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Anouk Meereboer is kicking down the patriarchy and making history as the first female to be appointed coach for a senior men's team in the LaTrobe Valley Soccer League. In December 2021, Meereboer signed her name on the dotted line, officially anointing the 32-year-old coach to the Sale United Football Clubs senior men's team. Meereboer is the first female ever to coach a senior men's team since the Sale United Football Club and LaTrobe Valley Soccer League foundation. Originally from the Netherlands, Meereboer spent her earliest years watching her older brother play soccer until the day she was big enough to join in. By the age of ten, Meereboer was playing soccer five to six days a week. "I would play with friends on the streets, in the paddocks," she said. "I would always walk down to the senior games on the weekends, I watched them training at night time, and if they didn't have enough people, I would always join in." "I have always had a love for soccer," Meereboer said, smiling. After finishing her university degree in the Netherlands, Meereboer headed abroad, backpacking across the globe before arriving in Australia in 2013. Whilst living in a hostel in Melbourne, Meereboer could not deprive her love and passion for soccer and sought to find a local team. Her talent and dedication earned Meereboer a spot in the National Premier League (NPL) playing for Box Hill United Football Club. Meereboer was required to complete rural work to successfully meet immigration requirements to obtain a working visa and remain in Australia. With a heavy heart, Meereboer approached her coach at Box Hill, sharing that she could no longer play because she was heading to Fulham to work on a dairy farm. Unbeknownst to Meereboer, her Box Hill teammate Madelaine Breakspear lived in the Fulham area. Following a suggestion from their coach, the two women began travelling to their Box Hill games together from Gippsland, igniting a long-lasting friendship. "When I was working on the farm, Maddy went to university in Bendigo. She was playing indoor soccer here in Sale. When she left, I ended up filling her spot on the team, which got me into the soccer community in Sale," said Meereboer. Meereboer spent six years playing in the National Premier League, representing Box Hill United and Southern United Football Club. After being diagnosed with compartment syndrome in both calf muscles, Meereboer concluded her final season in the NPL with Box Hill before undergoing surgery. Unable to play soccer following surgery, Meereboer refused to abstain from the soccer world and took a coaching position for the Skills and Acquisitions Program (SAP) at Gippsland Football Club. With an evident aptitude for education and training, Meereboer quickly advanced in her coaching career and was appointed assistant coach for Sothen United's under 19's Melbourne Premier League team. From zero to one hundred, Meereboer was in high demand. So, whilst travelling to Melbourne to coach at Southern United, Meereboer maintained her coaching position with the SAP program at Gippsland FC. To add more to her coaching demands, Meereboer also picked up Gippsland Football Clubs under 14's girl's team, which her work with would award Meereboer Football Victoria's Female Coach of the Year Award in 2019. Astonishingly, at the same time, Meereboer was also coaching the SUFC under 16 boys, which she continued for the past two years. "Last year, I wasn't planning on coaching at all, but the under 16 boys coach pulled out at the last minute, and I was asked by the juniors manager Laurel if I could coach, and I said yes," said Meereboer. "Maddy, who was coaching the women's team, was due to have a baby, so I took over the women's team, and I took on the caretaker role for Sale United's senior men's team after the previous coach resigned," Meereboer continued. "It was a busy year." Despite only officially coaching one SUFC senior men's game in 2021 due to COVID, Meereboers tenacity, dedication, organisation, game knowledge, and exceptionally run training sessions, awarded her SUFC's 2021 Club Person of the Year and the top choice for the 2022 SUFC senior men's coach. As the 2021 season wrapped up, SUFC Vice President Tom Breakspear contacted Meereboer with an offer that would make LVSL history, would she take on the position as the SUFC senior men's coach in 2022. "I got a call from Tom," Meereboer recalled beaming. "He asked me if I would be interested in coaching the senior men, and of course, I said yes, I would be interested." The position is an entirely different challenge for the newly appointed SUFC senior men's coach, with the added pressure of being the league's first and only female senior men's coach. Still, Meereboer is showing no fear and says she is excited to take on the challenge and further her experience as a coach. "For me, this a coaching job, an exciting role where I can learn new things and learn to deal with a different playing group, which I am really excited about but being the first female and only female feels weird," says Meereboer. "But I like a challenge, and I am looking forward to it." After the LVSL shared the groundbreaking news of the leagues, first-ever female, to coach a senior men's team, Meereboer received a bombardment of messages from women across the state. "I received so many messages from other women, women that I have never met before, telling me that they are really impressed and really inspired," Meereboer told. Modest Meereboer confessed she didn't realise how much impact her new, history-making role would have on women in the league and the broader community. "It's quite overwhelming," said Meereboer. Sale United Football Club provides Meereboer with their full support and confidence in the 32-year-olds coaching capabilities. SUFC shared on social media that with a female leader at the helm of men's football, President Kieran Murphy welcomes a new era in football. Murphy believes Meereboer's position as the senior men's coach is a great triumph to Sale United Football Club and the LaTrobe Valley Soccer League, hindering success on and off the field. With soccer pre-season now underway, Meereboer is wasting no time with her senior men, with the coaches training sessions scrupulously designed to minimise injury and maximise gameplay. As the 2022 LVSL season approaches, all eyes are on Anouk Meereboer. However, the question remains: will the first female ever coach a senior men's team in the history of the La Trobe Valley Soccer League triumph and lead Sale United to victory?

