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How to choose a legal decision-maker as you get older – 3 things to consider

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joseph-ibrahim-252671">Joseph Ibrahim</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amelia-grossi-1280226">Amelia Grossi</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> “It’s my life and I’ll do what I want,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNzmrEgz_GI">sang</a> Eric Burdon of The Animals to the baby boomer generation. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. As we get older, sometimes we are no longer capable of making our own decisions. Diseases that affect the brain such as dementia, stroke and head injury can impair cognition and thinking. Some people may choose to appoint a <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/medical-treatment-planning-and-decisions-act-2016/008">medical treatment decision-maker</a> or an <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/powers-attorney-act-2014/007">enduring power of attorney</a> to make certain decisions on their behalf. Alternatively, a legal tribunal or court may appoint <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/guardianship-and-administration-act-2019/005">a guardian or trustee</a> to help guide decisions about health care, finances, accommodation and lifestyle. Who is the right person to take on this important role? Is it the family member or partner who knows you best? Or someone with time and energy? Perhaps someone who understands the services you need – like a nurse, accountant or real estate agent? The role of a decision-making representative has <a href="https://www.alrc.gov.au/publication/equality-capacity-and-disability-in-commonwealth-laws-alrc-report-124/3-national-decision-making-principles-2/will-preferences-and-rights-2/#:%7E:text=The%20'best%20interests'%20principle%20is,an%20equal%20basis%20with%20others">changed significantly</a> in recent years, shifting from a paternalistic approach to a more person-centred focus. Our <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35157838/">research</a> looks at the differences between these approaches and how subconscious bias can influence decision-making. <h2>Taking care</h2> These days, guardianship has <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/guardianship-and-administration-act-2019/005">moved</a> from deciding what’s deemed to be in the individual’s “best interests” to what best reflects their “will and preferences”. While <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/repealed-revoked/acts/guardianship-and-administration-act-1986/089">previously</a>, decisions were made for the person by their guardian or representative, new laws require representatives to enact the person’s “will and preferences”. That is, to make decisions with them. This is an important difference. The newer model gives the represented person more autonomy over personal, financial and other decisions. It recognises that even though a person may struggle with aspects of decision-making, they should not be excluded from decisions about how they live their life. This fundamental shift was <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313688/">earlier adopted</a> by the United Nations in the <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/crpd/pages/conventionrightspersonswithdisabilities.aspx">Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability</a>, to which Australia is a signatory. <h2>Challenging in real world situations</h2> The will and preferences <a href="https://supporteddecisionmaking.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/08/Realising-will-preferences-and-rights-reconciling-differences-on-best-practice-support-for-decision-making.pdf">framework</a> may sound simple, but it can be <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687599.2021.1941781">challenging in practice</a>, when concepts of empowerment are tricky to define and the will of someone with cognitive difficulties is hard to discern. Representatives <a href="https://supporteddecisionmaking.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/08/Realising-will-preferences-and-rights-reconciling-differences-on-best-practice-support-for-decision-making.pdf">bring their own biases, perceptions and lived experience</a> to the role of supporting another person to make decisions. This subjectivity is a natural and an inherent part of decision-making. The representative faces the challenge of setting aside their own opinion and, instead, stepping into the shoes of the represented person to give effect to what they want. A mismatch between the age, gender, ethnicity, religion or socioeconomic status of the representative and the represented person can exacerbate this challenge. An older able-bodied female, who is deeply religious and from a middle-to-high income background might find it difficult to represent a young man with a disability who is an atheist and from a working-class background. Now, imagine a scenario where the young man expresses a desire to go bungee-jumping or parachuting, despite previously showing a fear of heights. What’s his representative to do? Older people and women generally <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1366987032000105315?journalCode=rjrr20">have a lower appetite for risk</a>, as do those who have a faith and with a high socioeconomic status. A heightened perception of danger or a feeling the activity as frivolous, may lead to the representative reframing the situation with their subconscious bias. They may fail to respect the younger person’s will and preferences. Understanding what might shape a representative’s approach to decision-making is essential. Especially when decisions involve <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-you-want-to-be-resuscitated-this-is-what-you-should-think-about-before-deciding-105506">health</a> or <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-no-need-to-lock-older-people-into-nursing-homes-for-their-own-safety-73954">living arrangements</a>. <h2>3 things to look for when selecting a legal decision-making representative</h2> 1. Deep understanding An intimate understanding of your situation is crucial. An ideal representative is someone who actively listens and has a holistic view of your circumstances. This may come from discussions with you and your loved ones. The representative must be careful your views are not outweighed by those of family or friends who are often more vocal. They should have a deep sense of who you are as an individual. 2. Self-awareness The person you choose should be able to describe their personal views and values and understand how their perspective may influence their decisions. This is vital to mitigate the effects of pre-existing bias. They should be able to reflect on their own lived experiences, to understand how their history shapes their approach to decision-making. They should be able to assess whether what you would do is the same as what they think you should do, and why. 3. Effective documentation A record of conversations between the representative and represented person often helps to illuminate a person’s will and preferences. Writing or recording compels us to commit to an idea and explain what we mean. It helps to clarify what is intended far better than a one-time conversation that may be remembered differently by participants. Further research is needed to better match representatives with represented persons. Improved tools are needed to identify the role of bias in decision-making and evaluate whether the represented person’s wills and preferences are being respected.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/177631/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joseph-ibrahim-252671">Joseph Ibrahim</a>, Professor, Health Law and Ageing Research Unit, Department of Forensic Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amelia-grossi-1280226">Amelia Grossi</a>, , <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-choose-a-legal-decision-maker-as-you-get-older-3-things-to-consider-177631">original article</a>. </div>

