The Conversation Hour

Every year, The Hope Prize draws submissions from around the world celebrating stories that highlight courage and overcoming hardship.

Receiving a diagnosis is a significant and often emotionally confusing moment in a person’s life.

With historic roots dating back to the first Chinese empire, dragon boat racing has taken on an entirely new significance here in Australia.

Genomics explores the building blocks of human DNA, in the hopes of uncovering patterns that can lead to lifesaving medical discoveries.

Online gaming is a popular space for young people to socialise, but some games have drawn criticism for not providing a safe environment.

Apart from the individual benefits that come with picking up a book, readers are also instrumental in propping up authors, booksellers and the publishing industry.

Wildlife Victoria received more than 1000 requests for wildlife assistance on Monday November 11.

Broadcasting live from Foodbank in Yarraville for the ABC Gives campaign, The Conversation Hour team explores the idea of food security.

When Matthew Sims became a father, he didn’t feel the way he was told he should feel.

The Australia Institute has called for city and town planning that encourages people to walk, cycle and use public transport.

Art Garfunkel has described his regret over his long-standing feud with his creative partner Paul Simon.

As time goes by and life becomes more complex, it can be difficult to carve out time to play sport.

In this episode, The Conversation Hour team explores the evolving art of celebrancy.

Some advocates are concerned junior workers are being overworked and underpaid.

Despite a majority of Australians being in favour of organ donation, just 36 per cent are registered to donate.

Exploring the issues that affect all Victorians.

From creating firearms to three-bedroom homes, the capability of 3D printing technology is regularly meeting new benchmarks.

The state government estimates more than 80 per cent of Victoria's population, or roughly 8.5 million people, will reside in Melbourne by 2051.

In this episode, The Conversation Hour team shines a light on why these beacons hold a special place in the minds of so many people.

The Murray River has made it onto the list of National Geographic's best places to travel in 2025.

Depending on what code you choose to try, playing sport can be an expensive exercise.

Getting the balance between saving and spending can be difficult when approaching retirement.

While some have found success online, there are others who've had discouraging and dangerous experiences.

Premier Jacinta Allan has announced plans for 50 activity centres across Melbourne’s suburbs for fast-tracked apartment developments.

AFLW general manager Emma Moore has declared the league is entering a new phase.

Achieving a high ATAR score is a stressful preoccupation for many young people.

In a time of greater awareness of the costs of disposable plastic items, these decorations appear to be an outlier.

Dr Kimberley Haines is trialling a peer support program to help ICU survivors with their recovery.

Bushwalking Victoria has stated there is capacity for 700 new participants at clubs across the state, where groups meet before heading off on regular adventures.

The days that follow a suicide can be some of the most challenging in a person's life.

In this episode, Richelle Hunt is joined by new Grand Designs Australia host Anthony Burke, to talk through the latest building trends.

Despite mainstream efforts to encourage healthy eating and body positivity, eating disorders are still afflicting Victorians young and old.

In Victoria, more than 1500 women froze their eggs during 2021-22, which represented a 63 per cent increase from the year prior.

It's never been easier for children to access news, which can mean exposure to devastating events such as natural disaster, conflict and disease in real time.

With the growing use of dynamic ticketing, or in demand pricing as it's also known, we take a deep dive into the trend.

Some advocates are calling for stronger terminology to re-classify bullying as a form of violence to capture the harm it causes.

A crucial cog in cracking any cold case is forensic science and investigation.

Some experts are warning that the integration of data into our cars is allowing manufacturers to demand too much personal information from car owners.

From water licensing, to drought resilience and everyday access, how our water supply is controlled is an issue that affects everyone.

Across the country, remarkable efforts are ongoing to protect at-risk species.

When Rebekah Lowe first searched for answers to a strange tremor in her foot, she dismissed the most common result: Parkinson's disease.

Close to 50 candidates have been elected unopposed to Victoria councils.

Nick Reece has pledged to to deliver an extra 10 new parks across the City of Melbourne if he's re-elected as Melbourne’s lord mayor next month.

With every advancement in prosthetic technology, life gets a bit easier for the people using them.

Recent data has shown people are leaving major cities in large numbers.

In recent weeks, protesters have drawn both praise and condemnation for the varied tactics employed to bring about change.

From dealing with venue access, to helping artists feel comfortable on stage, the accessibility in the Australian music industry is still a work in progress.

In this episode, The Conversation Hour team explores the ways job sharing is empowering workers to find a routine that works for them.

Recent Cricket Australia indicates the code is struggling with player retention in certain age brackets among young players.

The federal government has drawn criticism for its approach to including questions of gender and sexuality in the 2026 census.

The Conversation Hour team is joined by a panel of experts to break down the key moments.

Recent severe weather has wreaked havoc on Victoria’s coastline, exposing an issue that has been building over decades.

