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Herald Sun
2 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
Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Herald Sun
Sam Pang locked in to host Logie Awards for third year in a row
Don't miss out on the headlines from Fiona Byrne. Followed categories will be added to My News. It is a Sam Pang 'three-peat,' with the Front Bar star locked in to host the Logie Awards for the third year in a row. Pang, who received high praise for his hosting efforts in 2023 and 2024, will be at the helm of Australian TV's biggest night in Sydney on Sunday, August 3. Sam Pang is hosting the Logie Awards for the third year in a row. Picture: Paramount The role continues Pang domination of local TV in 2025 with the likeable funny guy this year hosting his own tonight show for Channel Ten, appearing on Have You Been Paying Attention on 10 and being a part of Channel 7's hit sports nostalgia show The Front Bar. Sam Pang with Tom Gleisner and Ed Kavalee for Have You Been Paying Attention. Picture: Supplied Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher on The Front Bar. Picture: Supplied The TV Week Logie Awards is acknowledged as one of the toughest hosting gigs in TV with two hard to please audiences — those watching at home and the industry guests in the room for the live broadcast — to entertain and impress. 'It's been an honour to host the last two years and I'm looking forward to again celebrating the talented people and amazing shows that combine to make the Australian television industry something everyone can be proud of,' Pang said. 'I am very excited to return for another Logies and would like to thank 7 for asking me back.' The Logies will be held at The Star and be broadcast on Channel 7. Last year, the Logies drew a total TV audience of 1.44 million, the biggest audience for the awards since 2016. Nominations for the 2025 Logie Awards will be announced on Monday, June 16. Morning Show and The Chase host Larry Emdur took home the coveted Gold Logie in 2024.
Herald Sun
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
A-League grand final, Melbourne Victory v City live: news, scores, updates
Melbourne City are A-League champions for a second time after holding their nerve to deny local rivals Melbourne Victory a record-equalling fifth grand final triumph on Saturday night. Yonatan Cohen's 10th-minute goal, the third fastest in men's grand final history, was the difference in the showpiece conclusion to the competition's 20th season watched by an AAMI Park sporting-record crowd of 29,902. The matchwinner would have had himself a brace but headed a gilt-edged opportunity wide from Marco Tilio's cross with a quarter of an hour remaining. Aurelio Vidmar's side were nevertheless content with their advantage, albeit slender, surviving a handball shout against Germán Ferreyra and sticking rigidly to the principles which have guided them to a fourth shot at glory in six years. City's Yonatan Cohen celebrates his goal. Picture: Getty Images The only adjustment was the super-human level of tenacity with which they performed - epitomised by Mathew Leckie sporting a bandage to patch up a busted nose after taking a boot to the face. City pack punch in end-to-end first half Victory, backed by a majority crowd, many of whom had been inside more than an hour before kick-off, endeavoured to feed off a combination of this fervour and momentum from their surprise semi-final win, with Daniel Arzani and Zinédine Machach having plenty of touches in the final third, whilst a loose Patrick Beach touch gifted them an early corner. But their supporters were soon silenced and, because of the early promise, shellshocked, as Cohen read the play intelligently once Aziz Behich's cute backheel had given Andreas Kuen space to centre for Max Caputo, and was placed to pounce on his teammate's effort crashing out off the crossbar. Nine minutes later, Jack Duncan had to be alert under his crossbar to keep out a towering header from Socceroo Leckie making his first start since March. Meanwhile, Beach had settled his nerves and at full stretch, got gloves to Machach's fizzing as the last line of City's tigerish defences. City's Aziz Behich and Victory's Zinadine Machach compete for the ball. Picture: Getty Images No more bad luck against the Vucks for Vidmar The outcome exorcises any demons lurking in Vidmar's mind from 2009's grand final when - facing Victory - his Adelaide United side suffered an early red card in a contest they would go on to lose by a single goal. City's first championship triumph in 2021 will not be forgotten, but this glory - secured by winning the first-ever Melbourne Derby grand final - will be etched into folklore. It also provided a full stop to the run of seven matches without success over Victory, although in these circumstances, an exclamation mark would be more fitting. Tempers fray during the grand final. Picture: Getty Images Devastation for Diles despite tremendous turnaround Victory's season was at a crossroads after Patrick Kisnorbo left for Yokohama F. Marinos on the eve of the Christmas derby, and assistant boss Arthur Diles was thrust into the hot seat. It then appeared in reverse as his tenure started with six winless outings. But three successes from four steered them back toward top-six contention, and when it comes to finals football, they are a different beast. Driven by Diles' 'kill or be killed' mantra, they ended Western Sydney Wanderers' 12-game unbeaten streak in the elimination match, and caused another surprise by overturning a first-leg deficit away to Premiers Auckland FC. They could not, however, become the first team to claim the championship after finishing outside of the top four and missing the acceleration of the injured Nishan Velupillay, struggled to penetrate 2024/25's meanest defence. With the game slipping away, Josh Rawlins headed their clearest opening off target. Originally published as A-League grand final, Melbourne Victory v City live: news, scores, updates