Legal

$15 Kmart hack that'll transform your kitchen

Who doesn't love a cheap hack? For the past few months shoppers have been obsessed with a $15 bathroom item from Kmart, but not for its intended use. Shoppers have used the retailer’s 3 Tier Floor Caddy, which was originally designed to organise toiletries and save floor space, as a coffee station that's not only practical, but looks nice as well. One shopper took it to the next level, by using the $31 Flexi Storage Decorative Shelving from Bunnings and attaching it to two of the Kmart floor caddies to display plants alongside the DIY coffee station. She initially bought the shelves to install on her kitchen wall, but after finding out they weren't sturdy enough, it has been sitting in her home, until she saw the Kmart caddy hack. “I bought these floating shelves from Bunnings but after reading the reviews I found that people had said they are not great! And I was too lazy to take them back,” she wrote. “Then I saw this Kmart hack with the shower caddies and I’m very happy with the result.” Shoppers were impressed with the finished results, praising the "incredible" idea. “This looks excellent. Like you, we have a small kitchen with very limited shelving. You’ve inspired me to do the same,” one wrote. “Awesome, looks amazing,” another added, while a third commented, “That’s so clever, thanks for sharing”. However a few others didn't get the hype, with one saying: “I don’t get coffee stations. Not saying it’s bad. Just think it creates more clutter." Image: Facebook/ Kmart

Home & Garden

Woolworths under fire for dropping Australia Day merch

Woolworths has come under fire for their decision to stop selling Australia Day merchandise, as the January 26th public holiday continues to be a controversial topic. The supermarket giant shared that the reason for pulling Aussie decorations off the shelves was due to the “gradual decline” in demand for the merchandise over the years and “broader discussion” about the January 26th date and “what it means” to different parts of the community. “While Australian flags are sold within BIG W all year round, we don’t have any additional themed merchandise available to purchase in-store in our Supermarkets or BIG W ahead of Australia Day,” a spokesperson said. “We know many people like to use this day as a time to get together and we offer a huge variety of products to help customers mark the day as they choose.” Woolworths confirmed on Wednesday that no additional Australia Day-themed merch would be sold in its supermarkets or Big W stores for this year’s public holiday, with patriots around the country quickly hitting back. Leading the backlash was shadow treasurer Angus Taylor, with the right-wing politician saying the decision was "disappointing", adding he didn’t “understand what it is with this constant desire to divide us”. <div id="indie-campaign-DifJheZrCrms7j4pmefw-0" data-campaign-name="NCA FINANCE Cashed Up Newsletter OneClick SignUp" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="TSN-268" data-from="1645448400000" data-to="1711803600000"></div> “Australians are proud of their country for the most part and proud of our identity, and they want to see us as a united nation,” he told Channel Nine. He said corporations like Woolworths “need to get on with it”. Mr Taylor was backed up by the shadow minister for education Senator Sarah Henderson, who said the decision was “not good enough”. “If gouging customers on fruit and vegetable prices is not enough, Woolworths is now withdrawing from sale Australia Day merchandise,” she posted on X. “Australia Day is a day for celebrating our freedoms, our values, and our unique Australian way of life.” Despite the outrage, other major shops decided to follow in Woolworths' lead, with Kmart also deciding not to sell any merchandise for January 26th for the second year in a row. Coles have shared they will still be stocking a "small range" of Australia-themed products for those who wish to celebrate the public holiday. The decision to scrap the merch comes after the "Change The Date" movement has gained more traction over the years, with many arguing that Australia Day should be celebrated on a different day. January 26th celebrated the arrival of Captain Cook and the First Fleet into Sydney in 1788: a date which holds a lot of anguish for Indigenous Australians. Image credits: Getty Images / Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Secret Santa pays off everyone's Christmas shopping at local Kmart

The festive season is all about spreading joy and love and one generous Aussie has gone above and beyond to make people's day so much better. A Secret Santa at a Victoria Gardens Kmart in inner-city Melbourne, covered the cost of items on lay-by for all of the customers at the local store, making some of them cry tears of joy. "We are overwhelmed by our customer's generosity at this time of year, and want to thank them for their act of kindness towards other members of our community," a Kmart spokeswoman said. "We are proud to call them one of our customers." The customer, who chose to remain anonymous, said that they simply wanted to contribute to something positive this holiday season. The shopper reportedly told retail staff that they "just wanted to do something nice for the community." The exact amount of the donation remains undisclosed, but they revealed that most of the items were Christmas gifts. Image: Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Money & Banking

Kmart and Target join forces to create mega discount stores

Two of Australia’s favourite retail giants are about to get better in a huge merger creating a $10 billion discount giant. Wesfarmers is set to fold Target into Kmart with hopes that it will improve sales, provide better value for customers, and allow both stores to share backend technology. Ian Bailey the Managing Director of Kmart Group has said that there will be “no impact” to stores, and that the move was an "internal reorganisation". "With customers now demanding value more than ever, this new operating model will unlock a new level of scale and productivity across both brands, so we can deliver even greater value to our customers in the future," he said in a statement. "For store networks and 50,000 store team members – it's business as usual – as we continue to focus on providing the best value products to the thousands of customers in Australia and New Zealand who choose to shop at Kmart or Target every day." The move comes as the cost of living crisis is forcing more and more Aussies to be mindful of their spending habits. In a statement to the The Australian Financial Review, Bailey said that there would likely be “a handful of redundancies" but more jobs overall by next year. He added that one of the benefits of tighter integration and better technology is the ease in which the prices of products can be reduced. He said that the price drop on 1000 Kmart products this month was assisted by merchandise planning tools and a self-navigating inventory scanning robot. "Kmart and Target are both strong businesses. I don't see us doing this from a position of weakness. It's quite the opposite,” he told the publication. “I'd say we're strong, but I think there's an opportunity to really capitalise on this time and find ways to continue to deliver better value for customers." "What we found was that running two businesses it was very, very difficult to get the tech into Target, and to get those benefits. This is really why we decided to push the two businesses into one." Images: Getty

