The NDIS support that helps a Paralympian live independently, on and off the sporting field.

“To have such a high level of support that I need when I travel overseas … then to be able to go home at the end of the day and have my own independence but still have someone I can call if I need them in my alone time is something that I really treasure,” shares Paralympian, Jamieson Leeson.

Jamieson is joined by Laura Cowell, CEO of Australian Operations at TLC Disability Services; and Dr. Louise Gosbell, disability researcher and advocate, to explore the topic of disability and support.

In 2024, disability support funded by the NDIS enabled Jamieson to train for and reach one of her biggest life goals yet; to compete at the Paris Olympics in the sport of Boccia. With several medals to her name from this and other domestic and international tournaments, NDIS support and the high level of care it provides to Jamieson is enabling her to accomplish many of the same life goals as those who don’t live with a disability.

At an organisational level, the purpose of the NDIS is to do exactly that, agrees Laura Cowell.

“The NDIS is a government initiative … (It) is really about empowering people to reach their goals to live their best life. It provides the ability for people to access the support and services they need to do that.”

However, despite NDIS support, many barriers still exist for those living with a disability, explains Louise, which prevent them from being able to participate in life’s activities on an equal basis with others.

These barriers, she says, tend to fall into one of three categories;

1. Obvious – E.g. failure to include disability-appropriate accessibility such as wheelchair ramps or accessible toilets
2. Communication barriers – E.g. no captioning on social media videos
3. Attitudinal barriers – resulting from poor understanding of disability and limited experience

Considering the extensive barriers people living with disability face, Louise asserts that it’s not enough to only support disability at an institutional level. All of us have the ability – and the responsibility – to learn more about the difference we can make in our own spheres of influence and put those good intentions into action.

“I always like to think about hearing the voices of people with disability … hearing from them (about) what we can do to make this better … where I have influence on a personal level as a mother, as someone in a workplace, as a researcher – using the tools and the experiences that I have to the best of my advantage to be able to make a difference.”

We must also not forget, encourages Laura, to care for the carers – for those who come alongside people living with a disability to support their needs in every capacity. Their important roles are vital to the challenge of enabling those with disability to live their best life, and we must ensure that their physical, emotional and mental health is also adequately monitored and cared for.

Jamieson, who has the support of a one-to-one carer every day, completely agrees.

“I wouldn’t be leaving my house if it wasn’t for my carers every day, so to ensure that they’re just as healthy as I am … they play a pivotal role in making sure that I am succeeding in life, it’s crucial for them to be healthy and fit.”

Article supplied with thanks to Helping Hands TV.

About the Author: Helping Hands is an Australian produced TV program that airs on 9GEM, Channel 9 and 9NOW, and showcases people and organisations who make the world a better place.

Feature image: Canva

From pokies to sports betting, Australians are losing billions, and the consequences are devastating.

The Scale of Gambling Losses

Australia loses $32 billion each year to gambling, the highest per capita in the world. Tim Costello (Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform) explained: “The nation that comes second in gambling losses is 30% less than us. The world looks at us and asks, how did we allow this?”

Pokies account for $17 billion, sports betting $6 billion, with horse racing and greyhounds adding more. Even more shocking: “We have 20% of all the world’s pokies, but 75% are in pubs and clubs. Everywhere else, pokies are only in casinos.”

Unlike casinos, pokies are everywhere: in pubs, clubs, and even shopping areas. Australians often gamble unintentionally, with machines designed for predatory addiction.

The Impact on Families and Young People

The reach of gambling goes beyond adults. Tim highlighted a growing problem among youth: “Influencers are paid by the pokies industry to show how fun it is to feed cash into machines.”

Combined with 900 gambling ads a day on free-to-air TV, many children are absorbing adult gambling behaviours. “Eighty per cent of ten-year-olds now know the odds on AFL and NRL games,” Tim said. “The normalisation is devastating.”

What Can Be Done?

Advocacy is key. Tim outlined practical steps:

• Pokies: Lobby state politicians. Each state has jurisdiction.
• Sports betting: Contact federal representatives, especially the Communications Minister.

“Get boots on the ground. Send letters. Touch base with your politicians,” Tim urged. Western Australia sets a strong example, with no pokies in pubs or clubs and much lower gambling losses.

