couldn't breathe," she said. "If I come across wood smoke, it impacts me immediately. I cannot get better." Ms Cunial's story is not unique. ACM has spoken to dozens of people from regional Australia dealing with wood heater pollution. Around 10 per cent of Australians use wood heaters as their main source of heating. For some, they have become a "lifestyle" accessory. But the health effects are dire. Wood heaters emit large amounts of fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5) into the atmosphere. These particulates could reach deep into the lungs, causing respiratory issues and asthma symptoms. NSW Health's former top doctor, Kerry Chant, said wood fire heaters were so detrimental to health that she would consider banning them. "Long-term exposure to particulate pollution, especially finer particles (PM2.5), can cause heart and lung disease while brief exposures can aggravate asthma and worsen pre-existing heart and lung conditions," she said. Children, the elderly, and people with existing health issues were most at risk. NSW Health advises that "instead of using a wood-burning heater in your home, consider using heating alternatives that cause less pollution, such as reverse cycle air-conditioning, flued gas or electric heaters". New modelling from the Centre for Safe Air at the University of Tasmania shows the toll of wood fire heater pollution. The modelling estimated long-term exposure to smoke from wood heaters contributed to 729 premature deaths every year in Australia. In regional and rural locations, where it is colder and more people use wood heaters, emissions are highest. Regional locations take out the top five worst areas for wood fire heater pollution. Find out the emissions for your area: Launceston and Hobart in Tasmania, the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, Armidale in the Central West in New South Wales, and Bunbury in Western Australia top the list for wood-heater pollution. Centre for Safe Air director, professor Fay Johnston, told ACM the modelling found the areas with the most wood heater pollution tend to be "cooler places where wood burning is common and where towns and cities are located in valleys and basins that trap air pollution during winter". The most premature deaths associated with wood heaters, however, tend to be in areas with the highest population densities. "Sydney's basin-shaped topography and high urban density result in over 300 earlier-than-expected deaths every year, more than any other Australian city," Professor Johnston said. Professor Johnston said that many people are surprised by the impact of wood heaters. "When it comes to air pollution, many people think of exhaust pipe emissions from cars and trucks, smoke from coal-fired power stations or hazard reduction burns," she said. "It is often a surprise to learn that the health impacts of wood heaters are much greater than any of these sources of pollution in most Australian towns and cities." Melbourne community advocate for clean air, Arabella Daniel, said wood pollution was behind a raft of neighbourhood disputes. "People exposed to wood smoke often don't get empathy from a neighbour who is burning," she said. "Those who complain can often experience sociopathic revenge behaviour and retaliation." Managing wood smoke pollution is the responsibility of local councils, which were either reluctant to deal with the problem or not resourced to police chimney smoke, she said. "We are stuck without a remedy. We need state and federal laws to protect health." In 2023, the ACT Government announced that it would phase out wood heaters in the territory by 2045. Ms Daniel said it was a welcome step, but the timeline "was absolutely not good enough". "We consider this a public health emergency," she said. "There is very little political will. We need a hero to step up." She wants no new installations of wood heaters and a subsidised phase-out replacement program converting to split systems. Canberra University's Environmental Public Health Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis told ACM that "decisive and rapid policy action" was needed on wood heater pollution in Australian cities and towns. "This is a major public health issue in many ways similar to smoking in public places, which needs to be urgently addressed," he said. Prof Vardoulakis said new installation of wood heaters need to be banned in new and existing properties in urban areas and suburbs. Mandating the removal of wood heaters before a property can be sold would also reduce the number of older wood heaters, he said. Targeted financial incentives also need to be considered, particularly for low-income households. Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council is currently reviewing a draft policy that would restrict the installation of wood heaters in some urban areas. For some, any action comes too late. Tasmanian resident Jane (surname withheld) still lives with the trauma from wood fire heaters. She was living in a rural town in north-west Tasmania when friendly relationships with neighbours turned sour after she approached them about their wood heater. "The situation caused a lot of trauma and despair," she said. "I lost work days because I was so sick." She said the smoke intensity coming into her weatherboard house became "alarming". The council would only act if she provided evidence of 10 minutes of footage of the burning. She went to the EPA in Tasmania, which calculated that the emissions from the heater were at dangerous