Money & Banking

The ultimate chicken pie recipe

Looking for something impressive (but quite easy) to make this weekend? Look no further than this scrumptious pie. Served with a salad, it’s a delicious meal for summer that will impress the entire family. Serves: Four to six Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes Ingredients: <ul> <li>4 tablespoons butter</li> <li>1/4 cup onion, chopped</li> <li>1/4 cup celery, chopped</li> <li>1/4 cup carrot, chopped</li> <li>1/4 teaspoon salt</li> <li>2 tablespoons flour</li> <li>2 cups milk</li> <li>1/2 cup thick cream</li> <li>1 cube chicken stock, dissolved in hot water</li> <li>2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped</li> <li>1/2 cup frozen peas</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme plus more for garnish if desired</li> <li>Frozen shortcrust pastry</li> <li>Fozen puff pastry</li> <li>1 egg</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Allow puff pastry to thaw at room temperature and then gently unfold.</li> <li>In a large pot, melt butter over medium high heat.</li> <li>Add onion, celery, carrot, and salt and sauté until onions are translucent and vegetables start to get tender.</li> <li>Sprinkle flour over vegetables and cook for one to two minutes.</li> <li>Gradually whisk in milk, cream and chicken stock, and bring to a slow boil.</li> <li>Simmer gently over medium heat until sauce begins to thicken (should take about five minutes).</li> <li>Turn heat to low, and add chicken, peas and thyme.</li> <li>Preheat oven to 220.</li> <li>Line the base and side of a pie dish with the shortcrust pastry. Trim the edge. Line with baking paper and fill with rice or dried beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the paper, rice or dried beans and bake for a further 8 minutes, or until pastry is lightly golden. Remove from oven and let cool a little.</li> <li>Pour chicken mixture into a baking dish.</li> <li>Place the puff pastry over the top to enclose the filling. Use a small, sharp knife to trim the edge.</li> <li>Using a pastry brush, brush egg onto the top of the puff pastry.</li> <li>Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The puff pastry will be a deep golden brown colour.</li> <li>Cool for 5 minutes before serving.</li> </ol> Image credit: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

“Grandma meant Elmo”: Cake-maker reveals hilarious baking blunder

An American baker has left the internet in stitches after misreading her customer’s custom cake request, instead delivering a baking blunder for the Sesame Street history books. In a video posted to her TikTok account, Brianna Romero - who is known professionally as Brinni Cakes - confessed her mistake to the world, recounting the story of how a recent order from a grandmother had led her to the creation of her new friend ‘Emo Elmo’. “So my worst nightmare happened,” she said, with audio playing over a timelapse of Brianne constructing another cake. “Last week a lady DMed me and asked me if I could make her an emo cake, and I was thinking ‘yes, of course, I love emo and I love goth, and I know I’ve been perfecting my black frosting so I’m ready for this’.” Brianna went on to explain that she’d gotten all of her customer’s information, and set to work. However, an hour before she was set to deliver the cake, she decided to offer the woman a number candle - an offer that was soon accepted. “She said ‘yes, the cake is for my granddaughter and she’s turning four’”, Brianna explained in the clip. “And I thought that that was a little bit weird, ‘cause I don’t know an emo four year old.” After trying to understand the weird request, Brianna figured that the little girl must just be a fan of something like Netflix’s Wednesday series. Unfortunately, this was not the case. “Something felt wrong,” she noted, before describing how she’d reach out again to ask what the theme of the party was, only to find out it was Sesame Street. “So my heart sinks a little bit because this is now making sense to me,” she said. It was then that Brianna returned to the original exchange between herself and her customer, and had her worst fears confirmed. “I misread emo,” Brianna admitted, “and it said an Elmo cake.” Luckily, Brianna was a quick thinker in her time of stress and rushed out to find an Elmo topper for her cake, before offering the cake for free. <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610.266px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7212109376436391210&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40brinnicakes%2Fvideo%2F7212109376436391210&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fe19d4562cc04495c8778154678f1d382_1679200086%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-useast5-i-0068-tx%2F1ad8d307d5f74948880bf2e0f91228f3.image%3Fx-expires%3D1683669600%26x-signature%3DCxdjPe36YRrx4SrRRwvAPwRsevY%253D&key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> Brianna’s audience were obsessed with her tale, and the video shot to viral heights, with over 11.7 million views to its name. “As soon as you revealed it was for a 4yr old I was like ‘oh no, grandma meant Elmo’,” one follower wrote. “Praying it’s Elmo with a side bang,” said another. Her misfortune drew in over a thousand comments, but there was a recurring thought that stood out among the chorus, and that was a request to see the baked blunder. And while Brianna admitted in an update that she hadn’t had the time to snap pictures on the day of delivery, she did her best with her follow-up video, sharing photos of cakes that looked “almost exactly” like her own, to the delight of her worldwide audience. “This is so funny,” someone said. “Elmo with a side bang has me in tears.” Meanwhile, another commenter wanted to know what the recipients had thought about their unique goods. “She tried to pay still but I told her everything that happened and we just laughed it off,” Brianna said. “It was just for a small family party anyway.” Images: TikTok