A Call for National Reform

Despite bipartisan support for a national gambling regulator, recommendations remain ignored. “We need to treat gambling as a health issue, not a sports issue,” Tim said. “Where there’s gambling in a family, there’s four times more domestic violence.”

Public support is overwhelming: 80% of Australians want gambling ads banned, yet action is lagging. “Politicians need to listen. The public has spoken,” Tim added.

Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.

Feature image: Canva

The teen years bring big changes. For girls, those changes often include hormones, periods and powerful emotions.

Read more: Tackling the Tough Teen Girl Hormone Years

While this season can feel overwhelming for teens and parents alike, experts say knowledge, reassurance and gentle support make all the difference. Naturopath Mel, from Natmed talks about teenage hormones, period pain and how families can better support young women through this important stage of life.

Talking About Periods Without Shame

First and foremost, Mel says it’s time to normalise the conversation. “Periods are a normal biological function that happens to around half the population,” she explains. “There’s no shame in talking about them, and knowledge is power.”

Today, girls are starting their periods earlier than previous generations. In some cases, periods can begin as young as nine. However, irregular cycles in the early years are usually normal.

“For example, a girl might have one period and then not have another for many months,” Mel says. “That doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong.”

Hormones fluctuate significantly during puberty. Emotional changes, mild PMS, and occasional skin breakouts are all common. What matters most is perspective.

When to Seek Medical Advice

While many symptoms are normal, there are times when parents should seek professional help. Mel encourages families to look out for red flags, including:

• Period pain that stops normal activities or requires time off school
• Bleeding that lasts longer than seven days
• Severe pain that doesn’t improve with pain relief
• No period by age 15 or 16
• A strong family history of hormonal or reproductive issues

“If period pain is relentless or debilitating every month, that’s when it’s time to speak to a healthcare professional,” Mel says.

How to Start Healthy Conversations With Teen Girls

For many parents – especially dads – talking about periods can feel awkward. However, Mel says open, gentle conversations are essential. “Choose the right time,” she advises. “If your teen is tired, stressed or in public, it’s probably not the moment.”

Instead, start with simple check-ins like “Are you okay?” or “You seem uncomfortable – can I help?” These small steps help teens feel supported and safe to speak up. Importantly, conversations don’t need to happen all at once. Sometimes it takes several gentle attempts before a teenager opens up.

Natural Ways to Ease Period Pain

Mild cramps, bloating and discomfort are common during periods. Thankfully, there are many natural ways to help reduce period pain and support hormone balance.

Magnesium
Magnesium helps relax muscles, including the uterus. Mel recommends magnesium glycinate, around 300mg per day, to ease cramping.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Found in fish oil, omega-3s reduce inflammation and can help with PMS and menstrual pain.

Calcium
Calcium supports muscle function and may reduce bloating and cramping. It’s best taken separately from magnesium for better absorption.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays a role in hormone regulation, mood and muscle health, making it especially helpful during puberty.

Iron
Because periods involve blood loss, many teenage girls need extra iron – particularly those who are vegetarian or vegan. Iron glycinate is a well-tolerated option.

B-group vitamins
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) has been shown in studies to reduce period pain. Mel recommends a B-complex supplement rather than a single B vitamin.

Food Choices Matter Too

Diet plays a significant role in inflammation and hormone health. Highly processed foods and fast food can increase inflammation, which may worsen cramps and skin issues. “Do the best you can,” Mel says. “Even simple swaps help.”

For example, choosing a roast chicken and salad over deep-fried options provides protein and nutrients while still being convenient. Hydration is also important, even though getting teenagers to drink enough water can be a challenge.

Drug-Free Pain Relief Options

In addition to supplements and diet, several physical therapies can help relieve menstrual pain:

• Heat packs or hot water bottles relax the uterine muscles and reduce cramping
• TENS machines use gentle electrical pulses to block pain signals
• Castor oil packs may improve circulation and reduce muscular tension
• Ginger supplements (1,000–2,000mg daily) can reduce pain, nausea and inflammation

“Ginger helps reduce prostaglandins, which are responsible for uterine spasms,” Mel explains. Often, a combination of rest, heat, magnesium and ginger can make a noticeable difference.

Supporting Teen Mental Health

Normalising period conversations also supports mental health. When girls feel comfortable talking about their bodies, they’re less likely to suffer in silence. “Be emotionally intelligent,” Mel says. “Read the room. Keep things private and supportive.”