Sale businesses struggle to stay afloat as the Omicron wave swells COVID cases to an all-time high, washing widespread fear and trepidation throughout the local community. Craig and Marianne Caddy; Best Western Aspen Proprietors Since the pandemic's beginning, many Sale businesses have spent the past 20 months fighting to stay open with the reoccurring lockdowns, continuously changing restrictions and travel limitations. Best Western Aspen and Apartment proprietors Craig and Marianne Caddy revealed that they have chewed through all their savings since the pandemic's beginning. "If it weren't for our landlord, our doors would be shut," said Ms Caddy. "Yes, we were very fortunate with our landlord. He took a hit. We took a hit," Mr Caddy added. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the relaxation of restrictions generated an influx of tourism and consumer demand, sparking hope for local businesses. "By Christmas, we were completely booked out for over three months," Mr Caddy proclaimed. But just as the return to normality seemed plausible, disaster struck, another COVID variant emerged, Omicron, and within the blink of an eye, Sale businesses were under pressure once again. "We are getting so many cancellations, and they are all because of COVID," said Mr Caddy. "This week, we lost $10,000 worth of accommodation in one day." For Mr and Mrs Caddy, the uncertainty of the effects the current wave of COVID will have on business is frightening. Generally, Best Western Aspen and Apartments would be booked out at this time of year, and they were, but as fear increases in the community and case numbers skyrocket, there is only a handful of rooms filled. "We aren't sure if we are going to be able to afford staff next week," says Mr Caddy. Down the road at the Comfort Inn, owner Dianna Radjenovic is preparing to sell as the pressures from Omicron tip the business over the edge. "We just can't cope," said Ms Radjenovic. Pre-COVID, the Comfort Inn was averaging anywhere between 80-100 per cent capacity at this time of year, and now, Ms Radjenovic says they aren't even at 50 per cent. "It's just getting worse," says Ms Radjenovic. "We keep getting up every morning, hoping it will get better, but it's not." "People are cancelling because of COVID, and we can't charge them, so we are making no money," says Radjenovic, "It's crazy; our bills are huge because of the size of the property, we are still paying $30,000 a month to the landlords, and there is no business coming in." "It's affecting everyone, I just want to start looking forward to the future again, but I can't." As tourism plunges and community apprehension ascends, the streets of Sale are eerily quiet, and the local hospitality patronage is sparse. The owner of The Dock Espresso Bar, Luke Goldsmith, shares concerns about the effects of the COVID Omicron variant running rampant across Victoria. "The hospitality industry is struggling for labour and struggling for supply," says Mr Goldsmith, "and we have seen a downturn in people moving and travelling and going out." "I think there is fear of having to isolate, so people are now starting to think, do I really need that coffee, is getting this coffee potentially going to put me into a seven-day lockdown." Pre-COVID, local cafe Wild Honey would be at its peak trading period. However, owner Karen Kiefer admits that it's quieter than previous COVID summers. "It's just so inconsistent, one day we will be busy, and it's great, but the next, there is no one on the street, no one in the shops, there's nothing," she says. As Sale's tourism and hospitality businesses face the brunt of Omicron's damaging impacts, Ranford's Family Butcher is profiting. With national supply chain and distribution shortages, causing deficiencies in fresh produce, meat and poultry for grocer giants Coles and Woolworths, Ranford's Family Butcher is receiving an influx of customers. Owner of Ranford's Family Butcher, Brayden Ranford, reveals, unlike Coles and Woolworths, the business isn't facing any issues in obtaining stock, nor are they experiencing any shortages of produce. "Because all our meat is local, we aren't having any issues with getting stock, not like Coles and Woolworths who don't sell local meat, " says owner Brayden Ranford. Despite the increase in meat prices as local abattoirs face staff shortages due to COVID, Ranford's Family Butcher is still seeing a rise in its number of customers. Mr Ranford's wife compared the current climate to the beginning of COVID in 2020. "At the very start of COVID, we had an increase in customers when everyone started panic buying, and there wasn't anything left in the supermarkets," said Mrs Ranford, "and it's like that again now." Ranford's Family Butchers are 'one of the lucky ones' as hundreds of businesses in Sale and across Gippsland find themselves on the chopping block once again, struggling to make ends meet. Story available on the Gippsland Times Website : https://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/news/2022/01/17/local-businesses-hit-in-the-hip-pocket-as-omicron-impact-felt/

Under pressure, early learning centres across the Wellington Shire have closed their doors and locked them as Gippsland's early childhood education, and care sector faces an unprecedented increase in demand for childcare whilst simultaneously dealing with a national shortage of teachers and educators. Gumnuts Director Brendon Ronan. In June 2021, the Skills Priority List (SPL) from the National Skills Commission (NSC) placed the childcare occupation in the top 7% of all professions in short supply and high future demand. The National Children's Education and Care Workforce Strategy reports that the Australian early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce must see a workforce increase of more than 19% over the next five years to meet early childhood education and care demand. However, early childhood education and care qualification enrolments are at a five year low. According to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee, there were just over 30,000 ECEC qualification completions in 2020, a decrease of more than 10% since 2016. The Australian ECEC sector has been grappling with staffing shortages for years. In a 2021 United Workers Union report, which surveyed almost 4000 early childhood teachers and educators, 70% would not recommend employment within the ECEC industry as the workload is excessive, the pay is low, and they feel undervalued. The average retention rate is dire, with an excessive number of ECEC professionals leaving the sector due to inadequate and unsustainable workplace conditions. The National Children's Education and Care Workforce Strategy reported in 2020 that the average tenure for ECEC employment is less than four years. Gippsland is no exception to the shortage of ECEC professionals. The Department of Education's 2020 Victorian Teacher Supply and Demand Report revealed that Gippsland has the second-lowest proportion of early childhood teachers in the state, with a total of just 350. The report further indicated a total of 13 waivers granted across Gippsland exempting early childhood care providers from EC teacher requirements, the highest number in the state. The Department of Education grants waivers to providers as a last resort due to recruitment challenges. COVID has further added to the issues deeply rooted throughout Australia's stressed Early Childhood Education and Care industry, resulting in limited availability in childcare centres and further staffing shortages causing mayhem for many families across the Wellington Shire. For a Briagolong mother of three, Lucille Florisson, the inability to obtain her 10-month-old son a position in childcare has resulted in unemployment. As Ms Florisson reached the end of her maternity leave, she began to make arrangements for her son; however, despite contacting numerous centres in Sale, Maffra and Briagolong, the answer was the same, we are full. "A two-year wait, they said, or I could go onto a waitlist," Ms Florisson explained. "They all replied with the same honest thing; It's unlikely, but waitlisting does give you a chance to get in sooner, just no idea of how long." As the end of her maternity leave approached, Ms Florrison's workplace could not wait for her to secure childcare, leading her to a crossroads; find alternative childcare or resign. "I contemplated asking my mum to care for my son, but she too has my father to care for, and I don't want to put more stress on them." "I had a good, stable and flexible job that I loved for almost three years. I lost it because of this issue," Ms Florisson said. Sale mother of one, Jacinta Jewell, began applying for childcare for her son in April 2021 and, after nine months on the waiting list, has only just secured a position. "We applied to five childcare centres in Sale and one in Maffra," Ms Jewell exclaimed. "The centres were honest about