Latest news with #Australians
West Australian
2 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Adrian Barich: Happy is the country that is more interested in sport than in politics, I always say
It's been a sad old time in Barra-land so I'm hoping you won't mind if this week, I discuss something extremely frivolous. Or is it frivolous?! It's wild just how much sport means to people in this country. As a nation we should probably be a little embarrassed about just how highly sport ranks in our public psyche. As the late Donald Horne wrote (well complained, actually) in his book The Lucky Country, ''sport, to many Australians, is life and the rest a shadow . . . It is considered a sign of degeneracy not to be interested in it'. If you resemble those comments, don't feel bad: you're in good company. Happy is the country that is more interested in sport than in politics, I always say. The truth is, many of us get a lot of our culture and identity from sport. It's not just a leisure-time activity, but a big part of our lives. If you're struggling to connect or even make conversation with your neighbours, throw in this line — 'what about those Eagles?' — and see how you go. There is a remarkably deep-seated connection between Australians and our sporting teams, and the drama of sport has the power to bring people together. The other thing I don't think we appreciate fully is that sport not only bonds people and strengthens communities, but helps promote our State on the national stage. If we are hosting some of the Australia's biggest sporting events, we are showcasing West Australian excellence and expertise in everything from innovation, tourism, services and products. Having said all that, and thrown my support behind this State's push to attract big events to WA, I still think we are running behind the fans of the English Premier League in terms of passion and commitment. Just take a look at the hysteria surrounding Tottenham Hotspur winning the Europa League. Spurs hit a grim milestone this season: their worst-ever Premier League season but that has all been overshadowed by Ange Postecoglou making history, ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by claiming a dramatic 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the final in Bilbao. The celebrations have been extensive and colourful, with tens of thousands of jubilant Spurs fans lining the streets of north London last week for an open-top bus victory parade. I've even seen people getting crazy tattoos to commemorate this apparently unforgettable moment in the history of the club. In the final against United, there was a moment of pure instinct, a stunning show of agility, by Micky van de Ven. His goal-line clearance has been described as 'poetry in motion' as the Dutch defender, with a less than a second to make up his mind, flew high, with his foot in the air, to somehow hook the ball away. His version of events went like this: 'In the game, I saw the ball coming, I don't know what happened, I saw the ball coming back and went to the goal line . . . the ball went high up in the air, and I thought, 'how am I going to do this?' I thought, 'I just need to try', and then I got it out of the goal, I don't know how'. Anyway that one effort has now been permanently tattooed on many, many chubby arms and shaved backs in north London, a display of passion and love for the moment that we probably haven't seen very often in Australia. To say it was an eyesore would be a compliment. The tatt ranks up (or down?) there with Mike Tyson's iconic face tattoo for things that probably weren't a good idea. Still despite England's love of soccer, some would argue that Aussies are more 'religious' about sport than about religion itself. The stats I found are interesting: eight per cent of Australians go to church every week, compared to more than 80 per cent who are involved in a weekly sport. As American writer Phyllis McGinley reportedly quipped, 'in Australia, not reading poetry is a national pastime'.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Happy is country that's interested in sports over politics
It's been a sad old time in Barra-land so I'm hoping you won't mind if this week, I discuss something extremely frivolous. Or is it frivolous?! It's wild just how much sport means to people in this country. As a nation we should probably be a little embarrassed about just how highly sport ranks in our public psyche. As the late Donald Horne wrote (well complained, actually) in his book The Lucky Country, ''sport, to many Australians, is life and the rest a shadow . . . It is considered a sign of degeneracy not to be interested in it'. If you resemble those comments, don't feel bad: you're in good company. Happy is the country that is more interested in sport than in politics, I always say. The truth is, many of us get a lot of our culture and identity from sport. It's not just a leisure-time activity, but a big part of our lives. If you're struggling to connect or even make conversation with your neighbours, throw in this line — 'what about those Eagles?' — and see how you go. There is a remarkably deep-seated connection between Australians and our sporting teams, and the drama of sport has the power to bring people together. The other thing I don't think we appreciate fully is that sport not only bonds people and strengthens communities, but helps promote our State on the national stage. If we are hosting some of the Australia's biggest sporting events, we are showcasing West Australian excellence