Herald Sun
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Concussion expert condemns ‘Run It Straight' as barbaric blood sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News. Exclusive: A leading concussion expert has slammed the self-styled sport Run It Straight as 'barbaric' and said it has no place in a civilised society. A social media phenomenon, Run It Straight involves participants sprinting into each other with one carrying a football. New Zealand teen Ryan Satterthwaite died from injuries sustained during an impromptu game with friends. Despite widespread backlash, official competitions are emerging on both sides of the Tasman, drawing hundreds to watch combatants on what one 'Championship League' describes as a 20m x 4m 'battlefield', where 'victory belongs to the one who dominates the collision'. Olympic hero and Australian Sports Commission chief executive Kieren Perkins has spoken out against this 'dangerous activity', while Melbourne Storm's Nelson Asofa-Solomona has parted ways with the most high-profile of several outfits organising these official 'challenges'. But that organisation, RUNIT, insists the controversial craze is 'here to stay'. Adrian Cohen, the founding CEO of concussion assessment program Headsafe, said he viewed Run It Straight as 'an activity designed to create a brain injury'. 'I'm hard-pressed to think of a more dangerous pursuit,' he said. 'Perhaps being shot out of a cannon.' Dr Cohen, a former senior lecturer at Sydney University, sits on the advisory board of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, the medical advisory panel of the NSW Combat Sports Authority, and helped create the Australian Sports Brain Bank. Asked if he was surprised by the online popularity of Run It Straight, he replied: 'I'm not, in the same way people thought 2000 years ago that going down to the Colosseum on a Saturday afternoon to watch some Christians being fed to the lions sounded like a good day out. As a culture, we have a history we should not be particularly proud of in enjoying blood sports. 'The idea that we should be creating new ones with what we know about brain health and about the dangers, it's absolutely ludicrous.' Dr Cohen said a major concern was a lack of regulation. 'Unfortunately, this is not a sport and it's certainly not a combat sport that comes under their legislation. So, as a society, we need to look at this and decide it's a bad idea,' he said. 'I don't know who in the government is prepared to put up their hand and say that's the case but if they did there'd be a lot of people that would agree with them, not least the parents and friends of this poor kid in NZ.' A spokesman for NSW Sports Minister Steve Kamper said: 'We can't legislate against every bad idea. If you want to play contact sport, sign up to your local club so you can learn to play in a safe environment'. Mr Perkins said Run It Straight did not align with 'any of our advice when it comes to protecting Australians from concussions and brain injuries'. 'We want all young people to stay active, but it must be done in a safe way. Let's hope, for the sake of our community, this activity is a phase that is quickly moved on from.' Dr Cohen said the risk attached to major collisions was not always well understood. 'There is no such thing as a tough brain,' he warned. 'And concussions don't just happen from a blow to the head but from energy transferred from a blow anywhere – the head or the body – to the head. 'You can also have a second impact if the head is hitting the ground. So someone's just got to say we don't need this.' Michael Bramble, a father of two boys who has connections to Hunters Hill Rugby Club, has major concerns. 'It's just an unsafe risk that kids should not be taking,' Mr Bramble, whose sons are aged three and five, said. 'If my son came home and said he wanted to take part in the challenge, I'd sit down and have a stern conversation with him about why it's unsafe. I'd be quite worried. 'These kinds of online challenges are a real danger, especially when people don't understand the risks.' He said junior rugby clubs worked hard to provide safe, structured environments. 'At this age, kids start with no contact,' he said. 'As they develop, they're slowly introduced to key aspects like tackling, but only when ready.' While it has racked up tens of millions of views since taking off online earlier this year, the phenomenon has more critics than fans. But the controversy has not deterred Melbourne-based RUNIT, which has distanced itself from the fatal tragedy. 'We do not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be performed under the strict conditions,' a RUNIT spokesman said. 'RUNIT will continue to educate our followers on the risks associated.' RUNIT founder Rennie Lautolo-Molimau also wrote 'We're here to stay' in an Instagram story on Wednesday. Asofa-Solomona was heavily involved in the early days of RUNIT, appearing in a promotional video in February and attending a trial event with teammates Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes and Will Warbrick in March. While Asofa-Solomona has since parted ways with RUNIT over safety concerns, promotional material featuring him and his teammates remains online. Asofa-Solomona is now promoting a much safer competition called 'Big Steppa'. A spokesman for the Storm, which is not involved with RUNIT, said Papenhuyzen, Hughes and Warbrick had only attended one event to support Asofa-Solomona. The NRL declined to comment on RUNIT, while Rugby Australia said it wanted 'absolutely nothing to do with it.' Originally published as 'Barbaric': Viral social media craze slammed as after teen's death