She also encourages parents to explore modern options like period underwear or menstrual cups, which can make periods feel more manageable for teens.

You’re Not Alone

Puberty and periods are a normal part of growing up, but no family has to navigate them alone. With the right information, gentle conversations and practical support, parents can help their daughters move through the teen season with confidence.

And if symptoms are severe or impacting daily life, seeking professional advice is always the right next step.

Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.

Feature image: Canva

According to veterinarian Dr Ewen Blaikie, dental disease, weight gain, and skin or ear issues are among the top reasons pets visit the clinic – yet simple lifestyle changes can make a significant difference.

Dr Blaikie explained how early action helps pets live healthier and happier lives.

Prevention Starts with Everyday Habits

A common thread connects many pet health concerns: lifestyle. Just like humans, pets are affected by diet, activity levels, and daily routines. “These are all preventable problems,” Dr Blaikie says. “If we get ahead of them early, we can avoid a lot of treatment later.”

Modern pet lifestyles, including softer foods and reduced chewing, play a major role in health issues that vets now see regularly.

Dental Disease: A Problem That Begins Early

Many owners believe dental disease only affects older dogs, but signs often appear by three years of age.

One major reason is diet. Domestic dogs typically eat highly digestible food that requires little chewing, unlike animals in the wild that naturally clean their teeth by chewing tougher materials.

Without enough chewing action, plaque builds up quickly and eventually turns into tartar, leading to gum disease and discomfort.

How to Support Better Dental Health

Pet owners can help prevent dental problems by encouraging activities that physically clean teeth, including:

• Providing safe chew toys or ropes
• Offering vet-approved dental chews
• Playing tug games that promote chewing
• Checking teeth regularly at home

While brushing a dog’s teeth is ideal, consistent chewing activities can still significantly reduce plaque build-up. Owners should occasionally lift their dog’s lips to check for signs of dental issues.

Do Natural Dental Products Help?

Some owners explore supplements such as seaweed products or coconut oil for dental health. While these may provide small benefits, they should not replace physical cleaning.

Removing plaque requires mechanical action – chewing, brushing, or other physical contact with the teeth remains the most effective method.

Pet Obesity: A Growing Concern

Weight gain is another widespread issue, with an estimated half of pets visiting veterinary clinics carrying excess weight. Obesity affects more than appearance, it reduces exercise tolerance and increases strain on joints and vital organs.

Why Dogs Gain Weight

Weight gain is not always caused simply by overeating. Factors include:

• Portion sizes and calorie intake
• Lifestyle and exercise levels
• Hormonal changes after sterilisation

Desexing plays an important role in population control but can also slow metabolism, making pets more prone to storing fat.

Feeding for a Healthy Weight

Whether a dog eats once or twice daily matters less than overall food quantity. Owners should focus on:

• Measuring portions carefully
• Avoiding gradual overfeeding
• Considering diets designed for sterilised pets
• Monitoring body condition regularly

Addressing weight early helps protect long-term health and improves quality of life.

Managing Allergies and Ear Issues

Food allergies are also common and often show up through skin irritation or recurring ear infections. Early warning signs include redness, itching, or sensitivity around the ears, and acting quickly when symptoms appear can prevent more serious infections.

Helpful steps include:

• Sticking consistently to approved diets
• Checking ears regularly
• Using vet-recommended cleaning products
• Seeking targeted treatments when needed

Early care is far easier than treating advanced infections.

The Key Takeaway: Act Early

The biggest message for pet owners is simple: prevention works. By paying attention to diet, encouraging chewing, monitoring weight, and responding quickly to health changes, owners can prevent many common problems before they begin.

Small daily habits can lead to healthier pets, fewer vet visits, and more happy years together.

Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.

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While church and youth group helps, the biggest influence on a child’s faith comes from home.

Parents play a vital role in shaping their children’s values and beliefs. While churches and youth groups help, the biggest influence on a child’s faith comes from home. As Pastor Joel Chelliah put it, “The number one influence of a child under 12 is actually the parents.” So, how can parents lead their family in faith?

The First Church: Your Home

Many parents assume taking their kids to church is enough. But a child’s primary experience of faith starts at home. “The first church that we are to lead is our own families,” Pastor Joel explained.