levels, but the council still would not intervene. "Why does it appear that people with wood heaters have all the rights?" she said. "I understand they are cosy, but they are a significant health compromise. How can the government say on one hand smoking kills, but allow heaters to burn 24 hours a day?" Do you know more? Email the journalist: Lisa Cunial cannot go for a walk in the beautiful wetland behind her house. A few minutes in the garden and she can't breathe. "Gardening is one of my passions," she tells ACM. "It is such a shame." Ms Cunial has lived in Orange in the NSW Central West for more than 25 years. "I used to live out of town as a kid and wonder why all my friends in town were always sick and had asthma," she said. Every year, winter brings the haze of wood fire smoke and she is "always on the cusp of a reaction". "Your sensitivity to the smoke gets worse". Agricultural burn-offs in the surrounding areas exacerbate the problem. After the bushfire season in 2019, she was diagnosed with Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS), a type of asthma-like condition that develops after high-level exposure to an irritating substance such as corrosive material, gas, vapour or fumes. "I couldn't breathe," she said. "If I come across wood smoke, it impacts me immediately. I cannot get better." Ms Cunial's story is not unique. ACM has spoken to dozens of people from regional Australia dealing with wood heater pollution. Around 10 per cent of Australians use wood heaters as their main source of heating. For some, they have become a "lifestyle" accessory. But the health effects are dire. Wood heaters emit large amounts of fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5) into the atmosphere. These particulates could reach deep into the lungs, causing respiratory issues and asthma symptoms. NSW Health's former top doctor, Kerry Chant, said wood fire heaters were so detrimental to health that she would consider banning them. "Long-term exposure to particulate pollution, especially finer particles (PM2.5), can cause heart and lung disease while brief exposures can aggravate asthma and worsen pre-existing heart and lung conditions," she said. Children, the elderly, and people with existing health issues were most at risk. NSW Health advises that "instead of using a wood-burning heater in your home, consider using heating alternatives that cause less pollution, such as reverse cycle air-conditioning, flued gas or electric heaters". New modelling from the Centre for Safe Air at the University of Tasmania shows the toll of wood fire heater pollution. The modelling estimated long-term exposure to smoke from wood heaters contributed to 729 premature deaths every year in Australia. In regional and rural locations, where it is colder and more people use wood heaters, emissions are highest. Regional locations take out the top five worst areas for wood fire heater pollution. Find out the emissions for your area: Launceston and Hobart in Tasmania, the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, Armidale in the Central West in New South Wales, and Bunbury in Western Australia top the list for wood-heater pollution. Centre for Safe Air director, professor Fay Johnston, told ACM the modelling found the areas with the most wood heater pollution tend to be "cooler places where wood burning is common and where towns and cities are located in valleys and basins that trap air pollution during winter". The most premature deaths associated with wood heaters, however, tend to be in areas with the highest population densities. "Sydney's basin-shaped topography and high urban density result in over 300 earlier-than-expected deaths every year, more than any other Australian city," Professor Johnston said. Professor Johnston said that many people are surprised by the impact of wood heaters. "When it comes to air pollution, many people think of exhaust pipe emissions from cars and trucks, smoke from coal-fired power stations or hazard reduction burns," she said. "It is often a surprise to learn that the health impacts of wood heaters are much greater than any of these sources of pollution in most Australian towns and cities." Melbourne community advocate for clean air, Arabella Daniel, said wood pollution was behind a raft of neighbourhood disputes. "People exposed to wood smoke often don't get empathy from a neighbour who is burning," she said. "Those who complain can often experience sociopathic revenge behaviour and retaliation." Managing wood smoke pollution is the responsibility of local councils, which were either reluctant to deal with the problem or not resourced to police chimney smoke, she said. "We are stuck without a remedy. We need state and federal laws to protect health." In 2023, the ACT Government announced that it would phase out wood heaters in the territory by 2045. Ms Daniel said it was a welcome step, but the timeline "was absolutely not good enough". "We consider this a public health emergency," she said. "There is very little political will. We need a hero to step up." She wants no new installations of wood heaters and a subsidised phase-out replacement program converting to split systems. Canberra University's Environmental Public Health Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis told ACM that "decisive and rapid policy action" was needed on wood heater pollution in Australian cities and towns. "This is a major public health issue in many ways similar to smoking in public places, which needs to be urgently addressed," he said. Prof Vardoulakis said new installation of wood heaters need to be banned in new and existing properties in urban areas and suburbs. Mandating the removal of wood heaters before a property can be sold would also reduce the number of older wood heaters, he said. Targeted financial incentives also need to be considered, particularly for low-income households. Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council is currently reviewing a draft policy that would restrict the installation of wood heaters in some urban areas. For some, any action comes too late. Tasmanian resident Jane (surname withheld) still lives with the trauma from wood fire heaters. She was living in a rural town in north-west Tasmania when friendly relationships with neighbours turned sour after she approached them about their wood heater. "The situation caused a lot of trauma and despair," she said. "I lost work days because I was so sick." She said the smoke intensity coming into her weatherboard house became "alarming". The council would only act if she provided evidence of 10 minutes of footage of the burning. She went to the EPA in Tasmania, which calculated that the emissions from the heater were at dangerous levels, but the council still would not intervene. "Why does it appear that people with wood heaters have all the rights?" she said. "I understand they are cosy, but they are a significant health compromise. How can the government say on one hand smoking kills, but allow heaters to burn 24 hours a day?" Do you know more? Email the journalist: Lisa Cunial cannot go for a walk in the beautiful wetland behind her house. A few minutes in the garden and she can't breathe. "Gardening is one of my passions," she tells ACM. "It is such a shame." Ms Cunial has lived in Orange in the NSW Central West for more than 25 years. "I used to live out of town as a kid and wonder why all my friends in town were always sick and had asthma," she said. Every year, winter brings the haze of wood fire smoke and she is "always on the cusp of a reaction". "Your sensitivity to the smoke gets worse". Agricultural burn-offs in the surrounding areas exacerbate the problem. After the bushfire season in 2019, she was diagnosed with Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS), a type of asthma-like condition that develops after high-level exposure to an irritating substance such as corrosive material, gas, vapour or fumes. "I couldn't breathe," she said. "If I come across wood smoke, it impacts me immediately. I cannot get better." Ms Cunial's story is not unique. ACM has spoken to dozens of people from regional Australia dealing with wood heater pollution. Around 10 per cent of Australians use wood heaters as their main source of heating. For some, they have become a "lifestyle" accessory. But the health effects are dire. Wood heaters emit large amounts of fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5) into the atmosphere. These particulates could reach deep into the lungs, causing respiratory issues and asthma symptoms. NSW Health's former top doctor, Kerry Chant, said wood fire heaters were so detrimental to health that she would consider banning them. "Long-term exposure to particulate pollution, especially finer particles (PM2.5), can cause heart and lung disease while brief exposures can aggravate asthma and worsen pre-existing heart and lung conditions," she said. Children, the elderly, and people with existing health issues were most at risk. NSW Health advises that "instead of using a wood-burning heater in your home, consider using heating alternatives that cause less pollution, such as reverse cycle air-conditioning, flued gas or electric heaters". New modelling from the Centre for Safe Air at the University of Tasmania shows the toll of wood fire heater pollution. The modelling estimated long-term exposure to smoke from wood heaters contributed to 729 premature deaths every year in Australia. In regional and rural locations, where it is colder and more people use wood heaters, emissions are highest. Regional locations take out the top five worst areas for wood fire heater pollution. Find out the emissions for your area: Launceston and Hobart in Tasmania, the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, Armidale in the Central West in New South Wales, and Bunbury in Western Australia top the list for wood-heater pollution. Centre for Safe Air director, professor Fay Johnston, told ACM the modelling found the areas with the most wood heater pollution tend to be "cooler places where wood burning is common and where towns and cities are located in valleys and basins that trap air pollution during winter". The most premature deaths associated with wood heaters, however, tend to be in areas with the highest population densities. "Sydney's basin-shaped topography and high urban density result in over 300 earlier-than-expected deaths every year, more than any other Australian city," Professor Johnston said. Professor Johnston said that many people are surprised by the impact of wood heaters. "When it comes to air pollution, many people think of exhaust pipe emissions from cars and trucks, smoke from coal-fired power stations or hazard reduction burns," she said. "It is often a surprise to learn that the health impacts of wood heaters are much greater than any of these sources of pollution in most Australian towns and cities." Melbourne community advocate for clean air, Arabella Daniel, said wood pollution was behind a raft of neighbourhood disputes. "People exposed