availability, and while we were on the waiting list, I was relying on my parents to look after my son." "We definitely need another two childcare centres around Maffra and Sale," Ms Jewell added, sharing concerns that limited childcare positions will prevent parents from returning to work. Following the easing of restrictions, workers are returning to the office; however, despite common belief, this is not the only cause for the sharp increase in demand for childcare across Gippsland and the Wellington Shire. Between June 2020 and June 2021, Gippsland Health Care reported a 21% increase in births, with the highest surges in March and May 2021, nine months after Victoria's second lockdown began in June 2020. The Gippsland ECEC industry is now experiencing unprecedented growth in the number of babies needing care as parents of 'COVID babies' conclude maternity/paternity leave and return to work. Unattainable childcare is proving to be a monumental burden for Sale midwife and mother of two, April Spiessl. Ms Spiessl's children have attended East Sale Childcare multiple days a week for the last four years. At East Sale Childcare, children of RAAF personnel are priority placements, and this year, there has been an escalation in RAAF families with young children posting to Sale. As a result, Ms Spiessl's two-year-old daughter has been limited to one day a week. "There have been quite a few families there that have been completely kicked out," said Ms Spiessl. "After speaking with a few of them, they are currently looking for a nanny to share because all the other centres are full." "Makes having two working parents difficult when there are not enough adequate spots in the area," Ms Spiessl added. "As a midwife, I work shift work, and so does my husband, so having daycare available is essential." "I have had to push all my shifts to mostly weekends to work around my husbands' shifts and the one day of daycare we have left," said Ms Spiessl. "This means that we barely get any time as a family to do anything together, and I'm having to rely on family to help out." On Wednesday, the 19th of January, multiple hospitals across Victoria issued a Code Brown alert as the health care system strains under pressure from skyrocketing number of omicron COVID cases. With limited access to childcare, Ms Spiessl can only work five shifts a fortnight, and with hundreds of Gippsland health care workers burning the candle at both ends, the midwife and mother of two feels powerless. "If there were adequate childcare centres, how many more nurses and midwives would be able to pick up extra shifts to help cope with the current shortages in the healthcare system and increased demand," Ms Spiessl declared. Gumnuts Early Learning Centre is a non-profit organisation founded in 1998, making it one of Sale's oldest standing childcare centres. Current Education Director Brandon Ronan has spent over 16 years educating and caring for children at Gumnuts. "The demand for our service has grown enormously over the past four years. Every year the demand has got higher for the community wanting to engage our services for the care and education of our children," Mr Ronan said. "It has been an ongoing growth with our waiting list, but last year (2021), it grew at an exceptionally fast rate, with 20 sometimes 30 places a month being added to the list." At Gumnuts Early Learning Centre, they strive to meet their communities needs and cater to as many families as possible. Regularly changing classroom models based on the age demographic of children requiring care and education allows the centre to fill the 96 children per day capacity. "We understand the communities need for care and education and that many need it now, but unfortunately, due to availability, our hands are tied," Mr Ronan explains. "We are fully booked with a waitlist big enough to open an entirely new centre and then some. There are 358 children requiring care each week as of December 2021." "We all want to provide a place for all children, and we are doing all we can to accommodate our community, but it relies on capacity and staffing," Mr Ronan added. "It really is a stressful time for everyone." Gumnut Early Learning Centre purchased the residential lot adjacent to the centre in late 2020. After owning the site for just over 12 months, Mr Ronan was excited to reveal that the Wellington Shire Council has recently awarded Gumnuts a grant to allow the centre to expand and construct more classrooms, which will provide care and education to an additional 66 children. "With the extension of the centre, we would be looking at expanding our workforce with another two or three educators," Mr Ronan said. "The development provides an opportunity for the economy to grow again, not just the Gumnut's business economy, but it will put money back into other local businesses, and as a non-profit, community centre, that's what we are all about - giving back." As early childhood teachers, educators, families and children across Gippsland grapple with the effects of depleted early childhood education and care staffing levels and reduced capabilities, the Victorian Government has released a targeted initiative to attract more teachers to regional and rural classrooms. In late 2021, The Victorian Government invested an initial $82.8 million into education, including a $45.2 million funding boost to improve teacher deficiencies in rural and regional Victorian schools and early learning centres. A step in the right direction for the future of education throughout the region; however, families in desperate need of immediate early childhood education and care across Gippsland remain at a loss, with hundreds of parents potentially sacrificing their professions due to childcare unavailability. Story available on the Gippsland Times website: https://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/news/2022/01/25/spotlight-on-childcare-crisis/

It's a bittersweet day for the ACT as Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced Canberra's pathway forward with the end of lockdown set for October 15. The slight easing of public health safety measures will commence from October 1 and the gradual return to school, beginning with year 12 students from Term Four. Sadly though, Mr Barr revealed that a man in his 90's with COVID-19 has passed away. The death is the first from the territory's current outbreak, bringing the total number of fatalities to four since the start of the pandemic. Key Points: Australian Capital Territory is set to end lockdown on October 15, with a gradual easing of restrictions from October 1. The ACT Education Directorate has confirmed all students will return to face-to-face learning in Term 4, using a staggered approach, complying with ACT Health advice. Canberra records 19 new cases and the first COVID-19 related death of 2021. Today Mr Barr revealed that ACT's release from lockdown is set to end on Thursday, October 14 at 11:59 pm, subject to the public health risk remaining relatively stable in the coming weeks. "The ability to move out of lockdown and through the phases of the national plan will be a welcome relief to all Canberrans," Mr Barr said. The territories release from lockdown will allow five people to visit another household at any one time, and 25 people can gather outdoors from October 15. In addition, cafes, restaurants, licenced venues, gyms, hairdressers, beauty, and personal services will reopen under strict density limits. With the shift of ACT public health measures, from high to medium, all Canberra students will gradually return to face-to-face learning from the beginning of Term 4. From Tuesday, October 5, week 1 of Term 4, Year 12 students will return to on-campus learning, followed by year 11 students from week three. Students in preschool, kindergarten, years one, two, six, nine and ten will commence face-to-face learning from week four, ahead of years three, four, five, seven and eight, who will return to on-campus learning in week five, Monday, November 1. Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry addressed the territory, confirming the gradual return of students to on-campus learning aligns with the ACT's COVID-19 pathway forward, including vaccination rates and the easing of restrictions. Ms Berry assured the public that they are vigilantly following the advice from the Chief Health Officer to ensure the safest transition to face-to-face learning. "Feedback from principals, teachers, students and families have said they want to go back to school, but they want it to be safe,” Ms Berry said. “Health and safety measures will be put in place for all schools to reduce COVID-19 transmission.” ACT Department of Education believes the return to school systemisation in conjunction with strict health safety measures will minimise the spread of COVID-19. They will also continue to encourage the vaccination of all those eligible across all Canberra schools.