Children mimic what they see. If parents live out their faith daily, kids notice. “You see that pretty quick in your kids when you’re maybe passing on things you don’t want them to pick up,” he joked. Kids are like little mirrors, reflecting what they see in their parents.

Practical Ways to Lead in Faith

Being the spiritual leader in your home doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are two simple ways to incorporate faith into daily life.

1. Make Prayer a Daily Habit

Prayer doesn’t have to be long or formal. It can be as simple as a 30-second prayer in the car before school. Pastor Joel shared, “It’s amazing because I find out what’s going on in the hearts of my kids.” When kids pray, they reveal their worries and hopes, giving parents a chance to support them.

Other moments to pray together include:

• At the dinner table
• Before bedtime
• When facing challenges

This consistency teaches kids that prayer isn’t just for emergencies—it’s a daily part of life. “It’s not a last resort; it’s a first step,” he added.

2. Read the Bible Together

Reading the Bible as a family helps children grow spiritually. Pastor Joel shared their rule during school holidays: “No Bible, no play.” Their children would spend at least ten minutes reading Scripture before playing.

For kids who struggle with reading, audio Bibles are a great alternative. “I can hear them listening to the app,” they said. Even small moments—five minutes here, seven minutes there—help build a strong foundation of faith.

Small Steps Make a Big Impact

Raising children in faith doesn’t require hours of daily devotion. Simple habits, like short prayers and Bible reading, make a lasting difference, and help parents lead their family in faith. Over time, kids learn that faith is a natural part of life, not just something for Sundays. “You just watch your kids grow up in a way that carries the faith we’re supposed to carry,” Pastor Joel noted.

By leading in faith at home, parents equip their children with the spiritual tools they need for life.

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Holy Week marks the highest Bible engagement days in YouVersion history for Australia, as new data reveals deeper spiritual curiosity.

In Australia, Bible engagement increased by 17.6% across the YouVersion Family of Apps during Holy Week compared to last year, with more than a quarter of a million Australians engaging in the Bible on Good Friday. In fact, Easter Friday and Saturday are ranked as the highest days for Bible engagement ever recorded nationally, and Easter Sunday also ranking among the highest days in YouVersion Australia’s history.

The surge reflects not just a seasonal moment, but a broader pattern emerging in how Australians are engaging with questions of meaning, hope and faith. The Bible App has now been installed more than 8.2 million times in Australia and is opened more than 200,000 times every day.

While Easter has long been a focal point, in 2026 it has coincided with an unusual and sustained surge in engagement. Nine of the top ten days for daily active users in Australia have all occurred this year. Even outside traditional peaks, engagement has remained elevated, pointing to a deeper shift beyond seasonal patterns.

YouVersion Australia Hub Leader Dave Adamson said the data points to a shift not always captured in headlines or census data.

“This data suggests a shift in how Australians are engaging with the Bible,” he said. “While public narratives often emphasise decline, everyday habits are pointing to something more.”

Part of this reflects the rhythm of Lent, a season historically associated with reflection and return. It also coincides with a broader global atmosphere of uncertainty, where people are often drawn to deeper questions of hope, peace and meaning.

“Faith tends to surface most clearly in lived experience and it often becomes visible in how people navigate uncertain or challenging moments. We’ve never had more access to information, yet many people feel more uncertain about what it all means,” Adamson said. 

“And increasingly, their deeper questions are showing up in search bars. In fact, four of the top five searches are positive: love, hope, healing and peace. That’s not people running from something. That’s people reaching for something deeper.”

Easter remains one of the most significant moments for Bible engagement each year, with Australians, from lifelong Christians to the spiritually curious, turning to Scripture during Holy Week. Last year, the most read verse in Australia during this period was John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” In 2026, Matthew 28:6 emerged as the most popular Holy Week passage. 

Globally, 21.6 million people engaged with the Bible on Easter Sunday across the YouVersion Family of Apps, continuing a series of record-breaking days following an historic milestone of one billion installs last year.

YouVersion Founder and CEO Bobby Gruenewald says: “Over the last several months, worldwide interest in the Bible has continued to increase. It’s encouraging to see people searching for and consistently coming back to Scripture for guidance, encouragement and answers. We especially see this at Easter where more people are either reflecting on their faith or trying to understand who Jesus was for themselves. Seeing people around the world encounter Scripture, many for the first time, is exactly why we exist.”