to wood smoke often don't get empathy from a neighbour who is burning," she said. "Those who complain can often experience sociopathic revenge behaviour and retaliation." Managing wood smoke pollution is the responsibility of local councils, which were either reluctant to deal with the problem or not resourced to police chimney smoke, she said. "We are stuck without a remedy. We need state and federal laws to protect health." In 2023, the ACT Government announced that it would phase out wood heaters in the territory by 2045. Ms Daniel said it was a welcome step, but the timeline "was absolutely not good enough". "We consider this a public health emergency," she said. "There is very little political will. We need a hero to step up." She wants no new installations of wood heaters and a subsidised phase-out replacement program converting to split systems. Canberra University's Environmental Public Health Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis told ACM that "decisive and rapid policy action" was needed on wood heater pollution in Australian cities and towns. "This is a major public health issue in many ways similar to smoking in public places, which needs to be urgently addressed," he said. Prof Vardoulakis said new installation of wood heaters need to be banned in new and existing properties in urban areas and suburbs. Mandating the removal of wood heaters before a property can be sold would also reduce the number of older wood heaters, he said. Targeted financial incentives also need to be considered, particularly for low-income households. Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council is currently reviewing a draft policy that would restrict the installation of wood heaters in some urban areas. For some, any action comes too late. Tasmanian resident Jane (surname withheld) still lives with the trauma from wood fire heaters. She was living in a rural town in north-west Tasmania when friendly relationships with neighbours turned sour after she approached them about their wood heater. "The situation caused a lot of trauma and despair," she said. "I lost work days because I was so sick." She said the smoke intensity coming into her weatherboard house became "alarming". The council would only act if she provided evidence of 10 minutes of footage of the burning. She went to the EPA in Tasmania, which calculated that the emissions from the heater were at dangerous levels, but the council still would not intervene. "Why does it appear that people with wood heaters have all the rights?" she said. "I understand they are cosy, but they are a significant health compromise. How can the government say on one hand smoking kills, but allow heaters to burn 24 hours a day?" Do you know more? Email the journalist:
The Advertiser
30-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Meet the Aussie teen hoping to be the youngest to fly around the world
In 2024, a 14-year-old Byron Waller flew around Australia. Now the young pilot has his sights set on conquering the world. The 15-year-old is aiming to become the youngest person ever to fly around the world. The trip begins on August 2 and will be in a four-seat, single-engine aircraft known as a Sling Tsi. Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East and Europe are all on the bucket list. The jam-packed itinerary includes more than 30 countries across seven continents. The longest leg will be a 14-hour journey from California to Hawaii. For Byron, flying has always been a lifeline in a childhood filled with unexplained health challenges. "I missed school, sports, even birthday parties and Christmas because I was always in the hospital or too unwell to get out of bed," he told ACM. "Flying is not just something I love," he said. " It is the one thing that got me going when I was at my worst." Five years ago, Byron's family moved next to the Queensland Children's Hospital after realising they were waiting up to an hour for ambulances to reach their inner city home. He spent nine months in the hospital being treated, and then, a breakthrough with a Crohn's disease diagnosis - an inflammatory bowel disease that causes swelling and irritation of the tissues, called inflammation, in the digestive tract. "It explained everything, but it also nearly grounded my biggest dream: to become a pilot," he said. "There were days I needed a wheelchair," he said. Bryon described his 2024 trip around Australia was transformational. "It taught me how to be both a pilot and a decision-maker, someone who doesn't just fly the aircraft but also takes full responsibility for every choice made in the cockpit," he said. "I navigated across deserts, coastlines, mountain ranges and remote outback strips." That journey raised money for Queensland's Children's Hospital, which has been pivotal in his recovery. It also connected him with other young people who have encountered health challenges. "I saw the power of aviation," he said. "Whether it was meeting someone at a remote airstrip who shared their own health battles, or getting a message from a young person with Crohn's disease who felt inspired by what I was doing, I started to see flying not just as a personal goal but as a platform to raise awareness, connect, and to show that young people with invisible illnesses and other challenges you can literally rise above them," he said. The two-month trip around the world will no doubt be more arduous. Depending on the weather, it could potentially be even longer. Byron will be under the supervision of the