A Sydney mother describes how she and her children were forced to flee on foot through the bush as a fast-moving bushfire closed in on the wooden holiday house they were renting.

Firefighters in SA are now contending with a grassfire near Rapid Bay, after more than 120 fires broke out on Monday burning nearly 40,000 hectares.

More than half of Australian nursing homes are understaffed, with residents having less access to qualified nurses than ever before, the aged care royal commission hears.

A 70-year-old man is remanded in custody over a string of alleged child abuse offences uncovered in a joint investigation between NSW Police, Northern Territory Police and the Australian Federal Police.

University of Melbourne researchers have found rates of self-harm among asylum seekers as high as 260 per 1,000 people on Nauru, but say unreported rates are unknown and they expect the real figures to be much higher.

Britain's High Commissioner to Australia defends Sir Kim Darroch, who resigned as British ambassador to the United States after criticisms he made about Donald Trump were leaked.

David Gallop hasn't distinguished himself during his tenure as FFA chief executive, but after announcing his upcoming resignation he cannot be blamed for all the ills of Australian football, writes Richard Hinds.

Humans and dogs have lived together for thousands of years, but we may be forgetting how to co-exist peacefully, writes Paul McGreevy.

The Titans and Sea Eagles lock horns at Robina. Later, the Knights host the Broncos and the Eels take on the Raiders. Follow all the live scores, stats and commentary.

The Eagles visit the Hawks to kick off AFL Saturday, then the Swans host the Suns, the Pies and North meet and finally Port Adelaide clashes with the Bulldogs in Adelaide. Follow all the stats, scores and commentary.

In the 1960s and 70s, Port Kembla was booming, but the slowdown of the steel industry changed things. Now a colourful cast of characters — migrants, sex workers and creatives — are bringing new life to the area.

The Matildas made their earliest departure at a Women's World Cup in 16 years and FFA's sacking of Alen Stajcic is being cited as the main reason for the failed campaign in France.

There is overwhelming support for banning phones from classrooms but there are many reasons to be cautious about it. Previous experience suggests a blanket ban might introduce more problems than it hopes to solve, writes Neil Selwyn.

Reporters can be abrasive characters and are not above the law, but undermining fearless, independent reporting also damages our healthy democracy, writes Craig McMurtrie.

Melbourne hosts top-eight side Fremantle at the MCG to kick off Saturday's AFL action before St Kilda takes on Brisbane, and Geelong travel to Adelaide to take on the Power. Follow all the stats, scores and commentary.

Australia's Hannah Green is playing some extraordinary golf to be three shots clear at halfway in the Women's PGA Championship in Minnesota.

The number of displaced people worldwide hits a record high of 70.8 million, with developing nations bearing the brunt of an influx of refugees fleeing conflict and political oppression, according to a UN report released for Refugee Week.

After a week of epic footballing comebacks, Sydney FC serves up a Big Blue belting, smashing Melbourne Victory 6-1 to march into the A-League grand final against Perth Glory.

Israel Folau tells members of his church he is worrying about finances "for the first time" in over a decade as a panel decides the future of his rugby career after controversial social media posts.

Liberal frontbenchers Melissa Price and Peter Dutton join the federal Coalition campaign effort in the battleground of Melbourne as Scott Morrison takes his pitch to voters.