About YouVersion

Created by Life.Church, YouVersion designs free, biblically centered experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God throughout each day. The YouVersion Family of Apps—including the Bible App, Bible App Lite, and Bible App for Kids—has been installed on more than one billion devices worldwide. The Bible App offers a Bible experience in more than 2,400 languages and helps people deepen their relationship with God. Bible App Lite is optimized for offline use and helps people access God’s Word in markets with device and data limitations. Bible engagement is measured by Daily Active Users (DAU) across these three apps, an industry-standard data point reflecting the number of unique users opening one of the apps on a given day. Developed in partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids helps children engage with the Bible through interactive animations and fun activities. For more information about YouVersion, visit youversion.com. 

Article supplied with thanks to YouVersion Australia.

About the Author: Dave Adamson is the Australia Hub Leader for YouVersion. A former TV reporter turned digital ministry pioneer, he was one of the world’s first online pastors and now helps global audiences engage with the Bible in a digital age.

Feature image: Supplied

Kingdomcity megachurch in Perth is claiming the largest mass baptism in Australian history after around 1,000 new Christians were baptised on the South Perth foreshore on Good Friday afternoon.

A crowd of thousands of family members and other supporters celebrated at Sir James Mitchell Park on the banks of the Swan River against the backdrop of the Perth CBD.

Senior pastor Mark Varughese who founded the global KIngdomcity church 20-years ago, declared: “Baptism, in the evangelical Christian tradition, is a public declaration of an inward decision.”

“It symbolises leaving behind the past and stepping into a new life — something that resonates with the universal human desire for renewal, hope, and purpose.” 

Mass Baptism, Perth – Kingdomcity Church

“We Made History On The Banks of The Swan River”

“The reason we do it at Easter is it almost visually re-enacts what Easter’s all about: the death, the burial, and then the resurrection of Jesus,” Pastor Varushese explained to 9 News.

KIngdomcity has seven campuses around Perth and hundreds more in at least 40 countries on all continents. 

The Perth campuses mentored and prepared those being baptised on the spiritual signficance of the act.

On social media the church declared: “Australia’s Largest Mass Baptism – What a Day! We just wrapped up history at Perth’s Swan River foreshore!”

Perth Mass Baptism – Kingdomcity Church

Kingdomcity’s Celebration Message

“With thousands gathering to support friends and family who were baptised.”

“People publicly declared their faith in an unforgettable mass baptism this Good Friday in the Swan River.”

“Thank you to every single person who came, watched, and celebrated with us,”

“What an incredible gathering of transformation, community, and new beginnings!”

Unusually, this Christian event was covered by mainstream media such as Channel 9 in Perth,

Testimonies of Those Baptised

“I just feel like it’s a new beginning, like something is about to shift in my life, about to change, and I’m so grateful for this amazing community that I get to do it with,” Natasha Pickering told 9 News.

“It felt so surreal to be baptised. We’re so excited for what’s ahead,” said Micaela and Blake after being baptised.

“Life throws so much at you and you need God to do it. To walk through it.”

“It’s easier to do life with 3 people especially when one of those is Jesus.”

“It’s made our relationship stronger and we chose to be baptised to be closer to Jesus.” 

Mass Baptism, Perth – Kingdomcity Church

Another Mass Baptism at Frankston Beach, Melbourne

Another mass baptism took place at Melbourne’s Frankston Beach next to the pier on Port Phillip Bay.

Organisers The Global Harvest and the One Heart Frankston coalition of local churches from multiple denominations claimed 750 people were baptised in the annual event, which is at least 50% more than on Good Friday last year. 

That number was just over half the 1,400 who had registered through an online form to be baptised.

Amid the concerns of some Christians over the registration process, organisers stressed: “Everyone present heard a clear presentation of the Gospel and was given an opportunity to respond in repentance.”

Organisers Explain The Frankston Mass Baptism

“Trained teams were on hand to speak with individuals personally, walking them through the message of Jesus and answering questions to ensure understanding,” organisers explained.

“Each person who chose to be baptised was also asked to complete a waiver, confirming that they understood the basics of the Gospel, had repented from sin, and were choosing to follow Jesus as we see in Acts.”

“This ensured that baptism was a genuine and informed response, not simply a spontaneous moment without understanding.”

Were People Baptised Too Quickly and Easily?