The nation's capital is well recognised for its higher-than-average income and living costs and the country's most expensive average rental pricing. Many Canberran's live a comfortable life with food on the table, roofs over their heads and the means to stay comfortable through the city's harsh winters. However, with the consistent increase in the average rental price and exorbitant cost of living, thousands of Canberran's are forced to the streets to suffer the capital's scorching hot summers and sub-freezing winters. Shane Drumgold, the Director of Public Prosecutions for the ACT, speaks about the misconception regarding homelessness and how those of us lucky enough to have more than we require can help those less fortunate.

It does not work. An extensive list of preconditions for democracy falls into two categories: cultural institutions or values and economic development (Femia, 1972, p.1). Without these preconditions, democracy does not work, which is why democratic states should not promote democracy in overseas nations. Core assumptions devised from international relations theory, liberalism, are the foundations of political ideology democracy. During the American French Revolution in the eighteenth century, democracy was born with the central principle of higher standards of social life, freedom and political self-determination (Kelsen, 1955, p1-2). Referring to the precondition for democracy, cultural institutions, if a state does not correlate with liberal core assumptions, then the pursuit for democracy is nil and void. So, what exactly are liberalisms core assumptions? Firstly, liberalism is based on primary principles such as individualism, human rights, universality, freedom from authority, right to be treated equally under the protection of the law and duty to respect and treat others as "ethical subjects" the notion of a representative government (Doyle, p.206-207 & Fukuyama, 1992, p.42). In addition, liberal beliefs "emphasise the importance of state-society relations as shaped by domestic institutions (i.e. democratic peace), economic independence and the ideas about national, political, and socioeconomic public goods provision (Moravcsik, 1997, p.514)". The USA as a democratic state is inherently liberal as it safeguards liberal core assumptions such as free and fair elections, the rule of law, protected liberties and acts in the individual's interest (however, this is widely argued by academics) (Meiser, 2018). Since 1898, the global superpower, has pursued international expansion intending to impose their democratic system in foreign nations lacking democratic prerequisites, often violently and with cultural hubris, disguised with the intentions of promoting peace (Adams,2021). Professor of Political Theory, Joseph. V Femia conveyed that preconditions for democracy had been a 'major preoccupation of both politicians and academics since 1945' (1972). The knowledge that the implementation of democracy in foreign nations would fail unless they were a coherent state that maintained a rigid rule of law and sustained a functioning, independent and A-political bureaucracy including police, military, and public servants, has existed since the end of World War Two (Femia, 1972). Disregarding empirical evidence and foreign policy advisors, the U.S. pursued The Vietnam War in 1960 and the Invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, which further cemented significant evidence to corroborate the deposition that there is no tangible evidence that the democratisation of foreign countries promotes peace and previous efforts to overturn dictators have resulted in disaster. 1955, only a decade after the end of World War 2, marked the beginning of The Vietnam War. The conflict endured for twenty years across Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. Historians, including Professor of Military History at The University of Sothern Missouri, Heather Stur, debate why the United States went to war with Vietnam. According to Professor Stur (2017), the motive for U.S. intervention in Vietnam remains a debate predominantly due to the inability to identify when the U.S. War began. Stur (2017) articulates, "rather than identifying one starting point, it is more accurate to understand U.S. intervention in Vietnam as a gradual process" which involved economic aid to help establish a non-communist nation in the south following the division of Vietnam by the Geneva Accords in 1950, political and military advisers, and troops on the ground. At the time, the American public and U.S. allies had begun to harbour trepidation on the state's ability to build a global democratic bulwark against communism because of the Cold War (Stur,2017). According to Stur (2017), the threat of communism spreading throughout Southeast Asia in conjunction with the United States desire for credibility and global recognition were the ultimate factors that "motivated U.S. policymakers to commit advisors, money, materiel and troops to Vietnam (Stur)." In the 1960s, the question of whether America's war in Vietnam was a noble struggle against communist aggression, a tragic intervention in a civil conflict, or an imperialist counterrevolution to crush the movement of national liberation circulated the globe and to this day remains unresolved (Appy, 2018). Despite a well-resourced intervention, the U.S. and its allies were unable to build a democratic state in Vietnam as the nation lacked necessary cultural and bureaucratic preconditions for democracy, thus resulting in the development of the radical belief that America's true enemy in Vietnam was national liberation and independence (Appy, 2018). "The question used to be; might it be possible that we were on the wrong side in the Vietnamese war. We were not on the wrong side; we are the wrong side" (Ellsberg, 1974). Consider defence analyst Daniel Ellsberg's political views, recorded in his 1974 book "Hearts and Minds", which argued the Vietnam conflict was a counterrevolution. Ellsberg's stance in conjunction with Professor Jessica Chapman's belief that "The Vietnam War was, at its core, a civil war greatly exacerbated by foreign intervention" (Chapman, 2006) challenges the ideology that democratic states should not support democratisation in other parts of the world in the interests of promoting peace. Twenty-six years after the fall of Saigon, on September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists highjacked four U.S. commercial aircraft. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Centre's twin towers in New York City and a third into the Pentagon in Virginia. Following the suicide attacks on the U.S., the Bush administration formed a war cabinet where the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, George Tenet, addressed state leaders, confirming the attacks were carried out by militant Islamic terrorist organisation al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden (Gregg, 2021). On August 16, 2021, just weeks before the 20th anniversary of 9/11, U.S. President Joe Biden addressed the globe following the Taliban's insurgency on U.S. backed government in Kabul, American troops were withdrawing from Afghanistan. History had arguably repeated itself; the U.S. suffered significant losses and a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan, just as it did in Vietnam (Achcar, 2021). An embarrassing defeat is not the only comparison between The Intervention of Afghanistan and The Vietnam War. According to Professor of U.S. Foreign Policy Gordon Adams, American hubris and official lying are repeated characteristics of U.S. foreign policy exercised in Afghanistan and Vietnam, leading to failed foreign interventions (Adams, 2021). For example, when U.S. involvement in Vietnam commenced, leaders assured the American public that the state had no prior association to the conflict arising in the state. However, the truth was revealed in 1971 when The New York Times and Washington Post published The Pentagon Papers, a study of the origins and development of the Vietnam War (Altschuler, 2009). The papers leaked by defence analysts Daniel Ellsberg rebutted U.S. claims of detachment into the origins of the Vietnam War. In 2001, American hubris remerged, disguised as 'the global war on terror' and Afghanistan was the perfect candidate to promote western democracy, despite the evidence from historical events proving the concept of promoting democracy in nations where there is no history of the concept is fraught (Adams, 2021). When U.S. President Joe Biden announced the removal of American troops in Afghanistan, he stated, "Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation-building. It was never supposed to be creating a unified, centralised democracy (Biden, 2021)". However, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the Bush administration's clearance to dispose of American military forces in Afghanistan came General Tommy Frank's war plan; Operation Enduring Freedom (Gregg, 2021). "The first phase connected the U.S. Special Forces with CIA teams to clear the way for conventional troops. Then the United States mounted a massive air campaign to take out al Qaeda and Taliban targets and conducted humanitarian airdrops to deliver relief to the Afghan people. The third phase called for ground troops from both American and coalition partners to enter the country and work with Afghan forces to hunt down remaining Taliban and al Qaeda fighters. Finally, the American troops would stabilise the country and help the Afghan people build a free society (Gregg, 2021)." The initial operation divulged to the American public was to remove the Taliban from Afghanistan and cease al-Qaida training camps. However, the mission was exponentially more significant, with U.S. objectives clearly conveyed in Frank's devised war plan to create a modern democracy, society, and military in Afghanistan (Adams, 2021). As to why President Joe Biden lied in his national address, one can only assume it was to 'save face' of the American government in the wake of yet another military defeat in a war continuously condemned by the public, academics, and foreign policymakers. After decades of consideration, through numerous failed conflicts, many scholars, policymakers, politicians, and members of the public attentive to international relations and global politics have formed a common belief that democratic states, such as the U.S., should not support the democratisation in other parts of the world. This doctrine has been established by the assessment of U.S. historical attempts to promote democracy in non-western cultures, resulting in death, debt, and catastrophe. Although international relations academics and democratic policymakers accurately record that stable democracies sustain better long-term economic growth records and better protect fundamental human rights, the use of military force to endorse the implementation of democracy in foreign cultures fails (Walt, 2016). References used: Achcar, G. (2021). The US Lost in Afghanistan. But US Imperialism Isn’t Going Anywhere. Retrieved October 2021, from https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/09/afghanistan-iraq-war-vietnam-withdrawal-terror Adams, G. (2021). Afghanistan only the latest US war to be driven by deceit and delusion. Retrieved October 2021, from https://theconversation.com/afghanistan-only-the-latest-us-war-to-be-driven-by-deceit-and-delusion-166256 Afghanistan and the cycles of American interventionism. (2021). Retrieved October 2021, from https://www.ft.com/content/4f31f9ea-e8c3-4d3c-b670-b187b4669555 Albright, M. K. (2003). Bridges, Bombs, or Bluster? 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A night out on the beers with the boys to celebrate a mate’s birthday quickly turned cataclysmic for Nick Payne. In 2018, when the 27-year-old Broadcast Engineer returned to his hometown of Sale, in regional Victoria, he never thought he would be the victim of a cowardly king-hit attack. Key Points: 27-year-old Broadcast Engineer Nick Payne was king-hit after leaving a local bar when visiting his hometown in regional Victoria in July 2018. The man was lucky to be alive, sustaining injuries to his jaw, mouth, face, and neck. Three years later, the now 30-year-old still battles with the traumatic events from that night. Nick was walking down the main street of Sale after leaving Jack Ryan’s Irish pub in the early hours of the morning on the 28th of July 2018 when he suddenly noticed a large group of men aggressively sprinting towards him. Turning into an alleyway, Nick prepared to diffuse the situation, but the group of men quickly surrounded him. “It was a very tense situation. I was alone, and as the guys surrounded me, I said, let’s not do this, let’s not fight, there is no need for this.” When the 27-year-olds friends arrived at the alleyway, they were unaware of what was transpiring and oblivious to the aggressive situation which was rapidly unfolding. Then everything went black. “It’s what I pictured death like. It was nothing; it was empty. I wasn’t thinking; I wasn’t dreaming; I wasn’t conscious. The only things I remember was choking and hearing someone screaming, 'What the f**k have you done? You’ve killed him'." Nick began to regain consciousness and woke discombobulated as his friend James Zorn dug teeth and blood out of his mouth to prevent choking. “When I came to, I remember being petrified. I didn’t know where I was or what had happened; I didn’t know who was around me. When I opened my eyes, I was in this dark pool of blood, but I heard James’ voice, and I knew I was safe.” Paramedics arrived on the scene 20 minutes after the assault transpired and rushed Nick to the hospital. He was lucky to be alive. The injuries sustained from the one-punch attack were mainly cosmetic; several teeth had been knocked out, his jaw was dislocated along with extensive grazing and bruising to his face and neck. Photograph: Supplied by Nick Payne. Despite having walked away from the coward punch relatively unscathed, Nick’s overall wellbeing was critical in the months following the incident. He found himself spiralling into a dark and lonely mental state. The once bright and bubbly young man found himself drinking excessively to drown the memories and emotions which haunted him from that night. “I remember drinking so much I would vomit, just alone, by myself.” Three years on, Nick still battles with the traumas from that night. Crowds, bars and clubs remain a daunting concept for the now 30-year-old, but despite the suffering and distress he has endured since the night of the attack, Nick is finally ready to become himself again. “It’s taken a long time to get to where I am today, and I am definitely on the road to recovery. I have a much better outlook on everything, but now I really want to force myself back into that social scene because I haven’t been myself for the best part of three years. I miss myself. I want to become myself again.” Nick Payne recounts the events which unfolded on July 28th, 2018.