Food & Wine

“Very questionable”: Kmart mocked after customer's "ridiculous" delivery

A woman has taken to Facebook to mock Kmart over her recent delivery. The shopper shared on Facebook she had ordered a 20mm combination padlock from Kmart and was caught by surprise when it was delivered to her home on February 13. The woman had received a large cardboard box, and when she opened it, it was filled to the brim with plastic wrap to protect the item. However, once she dug out the plastic, she saw a small padlock at the bottom of the unnecessarily large box. “My delivery arrived today,” the woman said on Facebook. Other Kmart fans were shocked by the large box for such a small item, with many users deeming it “ridiculous.” “Omg! Seriously,” a user commented. "Ridiculous honestly yet a pair of jeans get scrunched up into a bag for delivery," another added. "It's absolutely rubbish that they waste like that," a third chimed in. Another comment read, ”How ironic ... how easy is it to break this lock that it needs to be so protected when shipped? Would you need it if it is so fragile? Very questionable Kmart ... What a waste,” Many other users joined in on the teasing, claiming they also received small items delivered in unnecessarily large boxes. "This happened to us recently with a car air freshener," one shopper said. "Yeah they keep sending me one item in a stupidly big box. I’d be much more appreciative of multiple items jammed into a big box to stop wastage or happy to wait for all items to be ready together," another claimed. "I thought my three bowls packed like this was bad!" another commented. Back in May 2021, another Kmart shopper complained that she received a small book in a “huge box.” Although some said it was “terrible”, other users claimed the size of the box shouldn’t matter because it’s recyclable. A Kmart spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle that the complaints have been forwarded to Kmart’s online team, and they will reassess how they manage and replenish packaging materials. "Regrettably, in this instance, it appears the team member who has packed this order did not have available or use the most appropriately sized packaging components," the spokesperson said. "While our team are trained and aim to minimise packaging use and waste, it is likely that they did not have access to appropriately sized packaging options so used what was available in an effort to pack and dispatch this order as quickly as possible." Image credit: Facebook

Food & Wine

Main bomb maker of 2002 Bali bombings released early

Umar Patek, a convicted terrorist and the main bomb maker in the 2002 Bali bombings, has been released from jail. Patek, a leading member of the al Qaida-linked network Jemaah Islamiyah, helped build the car bomb that killed more than 200 people, including two Kiwis and 88 Australians, at two nightclubs in Kuta Beach in 2002. Patek served just over half of his original 20-year sentence and was released from jail after Indonesian authorities claimed that he was successfully reformed. "The special requirements that have been met by Umar Patek are that he has participated in the de-radicalisation coaching program," Ministry of Law and Human Rights spokesperson Rika Aprianti said. Patek will be required to report to the parole office once a week, before it becomes once a month. He is required to stay on parole until 2030, but his freedom can be revoked if he fails to report to the parole office or breaks the law. During his jail stint, Patek received a total of 33 months of sentence reduction with the most recent one on August 17, Indonesia's Independence Day. This saw Patek given a five-month reduction of his sentence after fulfilling the parole requirement of serving two-thirds of his current sentence At the time of the reduced sentence, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government will look at making "diplomatic representations" to oppose Patek’s release. "I feel a great deal of common distress, along with all Australians, at this time," Albanese said. "We had been advised by the Indonesian government of this further reduction. "This will cause further distress to Australians who were the families of victims of the Bali bombings." Image: Nine News

Legal

Classic Apple pie

There’s nothing quite like a warm slice of apple pie. Served with ice cream. Or cream. Or custard. Or all three, if you’re feeling especially naughty. This recipe combines homemade pastry with an irresistible filling for a classic dessert that won’t last long in your fridge. Ingredients: Pastry <ul> <li>1 ¾ cup plain flour</li> <li>½ cup self-raising flour</li> <li>⅓ cup caster sugar</li> <li>Salt</li> <li>2 eggs</li> <li>185g unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes</li> <li>1 tablespoon milk</li> <li>1 tablespoon caster</li> <li>1 tablespoon chilled water</li> </ul> Filling <ul> <li>1.1kg apples (we like to use a mixture of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious), peeled, cored, sliced about ½ cm thick</li> <li>¼ cup granulated sugar</li> <li>¼ cup light brown sugar</li> <li>1 tablespoon lemon juice</li> <li>1 teaspoon cinnamon</li> <li>¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg</li> <li>¼ teaspoon salt</li> <li>2 tablespoons unsalted butter</li> <li>1 ½ tablespoons corn flour</li> </ul>