Some have asked whether people were baptised too quickly and easily.

Organisers responded: “It is a fair question — often coming from a place of care and a desire to see genuine, lasting faith.”

“But those involved point to a simple conviction:”

“When someone hears the Gospel, repents, and believes — why delay what Scripture treats as immediate?

Frankston Mass Baptism – The Global Harvest

Testimonies From Frankston Mass Baptism

The stories emerging from the day reflected the diversity of those who responded.

One man described as a former atheist shared that he had recently become interested in Jesus and the Bible, and — after conversations and a timely reconnection — chose to be baptised and begin his journey of faith.

Another person shared a story of struggling with rejection and feeling unloved, having searched for acceptance before encountering the love of Jesus.

individuals testified how faith had been rekindled across entire households and many families were baptised together.

Personal Encounters

Others told of their personal encounters during their baptism — describing a sense of peace, freedom, and new beginning.

One individual described feeling something like a “bolt” go through his body at the moment of baptism.

The day also included reports of healing, with people sharing improvements in conditions such as headaches, hearing, and breathing following prayer and baptism.

Among those baptised were a former mayor of Frankston and the current deputy mayor, publicly declaring their faith in baptism alongside hundreds of others.

Organisers Celebrate This Powerful Response

One Heart Frankston and The Global Harvest rejoiced that what took place on Good Friday was more than a large gathering.

It was a community moment, they said, marked by unity, faith, and a simple, powerful response to the Gospel.

“People heard. People repented. People were baptised.”

“And for many, it was just the beginning.”

Article supplied with thanks to Vision Christian Media.

Feature image: Supplied

The ripple effect of responsibility impacts the people around us, one way or another.

“We’re like a boat in a harbour,” says Joce Goto.  “There’s this wake behind us, and what we do has ripple effects into the people around us … You need to have an awareness of what’s behind you as you take steps forward.”

Joce is the Chief Operations Officer at Charitabl. and is joined by Mark Jones, Chief Storyteller at the ImpactInstitute; and Max Jegananathan, former advisor to the Federal Government, to discuss what it means to take responsibility for our actions.

Joce shares this analogy to help illustrate that our actions and choices have an impact on those around us. Her definition of being responsible on an individual, personal level means conducting ourselves with integrity, she says. We want to aim to be the same person in every circumstance, no matter what pressures or stress we face.

“I try to live by the adage of consistency in character. What does it look like for me to be the same person here … when I’m at home with my three-year-old, when I’m at work or with my team, or from a stage? How do I remain the same person throughout it all?”

This same attitude to responsibility is increasingly finding a place of importance in business too, Mark says, simply because it’s not sustainable to pretend to be something you’re not.

Mark clarifies that today, business leaders can expect to be held accountable by their staff and clients for their conduct, for the values their organisation stands for and for their business to be about more than merely satisfying the minimum moral and legal standards to avoid getting into trouble.

If business leaders aren’t free to be themselves, Mark says, it creates a culture of mistrust and a lack of authenticity.

“It’s really key that when you want to bring people with you on a journey, they want to follow real people, and so, we’re starting to see more leaders realising they can be themselves … that’s how you get better retention of staff and more customers who like you.”

In politics and in any public arena, Max says that taking responsibility for one’s actions is perhaps an even rarer but infinitely valuable jewel to be treasured.

Things are never as black and white as they first may seem and blame for mistakes made can hardly be attributed to just one cause or one individual’s fault.

Whatever one’s part might be, Max says, whether it’s 5% or 50% of what went wrong, taking 100% responsibility for your part is the key to being a person of integrity.

“What you see far too often … particularly in public communication and public leadership is people being sorry for the offence they’ve caused, or for how someone feels, or for the impact on someone, as opposed to just being sorry that they said or did something – full stop. That complete sense of ownership over something that’s gone wrong … when you see that, people react and respond in a much more accepting way.”

Article supplied with thanks to Helping Hands TV.

About the Author: Helping Hands is an Australian produced TV program that airs on 9GEM, Channel 9 and 9NOW, and showcases people and organisations who make the world a better place.

Feature image: Canva

For those who know the story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, it may seem hard to remember a time when the company was unstoppable.

Read more: AI Promised the World. It’s Not Delivering.