From the moment a woman discovers she is expecting her first child, her life is changed forever. For many, it’s a time of joyful anticipation, family, and community support, but for the thousands of women who have given birth to their first child throughout the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been isolating, stressful and downright hard. First-time mothers bearing children under the shadows of the coronavirus feel robbed of what is usually an extraordinary experience, first-time motherhood. From cracked, bleeding nipples, sleepless nights, insufferable isolation, and the inadequacy of the struggling Australian medical system, dozens of first-time mothers from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria have shared their stories; sparing no detail. Shannon from Canberra found out she was pregnant with her first child, a little boy, in April 2020 during the height of the capital’s first lockdown. Shannon and her partner Sam were ecstatic with the news; however, apprehension and anxiety loomed close as the uncertainties of COVID-19 crept in. With newly enforced restrictions in place, Shannon had to attend her initial ultrasound alone. Prior to her pregnancy in 2020, Shannon experienced several miscarriages, making her first ultrasound with Harry even more daunting. "The first appointment that I had; Sam couldn't come to. I felt so much anxiety around being in there; it was tough to deal with because I just thought that I would be in the situation where they would tell me that it wasn't a viable pregnancy and I'd be alone," Shannon explains. A wave of relief passed through Shannon following her ultrasound with nothing but good news. However, her comfort did not linger. As it did among societies across the globe, fear of COVID-19 grew, and clusters broke out around the country. So too did Shannon's anxiety. "I already had heightened anxiety because of my previous pregnancies; I just wanted to be wrapped up in cotton wool," Shannon says. Dr Darby Saxbe, associate professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, specialises in the direct correlation stress has on neural, hormonal, behavioural and psychological changes to both mother and baby. For years global medical studies have shown a clear connection between the increase in perinatal mental health disorders and large-scale societal disruptions such as natural disasters, economic crashes, and terrorist attacks; COVID-19 is no exception to this list. Saxbe identifies in her research on perinatal mental health and the adverse effects of COVID-19 that, “social support is a key buffer in preventing perinatal mental health disorders.” So, it is no surprise that in 2020 the Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) helpline doubled, as did call times, a support system that became all too familiar to Shannon. Pregnancy and newly found parenthood is a time of eager anticipation, family, community and extended social support. Unfortunately, with all thanks to COVID-19 and strict social distancing laws, first-time mothers have been robbed of their social support, community, and families during the pandemic. Kate grew up in regional Victoria alongside her ten siblings, her mother and father. On the 24th of December 2019, in Newcastle, NSW, Kate's little girl Chloe was born. Just six weeks after birth, the family relocated to Queanbeyan NSW, and within just four months of Chloe's life, the first national lockdown was underway. "I didn't mind the lockdown initially; I was able to connect and bond with Chloe without the added stress of constant visitors. However, as time passed and the lockdowns continued, it affected my mental health adversely because my little girl hasn't been able to see her grandparents, aunties, or uncles. Being a first-time mum is already a period of great change and mental isolation without the added component of physical isolation," Kate says. Over the past month, I have asked more than 30 first-time mothers to complete a short survey about their individual experiences, and the results were edifying. For example, 70% of women indicated they suffered increased anxiety during lockdown periods, and 17% affirmed that they somewhat did. In addition, over 50% of women recounted that the most significant struggles they faced during the lockdown period was the isolation of support and attending appointments alone. "Not being able to have my mum there to help me whilst I was sick on the couch for weeks was arduous, and having to attend appointments alone, while wearing a mask, or socially distanced felt awkward and rushed." – Anonymous. The ideology that social isolation had damaging effects on first-time mothers' mental health was further concreated, with 82% of survey respondents confirming the inability to access support networks such as family and close friends negatively affected their mental health. The afternoon of the 18th of February 2021 brought the moment Chelsea from Victoria had dreamed of, the birth of her miracle baby, Hudson. Chelsea longed to be a mother, even at the young age of seven, sneaking over the fence to babysit the kids next door. As she grew into a teenager, doctors delivered news Chelsea never wanted to or thought she would ever hear; you will never be able to have a baby. Although determination and the yearning to be a mother never wavered, Chelsea fell pregnant after many miscarriages, but fate was still against her. Due to heart problems, the pregnancy was not viable without the prospect of imminent fatality during labour. Chelsea made the heartbreaking decision to proceed with an abortion. A choice between her life or the babies. Despite the cruel twists of events, this born-to-be mother’s hope never failed, and after multiple miscarriages, Chelsea and her partner Marcus finally conceived amid the first nationwide lockdown. It seemed like life had finally turned around for Chelsea. She was going to be a mother at last, but not without a fight. “I underwent three surgeries while I was pregnant, all of them I had to be put under. One of them was a major surgery that required my whole abdomen to be cut open whilst Hudson was inside of me,” Chelsea explains. Not only was Chelsea pregnant with her first feasible pregnancy, but the fears and anxiety of COVID were ubiquitous, and the surgeries required her to travel to Melbourne regularly, right into the centre of a hotspot. For Chelsea, the hardships didn't stop after birth. Like many other first-time mothers throughout the pandemic, she suffered from post-natal depression. "Everything that I expected wasn't what happened. You have this idea in your mind about what being a mum is going to be like, what you want to be like as a mother. It just wasn't like that. With COVID, there are no mum groups to prepare you or support you. Normally, mums go out and get together. They go to classes and learn how to swaddle and burp their baby, but I didn't get any of that because we were in isolation or social distancing didn't allow classes to run. So, I just had this baby, with no fricking clue what to do with it, it's