Herald Sun
8 hours ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
Big Swinger bails out favourite backers with stunning burst in Caulfield win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Favourite backers were poised to write off their money with 200m to run in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (1200m). The Charlotte Littlefield-trained Big Swinger carried the hopes of thousands of punters in win bets and multis but they had a tough watch throughout the $150,000 race. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! A combination of Big Swinger's racing manners and goings on ahead of him left jockey Ben Allen to negotiate a difficult trip from the start. Big Swinger got up on to the heels of other runners at least twice midrace as the strong galloper looked for racing room. Big Swinger was still held up behind a wall of horses halfway down the straight, leaving Allen searching for options. However, Allen managed to ease Big Swinger off heels from where the smart prospect charged to a narrow win over the $21 chance Flyer. Big Swinger's finishing burst was a relief to the gelding's band or owners on course as well as those that took the short odds about the three-year-old son of Trapeze Artist. 'About 100(m) to go, we were going to run an unlucky fifth,' Littlefield's husband Julian Hay said. 'It takes a good horse to do that.' Hay said Big Swinger's finishing burst was no surprise, adding the gelding clocked some 'scary' trackwork times at Littlefield's Pakenham base. Big Swinger's win left the Creswick Series of three-year-old sprints as ideal winter targets for the winner of four of six starts. However, Hay said Big Swinger was still 'soft-boned', meaning Littlefield was more likely to give the emerging prospect more time to develop. 'He's the best horse we've ever trained, we think, he's got that much ability,' Hay said. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ PREBBLE REPAYS PAYNES Apprentice jockey Tom Prebble sealed a Saturday double at Caulfield with victory on Jimmy The Bear for his uncle and aunty Patrick and Michelle Payne. Prebble, who by his own admission did not give Jimmy The Bear the best steer first-up when second to the in-form War Machine, more than made amends on Saturday. Jimmy The Bear finished over the top of tenacious leader Regal Zeus, courtesy of a perfectly-timed and economical Prebble steer. Prebble faced the potential of being posted wide again on Jimmy The Bear but the rising star found cover at a crucial stage in the 1600m Benchmark 100 JRA Handicap to set up the win. 'The race probably didn't unfold exactly how I planned, I didn't want to repeat the same thing that happened last start, being caught three deep on a fast tempo,' Prebble said. 'I was able to get in and he was good … 1400m up to 1600m, second up, his record is pretty impeccable, so I knew he would be strong. 'He's a complete and utter fighter, he wants to race and I'm very fortunate Patrick has given me the opportunity now to ride him twice after probably not giving him the best of steers first ride.' Prebble piloted the impressive winner Splash Back earlier on the card for Grahame Begg. WHITE LINE FEVER LANDS JOURNAL ANOTHER WIN A touch of 'white line fever' brought imported galloper Dublin Journal victory in the Ian Miller Handicap (2000m). Dublin Journal has been a good money spinner for connections, especially after trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes worked out the gelding loves the cut and thrust of racing among other horses. Luke Currie rode the seven-year-old in that fashion at Caulfield, opting against going out wide when held up on the home turn, instead driving Dublin Journal ($9) along the inside to beat I Am The Empire ($26). 'He requires a lot of luck and Luke executed it perfectly,' JD Hayes said. 'He's a funny horse. As soon as he gets outside them, he gives up but he loves the crash and bash and pokes through late.' Earlier, Currie combined with the Hayes brothers in Madiyya's third straight win in the Rod Griffiths Handicap. Madiyya sustained a long run from the rear of the field before the $1.75 favourite defied the late challenge of the $10 chance I ONLY WISH. PRESS THE BUTTON Trial By Press answered the call to run down Extreme Virtue in the Selangor Turf Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield. The Greg Eurell-trained five-year-old daughter of Danerich preserved a perfect second-up record – now three from three – with the win under apprentice jockey Ryan Houston. Extreme Virtue looked set to pinch the race around the bend, the Lindsay Park-trained mare skipped clear under apprentice jockey Dakotah Keane, but Trial By Press would not be denied. 'I thought coming into the turn the leader started to skip away a little bit and thought gee we might struggle to run this down and to her credit she dug deep,' Eurell said. 'Typical of the mare, as I said to Ryan, she's very push button, the more you ask the more she gives and that's exactly what she did today.' Originally published as Big Swinger bails out favourite backers with stunning burst in Caulfield win