and expertise in everything from innovation, tourism, services and products. Having said all that, and thrown my support behind this State's push to attract big events to WA, I still think we are running behind the fans of the English Premier League in terms of passion and commitment. Just take a look at the hysteria surrounding Tottenham Hotspur winning the Europa League. Spurs hit a grim milestone this season: their worst-ever Premier League season but that has all been overshadowed by Ange Postecoglou making history, ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by claiming a dramatic 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the final in Bilbao. The celebrations have been extensive and colourful, with tens of thousands of jubilant Spurs fans lining the streets of north London last week for an open-top bus victory parade. I've even seen people getting crazy tattoos to commemorate this apparently unforgettable moment in the history of the club. In the final against United, there was a moment of pure instinct, a stunning show of agility, by Micky van de Ven. His goal-line clearance has been described as 'poetry in motion' as the Dutch defender, with a less than a second to make up his mind, flew high, with his foot in the air, to somehow hook the ball away. His version of events went like this: 'In the game, I saw the ball coming, I don't know what happened, I saw the ball coming back and went to the goal line . . . the ball went high up in the air, and I thought, 'how am I going to do this?' I thought, 'I just need to try', and then I got it out of the goal, I don't know how'. Anyway that one effort has now been permanently tattooed on many, many chubby arms and shaved backs in north London, a display of passion and love for the moment that we probably haven't seen very often in Australia. To say it was an eyesore would be a compliment. The tatt ranks up (or down?) there with Mike Tyson's iconic face tattoo for things that probably weren't a good idea. Still despite England's love of soccer, some would argue that Aussies are more 'religious' about sport than about religion itself. The stats I found are interesting: eight per cent of Australians go to church every week, compared to more than 80 per cent who are involved in a weekly sport. As American writer Phyllis McGinley reportedly quipped, 'in Australia, not reading poetry is a national pastime'.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
What is ‘sleep divorce' — and why is this concerning trend becoming more popular?
There's been a dramatic spike in the number of couples agreeing to part ways in the bedroom as Australia's growing sleep crisis worsens. New data shows that nearly one in three Australians are struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week, sparking a rise in the number of couples who have embarked on a 'sleep divorce', opting to get their nightly rest in separate beds or rooms – despite ongoing stigma surrounding the decision. Advertisement The research, conducted by leading sleep device manufacturer ResMed for its 2025 Global Sleep Survey, has revealed sleep deprivation is so bad that almost 1 in 5 (18 per cent) of Australians have called in sick. 6 Nearly one in three Australians are struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week, leading to couples getting their nightly rest in separate beds or rooms. Pixel-Shot – But shockingly, 41 percent of Aussies are choosing to 'just live with' the consequences of a bad night's kip, almost double the global average. 'This year's Resmed Global Sleep Survey found that the top factors causing Australians to have a poor night's sleep are stress (47 percent), followed by anxiety (42 percent) and financial pressures (26 percent),' Dr. Alison Wimms, Director of Medical Affairs for the company, told Advertisement 'Screen time, and inconsistent routines also widely affect sleep in Australia.' 6 41 percent of Aussies are choosing to 'just live with' the consequences of a bad night's kip, almost double the global average. terovesalainen – Some of those not willing to put up with a poor night's sleep have decided to embark on a 'sleep divorce', with 61 percent of Aussies who have ditched their partner at bedtime reporting a better sleep quality. '26 per cent said it improved their relationship, and almost 16 per cent noted a positive impact on their sex life,' Dr. Wimms added. Advertisement 'Sleeping separately can also improve sleep quality by reducing disturbances from different schedules, snoring, or movement during sleep.' However sleeping separately does not work for everybody, with 38 percent of the 1 in 5 Australians who opted for a sleep separation – often due to snoring and restlessness – stating they felt their quality of sleep got worse or remained the same. Alarmingly, almost 1 in 5 of those who have split up at night said they felt their relationship and sex life took a turn for the worse after sleeping apart. Advertisement Sydney couple's therapist Shahn Baker Sorekli however warns that while a sleep separation 'can be helpful in some circumstances', he doesn't always recommend it. 6 According to a survey, 38 percent of the 1 in 5 Australians who opted for a sleep separation – often due to snoring and restlessness – said they felt their quality of sleep worsen or remained the same. motortion – 'The main reason is coming together at the end of the night allows for a bit of a nice routine for the relationship where you can have a moment of connection and intimacy,' podcast, From the Newsroom. 