Food & Wine

Clever Bunnings and Kmart scams to be wary of

Aussies have once again become targets to scammers offering them a job at Bunnings or Kmart that pays extremely well. Scammers are taking to Facebook targetting desperate job seekers asking for their personal details via WhatsApp. The ad is offering $48 and $75 for part-time or full-time work and attempts to appeal to those who have no experience, same day pay, and the opportunity to complete training on the phone. Bunnings confirmed that they are aware of the scam and are working on taking it down, advising job seekers to be wary. “One of the latest scams is a Facebook post asking for your personal details via WhatsApp to apply for a job with us,’ the retailer said. “Another one is an email with an offer to win a Bunnings gift card if you click a link. We place a lot of time and effort into recruiting our amazing team, and we’re in no way associated with this activity. “We also don’t ask for personal information or banking details in unsolicited communications.” Kmart also confirmed they are aware of the scam and are warning customers to not fall for it, instead to apply on the website. The ACCC’s Scamwatch explained that the ads are some of the easiest ways for scammers to steal money. “If you provide your bank account details, the scammer may use them to steal your money or commit other fraudulent activities,” their website reads. “Be suspicious of unsolicited ‘work from home’ opportunities or job offers, particularly those that offer a ‘guaranteed income’ or require you to pay an upfront fee.” Image: Facebook

Legal

Aussie mum's thrifty Kmart renovation hack

Home décor on a budget has become the latest phenomenon this past year, with creative women showing off their inspiring rooms that look a lot more expensive than they actually are. The most recent is a mother who has stunned thousands after completely transforming her home for less than $20,000. Stay-at-home mum Rebecca Townsend proudly shares photos of her creations through her Instagram account and says that except for the fireplace and air conditioning system, everything else is the result of her and her husband’s hard work. She managed to find affordable duplicates of designer pieces in order to create a “slice of heaven” on a budget. “With help from family and a lot of hard work, we’ve managed to not have one trade come through the house, we’re pretty proud of that,” she told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6251367/Mother-transforms-home-using-Kmart-versions-designer-decor.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>. “We repurposed and recycled things to save on costs so we can splash out on big ticket items such as the mirror splash back and heater.” The kitchen was torn down, including the surrounding four walls, only a few days after they moved into their new home. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BblAO_EjBSR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BblAO_EjBSR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rebecca Townsend (@champagne_dreaming_on_budget)</a> </div> </blockquote> Certain clock designs can put shoppers back hundreds of dollars, but thanks to Ms Townsend's savvy skills, she managed to find a replica for $19, which features a wooden backing to give a more rustic appearance. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl9Bh_7nLbQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl9Bh_7nLbQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Early morning cuddles in bed with Mr.2 ..and every.single.teddy he owns 🤦‍♀️ I’ve got a corner of the mattress, but I wouldn’t have it any other way 🤷‍♀️✨🌟 Enjoy your day instafam 😚 . . . Tap for sources🌟✨ . . . #earlymorninghangs #styling #loungeroominspo #howihome #myfabhome #mydomaine #apartmenttherapy #homeinspo #interior123 #plantmom #planteriordesign #plantsofinstagram #itsajungleinhere #crazyplantlady #rustic #interiormilk #styleitdark #industrialdesign #mybohotribe #chickswithplants #myhomevibe #boholocs #bohemian #thehecticeclectic #kmartstyling #styleonadime #showmeyourstyled #hyggehome #actualinstagramhomes #cornerofmyhome</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" href="https://www.instagram.com/champagne_dreaming_on_budget/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Rebecca Townsend</a> (@champagne_dreaming_on_budget) on Aug 1, 2018 at 3:44pm PDT </div> </blockquote> To further cut down on costs, Ms Townsend purchased many items second-hand, which resulted in huge savings. In the past, the mother-of-one shared her and her husband’s work after they decorated their bathroom using items from Kmart, ALDI and eBay, totalling to $800. “You don’t need to spend a lot these days to get the designer look, you just need to be savvy, wait for the specials and shop around,” she said. “The bathroom is the only room we didn’t rip apart the moment we moved in, we just cleverly designed it on a budget with items mostly from Kmart to make it more designer.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn2gJjiHpMS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn2gJjiHpMS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YES, I’m back! Well, I’m back ..yes, I’m BACK IN BLACK!!! . . . Black is the new black guysss and I’m all over it like a bee on a flower 🐝 (there’s a spring reference for you there 😉) . . . The bathroom is the only room in the house we didn’t completely gut the moment we walked in the door from getting the keys, we’ve just cleverly decorated it to make it ✨POP✨on a very tight budget of $800! This completely decked the room out from top to bottom including swapping all the hardware out for the more modern black look, you just need to be savvy and look for the bargains (don’t be afraid to be stingy 😜) and get your hands dirty with some #diy the money you save on the little things allows you to splash out on the bigger ticket items! . . . ✨I’ll go into more detail in my stories 🙏 ✨ . . . #diystories #blackonblack #backinblack #bathroomdecor #bathroom #bathroominspo #bathroomremodel #luxuryinteriorsonabudget #cornerofmyhome #newinteriorsontheblock #actualinstagramhomes #apartmenttherapy #interior123 #interior_design #designsponge #interiormilk #howihome #homeinspo #industrialdesign #kmartstyling #kmartaus #styleitdark #styleonadime #deliciousdarkdecor #interiorboom #myhomevibe #myhometrend #dailydecordetail #livefabulousandfearless</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" href="https://www.instagram.com/champagne_dreaming_on_budget/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Rebecca Townsend</a> (@champagne_dreaming_on_budget) on Sep 17, 2018 at 8:00pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Ms Townsend hopes that her décor-on-a-budget will help inspire other people to step out of their comfort zone. Her and her husband worked together on this home project during the time their baby was on home oxygen and was in and out of hospital. “After our son was born at 23 weeks gestation and spent 125 days in hospital, we bought this house when he was only seven months old and on home oxygen, but it didn’t deter us from creating a wonderful home for him to grow up and into,” she said. “Whatever challenges you may face, don’t put renovating off if it will provide you with happiness, if we can do it on a budget through all our ups and downs, you can too.”