flying instructor the whole way through and will need to carefully manage Crohn's disease. "Each leg has been carefully planned," he said. "I've been working with pilot mentors, aircraft mechanics, flight planners, air traffic authorities and border officials across multiple continents, and the logistics alone are enormous." The journey will raise money for the Mission Aviation Fellowship. "Through this journey, I hope to meet others facing similar struggles in the countries I visit, hear their stories and shine a light on the resilience it takes to keep going and keep showing up," he said. Byron's trip begins on August 2 from Brisbane, and you can follow his route and track progress here and donate to his GoFundMe to support him. As for his long-term goal? To be a commercial airline pilot. In 2024, a 14-year-old Byron Waller flew around Australia. Now the young pilot has his sights set on conquering the world. The 15-year-old is aiming to become the youngest person ever to fly around the world. The trip begins on August 2 and will be in a four-seat, single-engine aircraft known as a Sling Tsi. Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East and Europe are all on the bucket list. The jam-packed itinerary includes more than 30 countries across seven continents. The longest leg will be a 14-hour journey from California to Hawaii. For Byron, flying has always been a lifeline in a childhood filled with unexplained health challenges. "I missed school, sports, even birthday parties and Christmas because I was always in the hospital or too unwell to get out of bed," he told ACM. "Flying is not just something I love," he said. " It is the one thing that got me going when I was at my worst." Five years ago, Byron's family moved next to the Queensland Children's Hospital after realising they were waiting up to an hour for ambulances to reach their inner city home. He spent nine months in the hospital being treated, and then, a breakthrough with a Crohn's disease diagnosis - an inflammatory bowel disease that causes swelling and irritation of the tissues, called inflammation, in the digestive tract. "It explained everything, but it also nearly grounded my biggest dream: to become a pilot," he said. "There were days I needed a wheelchair," he said. Bryon described his 2024 trip around Australia was transformational. "It taught me how to be both a pilot and a decision-maker, someone who doesn't just fly the aircraft but also takes full responsibility for every choice made in the cockpit," he said. "I navigated across deserts, coastlines, mountain ranges and remote outback strips." That journey raised money for Queensland's Children's Hospital, which has been pivotal in his recovery. It also connected him with other young people who have encountered health challenges. "I saw the power of aviation," he said. "Whether it was meeting someone at a remote airstrip who shared their own health battles, or getting a message from a young person with Crohn's disease who felt inspired by what I was doing, I started to see flying not just as a personal goal but as a platform to raise awareness, connect, and to show that young people with invisible illnesses and other challenges you can literally rise above them," he said. The two-month trip around the world will no doubt be more arduous. Depending on the weather, it could potentially be even longer. Byron will be under the supervision of the flying instructor the whole way through and will need to carefully manage Crohn's disease. "Each leg has been carefully planned," he said. "I've been working with pilot mentors, aircraft mechanics, flight planners, air traffic authorities and border officials across multiple continents, and the logistics alone are enormous." The journey will raise money for the Mission Aviation Fellowship. "Through this journey, I hope to meet others facing similar struggles in the countries I visit, hear their stories and shine a light on the resilience it takes to keep going and keep showing up," he said. Byron's trip begins on August 2 from Brisbane, and you can follow his route and track progress here and donate to his GoFundMe to support him. As for his long-term goal? To be a commercial airline pilot. In 2024, a 14-year-old Byron Waller flew around Australia. Now the young pilot has his sights set on conquering the world. The 15-year-old is aiming to become the youngest person ever to fly around the world. The trip begins on August 2 and will be in a four-seat, single-engine aircraft known as a Sling Tsi. Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East and Europe are all on the bucket list. The jam-packed itinerary includes more than 30 countries across seven continents. The longest leg will be a 14-hour journey from California to Hawaii. For Byron, flying has always been a lifeline in a childhood filled with unexplained health challenges. "I missed school, sports, even birthday parties and Christmas because I was always in the hospital or too unwell to get out of bed," he told ACM. "Flying is not just something I love," he said. " It is the one thing that got me going when I was at my worst." Five years ago, Byron's family moved next to the Queensland Children's Hospital after realising they were waiting up to an hour for ambulances to reach their inner city home. He spent nine months in the hospital being treated, and then, a breakthrough with a Crohn's disease diagnosis - an inflammatory bowel disease that causes swelling and irritation of the tissues, called inflammation, in the