'I'm not talking about, you know, long deepened meaningfuls in bed. It might just be a little snuggle, might just be reading next to each other, but kind of coming together at the end of the night. 'Being a couple, just unwinding is just a nice point of connection. And if you can maintain a good sleep routine together, it can just be really healthy for the relationship. So you close off the world, you in your room together, snuggling away.' 6 'If you can maintain a good sleep routine together, it can just be really healthy for the relationship,' couple's therapist Shahn Baker Sorekli says. Allistair F/ – The clinical psychologist, who authored relationship book The 8 Love Links, said that for those who find sleeping apart 'improves sleep quality it's absolutely a good idea'. 'For example, if one person is a really restless sleeper or somebody has a problem with snoring or perhaps somebody does shift work… and it going to add to the relationship tension, that's when it's a good idea,' he shared. Advertisement 'You've just got to be careful not to get into any kind of the pitfalls around it. 6 If sleeping together is 'going to add to the relationship tension, that's when it's a good idea,' Sorekli said about when it is appropriate for separate sleeping arrangements. WavebreakMediaMicro – Dr. Wimms noted that it is often women who report poorer sleep quality and higher rates of mood disruptions than men, explaining the gap was noticeable. '38 per cent of Australian women struggle to fall asleep at least 3 nights a week, compared to 26 per cent of men,' she explained. Advertisement 'This is consistent with global numbers where we see women consistently report more sleep challenges. This may be due to hormonal changes through the month, caregiving responsibilities, or higher stress loads. 6 'We see women consistently report more sleep challenges. This may be due to hormonal changes through the month, caregiving responsibilities, or higher stress loads,' Dr. Wimms said. Nattakorn – 'While 4 in 10 Australian women say that their sleep is disrupted by their partner at least a few times a week, most often because of snoring or loud breathing, compared to 28 per cent of men.' The report concluded that sleep has become the 'silent casualty of our busy modern lifestyles', noting the 'lines between work and home more blurred than ever'. Advertisement Pressures such as the rising cost of living in Australia are also building, resulting in poor sleep across the nation. But it's not all bad news, with ResMed stating that Australians have become more curious about how they sleep, with 33 percent monitoring their sleep, up from 18 percent last year. 'This increased curiosity, however, has revealed a gap in action with a staggering 41 per cent of Aussies saying they would just live with poor sleep,' Dr. Wimms said. Advertisement 'This is higher than the 22 per cent globally who indicated that they would do the same. This gap makes it vital for us to drive awareness of the importance of not just knowing, but taking action to improve your sleep health. 'This could be as simple as raising your sleep in a conversation with your healthcare provider or taking an online sleep assessment to learn more about what may be causing your poor sleep.' Those who have spoken out in the past about the benefits of sleeping separately to their partner include Michael and Lisa Wipfli, Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew and her husband Neil Varcoe as well as popular porn star Annie Knight who recently announced she sleeps in a separate bed to her new fiance Henry Brayshaw.
Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
Digital nomads: The critical workers seeing the world and getting paid for it
Forget gap years, taking your career on the road as a digital nomad is becoming the preferred way to see the world, with almost one in three Australians having ditched a permanent residency to work remotely. A YouGov survey found 29 per cent of Aussies had been able to travel for an extended period of time while using technology and the internet to work; while 41 per cent of Australians were keen on the idea. Scott Millar from school-based educational provider BOP Industries said the pandemic enlightened employees to the endless possibilities of working remotely. 'Covid really showed us, and particularly showed young people, that you can do just as much work at just as high a quality, but instead of sitting in an office in Brisbane or Sydney, you can be sipping cocktails on a beach in Bali, or in a co-working space in London, or a friend's flat in New York,' he said. 'Young people are finding that they can do the exact same job from anywhere in the world and still earn the same amount of money, and still have the same career progression.' But it's not just Gen Z embracing the work-from-anywhere concept, said demographer Bernard Salt. 'That's a feature coming through in a number of the generations of the workforce right through to the 50s and 60s and maybe even beyond,' he said. 'I think we'll see this more mobile workforce, particularly amongst the professional sector, who can have a laptop and will travel and relocate to a place that suits their needs for a particular time.' IT and computing workers have been leading the trend, representing 30 per cent of digital nomads, followed by those in creative roles like script writing (21 per cent), then financial services industry staffers (18 per cent). Most are chasing lifestyle benefits, with 44 per cent of digital nomads declaring being able to travel without taking time off work was a great plus. Brisbane-bred software engineer Zac Murray, 26, has spent much of the past two years traversing the globe as a digital nomad, visiting and working in more than 50 countries including America, Mexico, Colombia, China, Portugal and Egypt. 