just been so hard," Chelsea says. In the eyes of Australian medical professionals, pregnant women are considered high-risk patients for COVID-19. However, demand for maternity services in Victoria over the past 12 months has risen 20%. NSW pregnancies have also increased more than 5%. Despite expert arguments contradicting a COVID-19 baby boom, microbiologist Len Moaven expects an extra 25,000 births in the year to January 2022, a trend confirmed by health fund data, reporting a 22% increase in newborn deliveries to the end of the March 2021 quarter, nationwide. “I fell pregnant with Clara in February 2020, right before the first-ever lockdown. I had a scheduled c-section in September 2020 throughout another lockdown. I feel so lucky in one way that I fell pregnant with Clara before the first lockdown because now there are so many babies, it is almost impossible to get into midwifery services,” Claudia says. With the increase in demand for perinatal and postnatal services, Australia's medical system is struggling. As a result, mothers are getting lost in the system; they are not receiving support from medical professionals in the weeks after birth and the inability to access family and friends have first-time mothers feeling underrated and underappreciated. While the Australian government has identified and acted on the increase in maternity services across the nation, there has been little to no notice of lockdown's adverse effects on first-time mothers' mental health and wellbeing. The saying, 'it takes a village to raise a child' has been deeply embedded within motherhood for centuries, and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the saying possesses even more meaning with mothers pleading for change, for support, for their families. Yet, the question remains, will the government finally accept the voices of these women?

In December 2015, Australia and China signed a historic trade agreement, The China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). This agreement boasted immense economic growth for Australia and boosting our position in the Chinese market. Ultimately the deal cemented a new and improved trade relationship with China, which saw them become Australia's largest export market, taking nearly a third of our total exports. David Uren from The Strategist reported in November 2020 that Australia is overwhelmingly dependant on China for several exports such as; nickel ore, iron ore, timber, wool, lobster, barley, cotton, processed foods and woodchips. In 2020 when COVID-19 became an international pandemic, Australia supported an international inquiry into China's handling of the coronavirus. However, Australia's support of the investigation caused immediate tension between China and Australia, and over the last 18 months, the relationship has only increasingly deteriorated. By late 2020, it was reported that the Chinese government threatened the Australian government with disciplinary action for their support in the international inquiry regarding the origins of the coronavirus, among 13 other grievances. China publicly accused Australia of "poisoning bilateral relations", following the list of grievances in conjunction with a Chinese government official stating to a Canberra reporter, "China is angry. If you make China the enemy, China will be the enemy". The tension between China and Australia tightened further in 2021, with statements from Chinese officials declaring that Beijing was singling out Australia and enforcing economic punishment. By March 2021, reports from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) revealed a 40 per cent decline in the value of Australian Trade with China. Over the past 18 months, Australia's trade war with China has grown ever more prominent, but the roots of the trade war run deeper than calls for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus. Professor of Strategic Studies in the School of International, Political and Strategic Studies at the Australian National University, Hugh White, made statements in his 2012 book, The China Choice, that ‘Australia’s future depends on America and China.’ In 2010, Professor White wrote in a quarterly essay – Power Shift: Australia's Future Between Washington and Beijing – that China is progressively unsatisfied with American hegemony in Asia and actively challenges it. As a result, white warned, China seeks to play a role in regional affairs and unchecked dissatisfaction from China will probably lead to conflict between the great powers. So how does this relate to Australia and China's current trade war? As predicted by Professor Hugh White, Australia had to choose between our strategic relationship with the US or our trade relationship with China. Despite the denial from successive governments, both liberal and labour, the time has come to make a choice, and we've made it. We've sacrificed our trade relationship (all trade except for Iron Ore has taken a significant downturn) following Australia's international support to the inquest into the origins of the coronavirus. Australia's shift to take sides with the US over China is arguably a realist choice. Many individuals who work in international relations argue that IR is primarily about power in military terms. As Australia's ADF somewhat lack the capability, we are highly reliant on the US military for protection, especially against an attack from China. Choosing the US over China safeguards our country as it provides us with the military capability to defend our land, resources, and citizens from an international threat, Chinese or other. For years China has coerced Australia with its trading power. Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director stating to Nine News, "China has applied a strategy to Australia: shut up and take the money". Despite the liberal view on China and Australia's trade as one of great, shared prosperity, the rising power of the Chinese military is to be feared. Natasha Kassam from the Lowy Institute identified in her article, Great Expectations: The unravelling of the Australia-China relationship, that China has long sought to divide and isolate US allies. Despite the ChAFTA, in China's eyes, Australia has always been defined by its relationship with the United States, thus highlighting why Australia's support for the inquest into the coronavirus origins caused such an intense rift in Australia-China's relationship. Taking IR elements into consideration, such as Australia's strategic relationship with the US, the downward spiralling relationship with China, and the rapidly growing strategic competition between the US and China, leave international relations experts questioning whether the current international system will undergo a fundamental change in the future. As China continues to assert itself internationally aggressively, former Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, says Australia today would never contemplate signing another free trade deal with China. He further stated to the press that a new cold war between the countries is more than likely.