digestive tract. "It explained everything, but it also nearly grounded my biggest dream: to become a pilot," he said. "There were days I needed a wheelchair," he said. Bryon described his 2024 trip around Australia was transformational. "It taught me how to be both a pilot and a decision-maker, someone who doesn't just fly the aircraft but also takes full responsibility for every choice made in the cockpit," he said. "I navigated across deserts, coastlines, mountain ranges and remote outback strips." That journey raised money for Queensland's Children's Hospital, which has been pivotal in his recovery. It also connected him with other young people who have encountered health challenges. "I saw the power of aviation," he said. "Whether it was meeting someone at a remote airstrip who shared their own health battles, or getting a message from a young person with Crohn's disease who felt inspired by what I was doing, I started to see flying not just as a personal goal but as a platform to raise awareness, connect, and to show that young people with invisible illnesses and other challenges you can literally rise above them," he said. The two-month trip around the world will no doubt be more arduous. Depending on the weather, it could potentially be even longer. Byron will be under the supervision of the flying instructor the whole way through and will need to carefully manage Crohn's disease. "Each leg has been carefully planned," he said. "I've been working with pilot mentors, aircraft mechanics, flight planners, air traffic authorities and border officials across multiple continents, and the logistics alone are enormous." The journey will raise money for the Mission Aviation Fellowship. "Through this journey, I hope to meet others facing similar struggles in the countries I visit, hear their stories and shine a light on the resilience it takes to keep going and keep showing up," he said. Byron's trip begins on August 2 from Brisbane, and you can follow his route and track progress here and donate to his GoFundMe to support him. As for his long-term goal? To be a commercial airline pilot. In 2024, a 14-year-old Byron Waller flew around Australia. Now the young pilot has his sights set on conquering the world. The 15-year-old is aiming to become the youngest person ever to fly around the world. The trip begins on August 2 and will be in a four-seat, single-engine aircraft known as a Sling Tsi. Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East and Europe are all on the bucket list. The jam-packed itinerary includes more than 30 countries across seven continents. The longest leg will be a 14-hour journey from California to Hawaii. For Byron, flying has always been a lifeline in a childhood filled with unexplained health challenges. "I missed school, sports, even birthday parties and Christmas because I was always in the hospital or too unwell to get out of bed," he told ACM. "Flying is not just something I love," he said. " It is the one thing that got me going when I was at my worst." Five years ago, Byron's family moved next to the Queensland Children's Hospital after realising they were waiting up to an hour for ambulances to reach their inner city home. He spent nine months in the hospital being treated, and then, a breakthrough with a Crohn's disease diagnosis - an inflammatory bowel disease that causes swelling and irritation of the tissues, called inflammation, in the digestive tract. "It explained everything, but it also nearly grounded my biggest dream: to become a pilot," he said. "There were days I needed a wheelchair," he said. Bryon described his 2024 trip around Australia was transformational. "It taught me how to be both a pilot and a decision-maker, someone who doesn't just fly the aircraft but also takes full responsibility for every choice made in the cockpit," he said. "I navigated across deserts, coastlines, mountain ranges and remote outback strips." That journey raised money for Queensland's Children's Hospital, which has been pivotal in his recovery. It also connected him with other young people who have encountered health challenges. "I saw the power of aviation," he said. "Whether it was meeting someone at a remote airstrip who shared their own health battles, or getting a message from a young person with Crohn's disease who felt inspired by what I was doing, I started to see flying not just as a personal goal but as a platform to raise awareness, connect, and to show that young people with invisible illnesses and other challenges you can literally rise above them," he said. The two-month trip around the world will no doubt be more arduous. Depending on the weather, it could potentially be even longer. Byron will be under the supervision of the flying instructor the whole way through and will need to carefully manage Crohn's disease. "Each leg has been carefully planned," he said. "I've been working with pilot mentors, aircraft mechanics, flight planners, air traffic authorities and border officials across multiple continents, and the logistics alone are enormous." The journey will raise money for the Mission Aviation Fellowship. "Through this journey, I hope to meet others facing similar struggles in the countries I visit, hear their stories and shine a light on the resilience it takes to keep going and keep showing up," he said. Byron's trip begins on August 2 from Brisbane, and you can follow his route and track progress here and donate to his GoFundMe to support him. As for his long-term goal? To be a commercial airline pilot.