Home Hints & Tips

Shepherd’s pie with sweet potato topping

Not only is this dish the perfect comfort food for a chilly evening, but it’s also a meal with an interesting history. Made to use up any leftover meat, Shepard’s pie dates back to the 1790s. When it is made with beef it's called cottage pie and if it is made with lamb, then it's shepherd's pie. The sweet potato really spices this recipe up a bit to give it some kiwi flavour. Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 tbsp. butter, olive or coconut oil</li> <li>1 brown onion, finely chopped</li> <li>2 medium carrots, medium diced</li> <li>2 celery sticks, medium diced</li> <li>450g lamb mince</li> <li>1 ½ (375ml) cups beef stock</li> <li>1 tbsps. Worcestershire sauce</li> <li>40g tomato paste</li> <li>2 large sweet potatoes, peel and cut to quarters</li> <li>2 more tbsps. of butter</li> <li>Dash of cream or full fat milk</li> <li>½ cup mozzarella cheese grated</li> <li>¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated</li> <li>Freshly ground salt and pepper</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 180°C for a fan forced oven.</li> <li>Heat butter in a large pan and on a medium heat add onions, carrot and celery.</li> <li>Cook stirring for 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened.</li> <li>Add lamb and cook until browned, for about 5-8 minutes, squashing any lumps with a fork.</li> <li>Add beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste.</li> <li>Season with salt and pepper.</li> <li>Reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally and cook for 30 - 40 minutes or until sauce thickens.</li> <li>When meat sauce has thickened, spoon into an oven proof dish and spread with mashed sweet potatoes.</li> <li>Sprinkle with the two cheeses.</li> <li>Bake 20 minutes or until the top is golden and juices are bubbling through.</li> <li>Serve with some simple steamed broccoli.</li> </ol> Image: Getty

Food & Wine

Shepherd’s pie

For a hearty meal that is sure to satisfy, this family favourite Shepherd’s pie will be a hit with young and old alike. Serves: 4 Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 tablespoon olive oil</li> <li>1 brown onion, diced</li> <li>2 carrot, finely diced</li> <li>500g beef mince</li> <li>2 tablespoon tomato paste</li> <li>400g can peeled tomatoes</li> <li>1 cup beef stock</li> <li>1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce</li> <li>1 teaspoon mixed herbs</li> <li>750g potatoes, washed, peeled and chopped</li> <li>¼ cup milk</li> <li>50g butter</li> <li>Salt and pepper, to season</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat the oven to 180°C. Heat olive oil in a frying pan and cook onion and carrots for 5 minute or until softened. Add mince and cook for three minutes or until browned.</li> <li>Season with salt and pepper. Stir through tomato paste, tomatoes, stock, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs. Cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes. Remove lid and cook for a further 10 minutes.</li> <li>Meanwhile, add potatoes in saucepan of salted water. Boil and reduce to simmer. Cook until tender. Drain well and mash with butter and milk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.</li> <li>Spread beef mixture evenly in an ovenproof baking dish. Spoon potatoes into large pastry bag fitted with star tip. Pipe rosettes over beef mixture. Place in oven and cook for 30 minutes or until topping is browned. </li> </ol> Image: Getty

Food & Wine

News of Bali bomb-maker's sentence cut short sparks fury

The bomb-maker behind the devastating 2002 Bali bombings has been released early from Indonesian prison only days after his sentence was reduced by a further five months. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared this decision will add trauma to the victims’ families and says his diplomats are lobbying the Indonesian government regarding the reduction. This decision means that Umar Patek, the man who made the explosives that killed 200 people, including 88 Aussies in 2002, will have served only half of his original 20-year sentence. Indonesian authorities insist he has been ‘deradicalised’ but Mr Abanese has described him as ‘abhorrent’. The sentence had already been reduced by 18 months on a previous occasion, meaning his total reduction is now one year and 11 months. He would have been eligible for parole in January 2023 after serving two thirds of his sentence. Patek admitted making the suicide vests that went off at Sari Club and Paddy's Pub in Kuta but claimed he did not know what they would be used for. After nine years on the run in the Philippines and Pakistan, he was caught in 2011 and spared the death sentence after co-operating with police and apologising to victims' families. This coming October marks the 20th anniversary of the bombings. Images: Australian National Museum / Getty