Domestic violence; it's a silent pandemic that affects, on average, two million Australians each year. In 2020 COVID-19 devastated Australia. The economy fell, schools were closed, hospitals were flooded, and the country was forced into isolation. Every Australian felt the effects of the disease in one way or another, especially those subjected to domestic violence. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported in 2019 that one in six women from the age of 15 experienced domestic violence (AIHW, 2019). In July 2020 a study conducted by the Australian Institute of Criminology revealed that almost 10% of all Australian women in a relationship experienced domestic violence during COVID-19 (AIC, 2020). Domestic violence is categorised as physical, sexual, emotional/psychological, economic and/or social abuse from a partner or any other household member such as a parent, uncle, aunt, sibling, or grandparent (Medical Journal of Australian, 2021). Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate that Australia has been fighting a losing battle against domestic violence for the past decade. Between 2009 and 2019 statistics revealed a 70.6% increase in sexual domestic violence cases across the nation (ABS, 2020). When the nationwide lockdown was announced, medical professionals, emergency services and community workers dreaded the imminent effects isolation would have on those exposed to domestic violence. Historical studies recognise that in times of a disaster, domestic violence tends to increase across the globe (Jenkins & Phillips, 2008). These identifiable trends further increased concerns from professionals as the COVID-19 pandemic was an uncharted and prolonged hardship. Predicting societal outcomes is difficult; however, with 2020 domestic violence statistics slowly emerging, Australia is forecasting its worst year yet for women battling domestic violence. During 2020, domestic violence call outs spiked nationally. Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner, Rick Nugent reported that there was a 6.7% increase in police call-outs due to domestic violence across the state, totalling to almost 90,000 (Nugent, 2021). South Australia Police saw a jump in domestic violence-related reports from 8,587 in 2019 to 9,526 in 2020, totalling to an 11% increase. Statistics from SA Police further revealed that there were 440 more domestic assaults from March through to August 2020, compared to the previous year. Illawarra Women’s Health Centre faced unprecedented demand for support from women in domestically violent environments. Chief executive, Sally Stevenson reported that referrals to the service from January to August 2020, increased by 189% whilst phone calls spiked by 55% (IWHC, 2020). Brisbane Domestic Violence Service recorded a 30% increase in demand for their services (Walsh, 2020) and Google reported a 75% national increase in internet searches relating to domestic violence support (Doran, 2020). As the lockdown continued, the shadow pandemic we know as domestic violence worsened. 15,000 women completed a survey conducted by The Redfern Legal Centre and the Australian Institute of Criminology preceding the first stages of the lockdown. The survey reported that 8,000 women experienced an increase in domestic violence after the implementation of isolation. Prior to the lockdown, 33% of the total women surveyed had never experienced domestic violence, however fell victim during the isolation period (RLC & AIC, 2020). By the 31st of December 2020, 55 Australian women died at the hands of their partner. During the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown, May 2020, eight women were killed by their significant other, double the national monthly average. On the 30th of November 2020, four women were killed by their partner within a 24-hour period. The accumulation of these events spiked anger nationwide and a demand for immediate government intervention. Feminist group Destroy the Joint has labelled 2020 the year of femicide. Hayley Foster, Chief Executive of Women’s Safety New South Wales, told reporters, “2020 will be remembered as the worst year for domestic violence that any of us who are in the sector now have ever experienced, there have been so many more strangulation cases, so many threats to kill, so many more serious head injuries, and sexual assaults have been going through the roof” (Foster,2020). The Australian Bureau of Statistics is due to release the 2020 Crime Report at the end of the financial year which is expected to validate societal predictions forecasting the surge of domestic violence due to COVID-19 lockdown laws. The question now remaining is whether the 2020 crime statistics will finally shine a light on the shadow pandemic that is affecting millions of Australians. References Abc.net.au. 2021. 'This is men choosing to use violence': Data reveals jump in domestic violence assaults amid COVID-19 pandemic. [online] Available at: [Accessed May 2021]. Australian Institute of Criminology. 2021. The prevalence of domestic violence among women during the COVID-19 pandemic. [online] Available at: [Accessed April 2021]. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2018. Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia. [online] Available at: [Accessed April 2021]. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2019. Family, domestic and sexual violence Overview - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. [online] Available at: [Accessed April 2021]. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2019. 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Throughout the semester I was encouraged to create a digital network by utilising social media and following contributors, influencers, businesses and departments within my desired career field. Over the past twelve weeks I have followed numerous accounts and subscribed to a number of online news sites. TWITTER NEWS.COM.AU News.com.au provides regular news updates on national and international stories with supporting links to full articles. https://twitter.com/newscomauHQ ASIO ASIO releases a variety of content such as urgent international security updates, department achievements and historic memories relating to international security and espionage. https://twitter.com/ASIOGovAu DFAT As I aspire for a career with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it seemed only right that I follow them on social media. This has and will continue to help me gauge an idea of their values, follow their achievements and understand their expectations as a employer. https://twitter.com/dfat AL JAZEERA Al Jazeera is an international Arabic news channel that uses Twitter to release regular breaking news stories and updates on events happening in the Middle East. This account is one of my favourites. https://twitter.com/AJEnglish ABC NEWS ABC News on Twitter provides the latest news updates straight from the Australian Broadcasting Corp. https://twitter.com/abcnews 9NEWS AUSTRALIA Nine news Australia provides the latest news updates from Nine Network. https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS CNN BREAKING NEWS The CNN breaking news twitter account releases breaking news updates directly from CNN Digital. https://twitter.com/cnnbrk LINKEDIN Kerry-Anne Walsh Following the Communications Café, I reached out and connected with Kerry-Anne on LinkedIn. Kerry-Anne is an incredibly accomplished journalist, she inspires me to work hard in order to reach my full potential. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacommunications/ Peter Davidson Peter was another guest at the Communications Café that I connected with on LinkedIn after the event. https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-davidson-3037b463/ Tom Logan Tom was the final speaker from the Communications Café that I connected with on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomrlogan/

Like most university students my future plan changed. A lot. When I began my Bachelor’s Degree in 2019, majoring in journalism, I aspired to be a TV or radio journalist. However, as I progressed through my studies this goal morphed into something else, then something else, to something else. It wasn’t until this year that I finally established a set focus. I aim to work as a communications officer at The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The focus on this career path is derived from my passion for international relations, different cultures and love for travel. Next semester I start a Breadth Major in Politics and International Relations. It will refine my skill set and make me a better candidate for a position at The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I expect to finish by the end of next year and before then I plan to learn as much as I can, focus on areas of my education that need improvement highlighted in assignment feedback, perform at the best of my abilities and graduate with a respectable GPA.