While her name is now permanently associated with fraud and deception, the truth of the matter is that for a time, the company founded by a 19-year-old Holmes in 2003 seemed poised to change the world. Their promise to revolutionise the healthcare industry by providing fast, accurate and painless blood tests caught the attention of many and led to the company’s peak valuation of nine billion dollars in 2014. Combining the potentially paradigm-shifting technology with Holmes’ captivating public persona, the company seemed poised to change the world. 

Despite claims that they could do a full range of blood tests from a pinprick of blood, the company never developed the technology and instead engaged in a variety of deceptive practices to hide this fact. Of course, as is often the case, Theranos’s secret eventually broke and led to the downfall for a company which had once been praised for its “phenomenal rebooting of laboratory medicine”.¹ Indeed, Theranos and Holmes now serve as a prime example of a company both overpromising and underdelivering—or in this case, failing to deliver at all. 

There was only one problem. It was all a lie. 

One of the most interesting facts about Holmes and Theranos comes not from their downfall, but from the origin of the company. While Holmes may have lied about plenty regarding the company, her stated motivation for creating Theranos seems noble on its face: their attempts to create a blood testing process which used minimal amounts of blood stemmed from Holmes fear of needles—a fear which many can relate to. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the venture, Holmes was told by multiple experts in the field that her hope of creating a full suite of tests which worked from a pinprick of blood was not viable²—advice she ignored, and which would later be proven correct. This, I think, is the most interesting part of the Theranos story: despite knowing that the reality of their dream was impossible, the company continued to sell an impossible promise. 

Another Impossible Promise

On August 8, 2025, OpenAI unveiled the long-awaited next-generation version of their large language model chatbot GPT-5 to the public, claiming it could provide “PhD-level” abilities.³ The world’s richest and most controversial man, Elon Musk, took the claim a step further, hyping up his company’s AI Grok as being “better than PhD level in everything”. In May of the same year, Mark Zuckerberg touted the ability for AI chatbots to replace human relationships and friendships.⁴ Zuckerberg has also made similarly lofty claims about Meta’s other technologies, arguing that in the future, anybody who doesn’t own and use AI glasses will “be at a disadvantage”.⁵

Increasingly, AI is being integrated into every aspect of our daily lives, with its loudest proponents claiming that it will solve all our problems. In the fast-food industry, the owners of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell claimed that they were adopting an “AI-first mentality”⁶(though the company is reportedly rethinking the approach after a customer used the AI to order 18,000 glasses of water).⁷ Interested in learning a new language? Duolingo believes that AI can help the process, with the CEO claiming AI can make employees “four or five times” as productive⁸ (though once again, their adoption of the technology has led to a significant backlash from customers who doubt its effectiveness⁹). Keen to play some games to relax? EA—the publisher of a wealth of large franchises including EA FC(formerly FIFA) and Battlefield—recently announced a 50-billion-dollar sale, relying heavily on the promise of AI to streamline development costs (though gamers and developers alike are less than thrilled). Everywhere you look, AI promises the world. But promises aren’t reality—and there are plenty of good reasons to be suspicious of those with a vested interest in the success of AI. 

The Unfortunate Truth

As a media scholar (and one of the PhD-level people that OpenAI is aiming to replace), I am deeply sceptical of AI. Many of my doubts stem from fundamental issues with how the technology works. While the title “artificial intelligence” implies a level of thought, and the term “large language model” (LLM) seems to indicate an understanding of language, the reality is that these tools neither think nor understand the meaning of words. 

A full explanation of the ways they work is beyond the scope of this article, but on the most basic level, the ways that LLMs and generative AI view language is more akin to a complex math equation. Your prompt is one side of the equals sign and the technology attempts to “solve” for the most likely response. In addition to this process being extremely power intensive (and having negative environmental impacts¹⁰), it is also the reason that despite the hyped improvements in more recent models, AI continues to suffer from widespread “hallucinations”¹¹—where the chatbot either regurgitates inaccurate information or invents entire falsehoods. Indeed, CEO of Open AI Sam Altman has admitted that hallucinations are not an engineering flaw for LLMs but a “mathematically inevitable”.¹² 

Is AI Making Us Dumber?