'I definitely fell in love with the lifestyle - it just had a magic to it that I can't even explain,' he said. 'It's not glamorous, but it is something that is really special and I felt connected to something in a way that I haven't felt before.' But he revealed it was not all roses, with Visa issues, budgeting, lack of stability and loneliness the biggest challenges. 'One of the downsides that people often don't talk about is it can get lonely because you're away from all your friends, your family, you're constantly changing locations,' he said. 'And something I also struggled with initially is that it's not a holiday, it's about living your life the way you normally would but adding on an extra travelling component, because you still have expectations at work and you don't want to let your job performance suffer.' With the proliferation of AI in the workplace, the trend is only set to grow, with Mr Millar declaring some employers were already offering employees the option to work nine months in the office and three months from abroad each year. 'I've seen some companies that have started offering that flexibility for their staff … and they're setting up links with accommodation providers and co-working space providers in different cities around the world,' he said, naming Shopify and WeWork as leading examples. TOP TIPS FOR LIVING AS A DIGITAL NOMAD 1. Have a plan and a budget for each destination to avoid overspending 2. Set up regular routines in each destination like you would at home to ensure you get your work done, such as going to the gym and having a separate work space 3. Choose destinations that run on similar time zones to your employer to make communicating with work easier 4. Consider staying in hostels, which can not only help you save money, but can also assist with making friends 5. Don't treat the experience as a holiday. Work your usual hours and explore after hours . Originally published as Digital nomads: The critical workers seeing the world and getting paid for it
IOL News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Proteas banking on 'human element' ahead of WTC final at Lords
PROTEAS top order batter Tristaan Stubbs will be looking to exploit the Australians' human insecurities when they face off in the World Test Championship in London. | Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers However, that is not the mood in the Proteas Test camp, as top-order batter Tristan Stubbs revealed. The Proteas batting unit has been diagnosed as the weak link due to the lack of experience in Test match cricket, and also due to the unit not having played against a potent bowling attack this World Test Championship cycle. Throughout the build-up, the Proteas' weaknesses have been thoroughly discussed, and very little has been said about the Australian Test team and their disadvantages. THE Proteas Test team landed in the United Kingdom over the weekend, and the full squad will start their first preparations as a group for the upcoming World Test Championship final at Lord's staring on June 11. The 24-year-old emphasised that the Australians, despite being the defending champions and their vast experience of high-pressure games, are also human and they would be nervous just as much going into Lord's. Having played with Australian opening bowler Mitchell Starc at the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League over the past two months, Stubbs' claim is warranted. "I played with him (Starc). The biggest thing is they're also human. They have the same thoughts we have, which you sometimes forget because they've won these big games. They're also a bit nervous. Don't use that as a headline," chuckled Stubbs. "They're just as scared as we are. They have the same fears, so that bodes well. They also have insecurities." Right from the start of his career, coach Shukri Conrad was clear about the role that he wanted Stubbs to play in the Test team. The coach wanted Stubbs to bat at three. However, the 24-year-old has found himself batting at different positions in the order in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle for a host of different reasons. Many thought that the youngster would be deterred by the varying batting positions and perhaps lack an understanding of his role in the team. However, Stubbs told the media that he is not deterred. "My whole career, every team I play for, I have a different role, so it's nothing new. One day I'm batting at three, another day I'm batting at six. I don't mind it," said Stubbs. "It helps the team, wherever they need, I can mould my game to that role. Once you've batted at three, you face the harder stuff with the new ball. It's pretty much like batting later in a one-day game. The situation tells you that it might be flat, and you might be able to score a bit quicker. "It might be overcast, you might have to come in and dig in. It's more of your game plan's role, the situation way up top. You know, okay, I'm going to come in, new ball, it's going to move around." Having not played much red ball cricket this year, Stubbs and the rest of the batting unit will have a much-needed time in the middle next week as they are set to play against Zimbabwe in a once-off Four-Day warm-up match.
