COMMENT OF THE WEEK In response to our recent piece about NSW offering free career advice for all its citizens, a member from Queensland asked: "Where do you suggest we go for careers advice for older workers? It's a minefield of choice out there…." The NSW program is online only and just getting started. As mentioned last week, there's the Australian Careers Service and a link her... read more>

There's been understandable outrage at what's been going on at parliament house for far too long. Some of it behind closed doors and too much, according to a new book, unashamedly in plain sight. Much of the excess is blamed on a toxic politicised culture that is bankrolled with generous pay and conditions by the public (that's us). So surely we're entitled to ask more than just questions. ... read more>

SEE OTHERS AGE YEARS IN MINUTES AND GET AN IDEA OF WHAT'S IN STORE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY While most reality TV is anything but, occasionally, something remarkable happens. How about a concept of a high-speed coming to grips with ageing in the family? In the US show, we follow four millennials and their parents  with the help of high-tech 'ageing empathy suits' and special make up as the... read more>

In what it bills as an Australian first, the NSW government has announced everyone in the state can soon have free, confidential career advice. Unemployment figures are down, some job markets are booming - but can such an initiative make a difference for older workers? First, a disclosure: after a redundancy some years ago, I was offered a career adviser. I found him so helpful  I gladly ... read more>

WHERE THERE’S A HOME FIRE BURNING, THERE NEEDS TO BE LESS SMOKE ACCORDING TO A NEW GREEN EDICT I have some guilty pleasures, and luxuriating, even inebriating, in front of a roaring wood fire in winter is undoubtedly one. But the stakes are being raised in the battle to dampen down such domestic blazes with claims they are not good for you or the environment.  A cold draft is one reaso... read more>