The issues caused by these hallucinations are significant and may further exacerbate societal issues rather than solve them. A recent report indicated that 45 per cent of AI responses based on news articles contained “significant” errors—with a whopping 81 per cent of responses having some form of issue.¹³ In this age of misinformation, relying on AI seems like a recipe for disaster. More importantly, current research points towards AI having a negative effect on its users, “eroding critical thinking skills”.¹⁴ Furthermore, while it is often thought of as neutral, numerous studies¹⁵ have exposed biases in AI models¹⁶—an unsurprising reality when one acknowledges the potential biases of their creators which may filter in.  

I could go on and on about the issues with AI (and indeed, some of my poor friends have had to endure my rants on the topic in the past). Ultimately however, all these criticisms can be summed up in one sentence. That is, the reality of AI falls drastically short of the promise its creators espouse. 

With all this in mind, I should acknowledge that I am sympathetic to those that want to believe the promise of AI. The world we live in is fundamentally broken in so many ways with political polarisation, environmental destruction and unspeakable injustice occurring daily. And that’s not even acknowledging the more mundane tasks that it could help with. The promise of a “magic bullet” technology that can ease any of the issues we face—just like the promise of a needle-free blood test—is enticing. And it is true that this technology can help in certain situations. As a tutor to international students, machine learning can be a helpful tool in translating complex ideas discussed in our courses (though it still has imperfections that need correcting). My friends who work in software engineering are adamant that it can help make the tedium of coding less strenuous (which is understandable considering coding, like LLMs, also treats language as a sort of math). AI-assisted live transcription is also potentially revolutionary for the hard of hearing. But these are individual solutions for individual problems—and we should not be forced to swallow all the issues with these AI models in order to benefit from them. 

No Silver Bullet?

The reality is, there is no one solution that will solve all our problems. AI cannot create. Every response it gives is based on the existing work of talented artists, writers and experts who it often fails to properly credit. Working as a tutor, I have seen firsthand its negative effects—seeing students inadvertently turn in assignments with invented information and incorrect sources. In seeing AI as the solution to their problems, they have only created more—and greater—problems. 

This, more than anything, is the danger of AI. Proponents like Zuckerberg and Altman want you to believe that it can enhance—or even replace—human connection, but the opposite is true. If you want to learn, create or connect, you can’t do so through AI. You should go to the source, read what others are saying and listen to the experts who have dedicated their lives to solving these problems. Step outside the tech bubble these companies want to trap you in and connect with the real world.

The truth is, no one machine can save the world, nor can any one individual. So don’t give in to the promise of the technology. Connect with reality. Connect with others.  

Article supplied with thanks to Signs of The Times

About the Author: Ryan Stanton is a PhD Graduate from the University of Sydney. A Media and Communications scholar, he is constantly torn between wanting to believe the promise of new technologies and being disappointed by the reality. 

Feature image: Canva

Psychologist Anna Ponnudurai reflects on how Scripture and neuroscience intersect.

Registered psychologist Anna Ponnudurai says the Bible’s description of the human mind is both poetic and profoundly accurate.

Referring to Psalm 139:14, Anna explains that our brains are “fearfully and wonderfully made”.

“It’s just a beautiful passage in the Bible about how our brains are so connected and created,” Anna said.

“It was designed by God and it’s the organ of thought, emotion and decision making. So it’s God’s incredible design for relationship and growth, really.”

Throughout Scripture, the importance of the mind is repeated. Anna points to Romans 12:2, which speaks about the renewing of the mind.

This ability of the brain to change is known as neuroplasticity. While it begins in childhood, it continues into adulthood. But Anna is clear – change takes time.

“That takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of effort. It takes a lot of practice,” she said.

“What we really ruminate on, what we think about, really matters. We actually have a lot more power over our thoughts, over our behaviour than we realise.”

Anna believes that, with intentional effort, we can learn to shape our thinking.

“Yes, we do have the power to control our thoughts,” she said.

The Bible also urges believers to guard what enters their hearts and minds. Anna says this wisdom is highly relevant in today’s world.

For those wanting a practical starting point, Anna offers a simple reflection exercise.

“Every time you think of something, every time you hear something, ask: Is that thought real? And what do I want to do with that?”

It’s a small but powerful question – one that reflects both biblical wisdom and modern neuroscience.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope 103.2. Chris is the host of Hope Drive, bringing light, uplifting stories and thoughtful conversation to listeners every afternoon. Chris initially studied science before diving into an IT career before following his life-long passion (talking!) and joining the Hope team.

Feature image: Canva