Many children that grew up in a home where domestic homicide occurred experience profound trauma.

Technologies such as QR codes and robot waiters has some concerned the humanity is being stripped from hospitality.

There is growing concern that excessive prescription of these drugs could be making us resistant to their benefits.

The Conversation Hour team explores how these musicians make it in the gaming business.

Becoming a grandparent can be an exciting new phase of life, but it can also come with unwanted pressure.

What should a cemetery look like, and what should they be used for? Is it disrespectful to use them for recreation? Would it be alright to support biodiversity by planting native plants?

Bad behaviour in sporting crowds takes many forms:  racist sexist or homophobic slurs, swearing, booing, even throwing punches or bottles. From the grassroots to elite sport, why does being in the crowd bring out the worst in some of us?

Is there an expectation that people need to be a certain shape to do certain sports?

How healthy is the local film and television industry?  Do you still have to move overseas to have a viable career?

Is the online shopping trend cooling?  We loved it during lockdown, but are we still buying online?

Exploring the issues that affect all Victorians.

With railway stations in the news as Sydney opens some new ones and Melbourne wonders how long it will take to travel between Parkville and Arden, The Conversation Hour team asks about your station.

Cost of living increases and changes in life circumstances are leading to significant increases in the number of animals surrendered for re-homing, according to research by the RSPCA.

With a decade long decline in apprenticeship enrolments, some in the industry are concerned these cornerstones of the community are disappearing.

Data from the last financial year indicates it was the most deadly year on Australian roads in more than a decade.

Achieving competency in another language can be met with resistance from younger family members, who cannot see the value of committing the time and effort.

Around the country sporting clubs are working to create environments that are more welcoming for people with disabilities.

In this episode, The Conversation Hour team unearths the secrets to making your garden work for you.

New research suggests lifestyle therapy can be as helpful for our mental health as support delivered by psychologists.

For those living with a loss of smell long term, the impacts on overall health and wellbeing can be significant.

Former supreme court judge Kevin Bell argues we need to reconsider our housing priorities.

What's your strongest Olympic memory?  And what are you looking forward to as the Paris Games get started?

Football-netball clubs can be a vital part of regional communities, and there is great pride in fielding a winning team. But what does it mean for the clubs and communities when footy players are paid, especially in under-the-table deals?  What sort of culture is fostered?

What leads young people into the hands of the law, and what can be done to stop it happening?  Target Zero is a long-term program aiming to stop kids entering the criminal justice system.

After everyone's experience of COVID pandemic lockdowns, you might have thought we'd had enough of teaching our children at home.  But home schooling is on the rise in Victoria.

What real help do women need when they are trying to recover and rebuild their lives safely — from therapy and counselling to learning how to use internet banking, find a safe home or re-enter the workforce?

Today the Conversation Hour team gets some dirt under their nails investigating regen ag. How does it work? Who does (and doesn't) it work for?  And isn't this focus on soil health something all good farmers have in common?

Do you need parents with deep pockets for a chance at Olympic glory?  And what if you don't live in a major city?  Who gets to be an Australian Olympian?

Do you live a suburb or town alongside factories and industrial development?  Is that safe?

These chemicals do not break down in the environment and have been linked cancers, reduced kidney functions and other negative health outcomes.

Music therapy is included as an allied health service that participants can access using NDIS funding.

According to Keep Australia Beautiful, approximately 100,000 tonnes of waste becomes litter in Australia each year.

Advocates in the field agree that infusing cultural understanding and practice into the healthcare system is crucial to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

The decision from fashion label Witchery to rebrand and re-release its new collection was met with a mixed reception.

New data shows there has been a significant drop in the number of people enrolling into apprenticeships, leaving employers overstretched and understaffed.

Once a fringe enterprise, tiny homes are now a popular housing alternative.

For prospective students, there is plenty to consider before committing to university.

Local news outlets have been struggling ever since the revenue stream from classified ads largely dried up once the internet and social media arrived.

The Australian Energy Market Operator has warned of an immediate gas supply risk.

According to new research, surfing injects almost $3 billion dollars into the Australian economy each year.

So often access to treatment or medicine is hidden behind a convoluted system of referrals and waitlists.

Australia’s first national prison newspaper, About Time, will be launched soon, providing a place for people to share stories and build connections.

The Conversation Hour looks at why these spaces are a winning idea for so many people and why its worthwhile for everyone to seek out calm surrounds.

Artificial intelligence has been part of our everyday lives for the past decade, but generative AI is a newer and emerging field.

Recent studies have found a correlation between alcohol consumption and incidents of domestic homicide.

The Conversation Hour team explores the ways in which single people can be made to feel as those they're living outside the margins of normal society.

Recent research suggests that humans need more deep sleep in the winter than in other seasons.