Legal

"They used to be better": Nostalgic Kmart pic sparks huge debate

A teenage history buff has sent Aussie shoppers on a trip down memory lane after sharing a throwback photo of a Kmart store in 1995. Jimmy Borg, a prolific contributor to the Facebook group Old Shops of Australia, downloaded the image from an annual report in the Coles Myer national archives as part of personal research he was undertaking. “I’m passionate about history and seeing how things were in the past,” he said. The image shows the entrance of a Kmart store, with a caption underneath revealing that three new stores had opened across Australia at the time. “New stores opened in Indooroopilly (Queensland), Parramatta (New South Wales) and Chadstone (Victoria), together with an additional 15 refurbished stores,” the caption reads. The 19-year-old shared the photo to the group earlier this week, describing it as “the Kmart we all remember, the Kmart we’ll never see again”. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/kmart127.png" alt="" width="671" height="682" /> Jimmy Borg sparked a debate about the controversial layout of Kmart stores when he shared a throwback photo of a Kmart in days gone by. Image: Facebook Speaking to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/kmart-customers-rage-over-modern-checkouts-after-spotting-detail-in-27-year-old-photo-001746584.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a>, Borg said he wasn’t a fan of the “new format” at Kmart stores, including the location of registers in the middle of the store, and preferred the Kmart layout pictured in the historical image. “This was the Kmart I grew up with and the one I remember where you could buy garden plants and parts for my bikes and scooters,” he said. “I remember the cool Kmart where you could buy consoles, DVDs, CDs, TVs before they changed.” He isn’t alone in his frustrations either, adding that many people who saw his post had “strong” nostalgia for Kmart as it was. Many shoppers shared their particular dislike of the new placement of checkouts, with some noting it made for some uncomfortable interactions with staff. "I still can not get over the ridiculous centre store payment hub... baffles me every time I shop there! What genius thought of that?” one person wrote. “People pay, get their things and themselves organised to leave and are then stopped by security for proof of purchase,” another said. “I've never been back since they started this and their discrimination!" The image also prompted some to reminisce on the things they loved about previous iterations of Kmart, with one man recalling how its gardening section was filled with people on a Saturday morning and others pointing out surprising products that used to be sold there, including guns and cigarettes. "Back in the 1970s they had everything including a restaurant," one person shared. "I loved the cafeteria in our local Kmart, kids loved it in school holidays as we went often for lunch, good times that will never be seen again, so sad,"another added. Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

Bunnings and Kmart investigated for use of potentially "unethical" tech

Some of Australia’s biggest retailers are being investigated for potentially invading customer privacy with facial recognition technology. Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys have been found to be using facial recognition technology on unsuspecting customers. CHOICE has referred the retailers to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to investigate potential breaches of the Privacy Act. Facial recognition analyses images from video cameras to capture each person’s unique facial features, known as a faceprint. “The use of facial recognition by Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys is a completely inappropriate and unnecessary use of the technology,” CHOICE consumer data advocate Kate Bower said. “To make matters worse, we found 76% of Australians aren’t aware that retailers are capturing their unique facial features in this way.” Ms Bower slammed the use of the technology which she said is unethical and affects consumer’s trust. “Using facial recognition technology in this way is similar to Kmart, Bunnings or The Good Guys collecting your fingerprints or DNA every time you shop,” she went on. “Businesses using invasive technologies to capture their customers’ sensitive biometric information is unethical and is a sure way to erode consumer trust.” After conducting a survey, CHOICE found that four in five respondents agreed that retailers must inform consumers about the use of facial recognition. Four in five people had concerns about how the biometric data was stored, and three in four respondents were concerned that retailers would use the data to create customer profiles for marketing or profit purposes. “CHOICE observed that Kmart and Bunnings display small signs at the entrance of stores where the technology is in use. However, discreet signage and online privacy policies are not nearly enough to adequately inform shoppers that this controversial technology is in use,” Ms Bower said. “The technology is capturing highly personal data from customers, including infants and children. “CHOICE is concerned that Australian businesses are using facial recognition technology on consumers before Australians have had their say on its use in our community. “With the government currently undergoing a review of the Privacy Act, now is the perfect time to strengthen measures around the capture and use of consumer data, including biometric data.” Images: Shutterstock/Twitter

Technology

What family violence survivors want policy makers to know

For a long time, policy makers and legislators seeking to address the problem of <a href="https://www.anrows.org.au/research-areas/statistics-prevalence-and-community-attitudes/">domestic and family violence</a> have sought higher penalties and <a href="https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/documents/Discussion-Paper-coercive-control.pdf">tougher laws</a>. But when it comes to finding practical solutions to this complex problem, the voices of those with lived experience of the system have not always been heard. A recent <a href="https://www.rightsnetworksa.com/_files/ugd/8cf77c_bcc168e3171a46c48efd0aac455df0b0.pdf">study</a> I coauthored with Suryawan Rian Yohanesh from <a href="https://www.unitingcommunities.org/">Uniting Communities</a> (an NGO focused on overcoming disadvantage) involved interviews with survivors of domestic and family violence about what changes they’d like to see. Our interviewees told us they want changes giving them control over legal processes like <a href="https://www.police.sa.gov.au/your-safety/intervention-orders">intervention orders</a> (sometimes called “Apprehended Violence Orders” or AVOs), which are legal orders designed to stop perpetrators of violence or abuse from being near or interacting with their partners or children. Currently, if you want to obtain one of these orders, the police and prosecutor often lead the process. They generally decide whether it goes to court, what evidence is collected or used and what parameters that order has (such as whether the perpetrator can collect kids from school or access firearms). The abuse survivor can feel shut out of these decision-making processes. <h2>Getting the first response right</h2> Survivors of violence, and those working to support survivors, want programs focused on getting the first response right every time. As one service provider said: <blockquote> Being told that your abuse is ‘not serious enough’ or there is no abuse identified is one of the most damaging things that can happen. It can impact the relationship of trust going forward. It is therefore critical first responders are adequately trained in trauma-informed care and practice, and have training in best practice responses to domestic violence, so that the victims can also be referred to suitable support services. </blockquote> If that first response (by police, for example) is dismissive or re-traumatising, it can leave survivors vulnerable to ongoing violence and harm, and distrustful of the legal system. As one survivor said: <blockquote> I didn’t feel like I was taken seriously or believed. [I was] made to feel like I was being judged as hysterical, ridiculous and time wasting. This made me feel unsafe to approach police again which was fairly scary, because they were the place I was supposed to be able to count on to help, and I wasn’t sure where else I could go. </blockquote> This type of response can be devastating for women and families already experiencing disadvantage or isolation, including <a href="https://www.anrows.org.au/project/improving-family-violence-legal-and-support-services-for-indigenous-women/">First Nations women</a>, culturally and linguistically diverse women, <a href="https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/women-disability-and-violence-barriers-to-accessing-justice-final-report/read/">women with disabilities</a> and <a href="https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/domestic-and-family-violence-regional-rural-and-remote-communities">women living in regional areas</a>. Many of these groups already face myriad practical barriers when it comes to reporting violence. A mishandled first response can reinforce <a href="https://theconversation.com/narcissism-and-the-various-ways-it-can-lead-to-domestically-abusive-relationships-116909">narcissistic or controlling behaviour</a> by perpetrators, who use these experiences as evidence of their own power. To say, “See, I told you nobody would believe you.” One interviewee said: <blockquote> The system that is being built to protect women from this type of abuse can be turned into a weapon in the hands of those men that are seeking to perpetuate control against their partner or their family. </blockquote> Survivors said they want greater focus on perpetrator accountability by exposing the true impact of the violence on the lives of others, not just the aspects of the behaviour leading to criminal offences or breaches of the law. This means engaging professionals to help the survivor confront the perpetrator with the broader health, financial and social impacts of their behaviour. <blockquote> With this support team, the victim survivor could be encouraged to develop a strong recorded, accumulative evidence case. And these other professionals could be empowered to confront the defendant about the harm that he is causing to his partner, and in many cases also to his children. </blockquote> These practices should be <a href="https://www.anrows.org.au/project/improving-family-violence-legal-and-support-services-for-indigenous-women/">informed by cultural knowledge</a> and supported by community leaders who can help improve awareness of the rights of women. The support team could also help identify pathways for safe repair of relationships, social connection and financial security. <h2>Longer term support</h2> Survivors also need longer term support packages, including opportunities to <a href="https://www.monash.edu/arts/gender-and-family-violence/study/scholarship-opportunity-graduate-certificate-of-family-violence-prevention#:%7E:text=For%20the%20first%20time%2C%20the,for%20family%20violence%20victim%2Dsurvivors.&text=Timeframe%3A%20For%20successful%20scholarship%20candidates,be%20completed%20by%20October%202022.">access tertiary education or training</a> and specialist legal and financial services. As one participant told us: <blockquote> I’d really like to see some kind of focal point, resources for [domestic violence] survivors. To support people to rebuild their lives. Getting the universities and tertiary institutions to help with retraining and teaching, employment. Somewhere where people can break back in. Including social life, as well as financial security and employment. </blockquote> Those with lived experience of domestic and family violence want perpetrators to be held to account – not just in the courtroom, but in their workplaces and their social networks. They want to be put at the centre of the system, and be recognised as the powerful agents for change they are. <blockquote> No legislation is good enough until people with lived experience have been consulted […] All these people with lived experience are not being heard. They are the ones that have the knowledge. Every time you don’t go to the coal face you miss the point. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/all-these-people-with-lived-experience-are-not-being-heard-what-family-violence-survivors-want-policy-makers-to-know-180872" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation.</a> Image: Shutterstock </blockquote>

Legal

Scam alert: Kmart customers targeted in bargain hunting Facebook groups

Kmart customers have been warned about a new scam circulating in bargain hunting Facebook groups. They have been warned to watch for advertisements offering Nintendo Switches for $2.95. The fake Facebook post has been circulating in parents' groups online and has already fooled a number of Aussies into handing their card details over. The post includes a photograph showing a doctored Kmart price tag displaying that the gaming device has been reduced from $379.86 to $2.95. It also claims that the lower price point is due to a contract dispute between Kmart and Nintendo. Not only is this is factually incorrect, but it is one of the first signs something is obviously fake, as it is too-good-to-be-true. “Kmart broke its contract with Nintendo and is giving away a Nintendo Switch game console to every Australian for $2.95,” the caption on the scam post reads. One shopper claimed her friend had lost $700 after falling for the scam, as the fraudsters took her bank details and withdrew money. “BEWARE. Another scam page going around, also there is a Dyson one,” she said. “Do not fall for it. Friend did and has lost around $700. They just keep taking from your bank. Can't stop it unless you email them and threaten with lawyers.” “Unfortunately I was one of those people who thought it was real,” another woman said. Some believe the advertisement is so fake it's the consumers fault that they fell for it in the first place. “Phishing messages are designed to look genuine, and often copy the format used by the organisation the scammer is pretending to represent, including their branding and logo,” ACCC's Scamwatch website said. Image: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Adding space to your dishwasher just got easier

Looking for more space in your dishwasher? Perhaps you’ve even considered upgrading – but before you do, take a moment to consider this genius solution one eager Kmart shopper has come up with – using only a $10 item. Posting in the Kmart Home Decor & Hacks Australia Facebook group, the woman revealed she had purchased the store’s Over Sink Dish Drying Rack, which is intended to sit over your sink to dry plates and utensils, as well as defrost food. “Got this for my sink, however, it also works great as an extra rack for the large utensils in the dishwasher,” the shopper wrote, also sharing a photo of the drying rack set up in her dishwasher. A word of warning: Kmart doesn’t explicitly state that their drying rack is dishwasher-safe, meaning there’s an off chance your particular dishwasher model may not like it. The dishwasher hack comes as Kmart released its own range of budget white goods online last month. “The new white goods range was seen as a gap in the market for us to service in this way and provide our customers with everything they need at the lowest prices,” a Kmart spokesperson told news.com.au. Image: Facebook / Kmart hacks group

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