Swedish-born songwriter Jonas Myrin reflects on his own full circle moment as Delta Goodrem’s Eurovision entry Eclipse reached the world stage.

In May last year Jonas was invited by Delta to collaborate on what she hoped would become her Eurovision entry. Jonas presented the “seed of the idea” for Eclipse, and together with songwriters Michael Fatkin and Ferras completed the successful submission. When it was sung on the Eurovision stage for the first time during the semifinals, Jonas had a surreal moment of gratefulness for what God had done.

“I have to pinch myself and say to my 9-year-old self, ‘Look what God can do’,” Jonas said.

“Look what happened, when you have a dream in your heart and when you stay true to that dream and don’t compromise on the way and just follow that heart.

“Standing in the arena and seeing 15,000 people sing along to every word of this song that started as a small idea made me so grateful.”

With Delta marking our 11th entry into Eurovision, Australia are relative newcomers to the competition but in Europe the event isn’t just a song contest – it’s part of the “cultural history”.

“Growing up in a small town in Sweden I remember watching [Swedish entry] Carola Häggvist win in 1991 and feeling the magnitude of what the stage represented for us back then,” Jonas said.

“It was this global stage and Sweden got to win.

“I was just a little kid, but it made such a big impact on me.”

During this year’s contest Jonas has become an “honourary Australian”, seeing countless messages of support pour in for Delta and “carrying the vision” of what they wanted to achieve with Eclipse.

“I wanted to reflect the Eurovision Song Contest’s message about being united by music, and alignment between creation and alignment in life,” Jonas shared.

“Alignment in creation is the eclipse when the sun and moon – two opposite things – meet in this divine, miraculous moment.

“To represent Australia and a message of hope, with a song of hope, in these times is such a privilege as co-writer.”

Delta has spoken often about how former Eurovision entrants Olivia Newton-John (her mentor) and Celine Dion inspired her on her journey to Vienna, and Jonas knows she did them proud.

“Watching her this week has just been amazing,” Jonas said.

“Delta’s mission has always been to touch people through her music, [and] she has such an ease and flow and a grace about her.

“In that third chorus [of Eclipse], she’s being elevated into the sky, and she just does it so effortlessly, like she can just make anything come alive.”

After Eurovision the focus now turns to the November release of Delta’s next album Pure, on which Jonas is also a collaborator.

“Delta is entering an incredibly powerful creative season,” Jonas said.

“Pure has some really beautiful songs that come from really personal and emotional places from all of us who’ve been part of this process.

“Delta poured her own heart into this album, [and] what I love so much working with her is that she’s not just an amazing singer and performer, but she’s a great musician.

“Collaborating with her – not just as a singer, but as a writer and musician – has been such a joy.”

Jonas’ message to the fans that supported Delta through Eurovision is simple: thank you.

“We are overwhelmed by the love, by the support, by all the messages,” Jonas said.

“Thank you to the Hope listeners for also being part of this journey, for your prayers, for your encouragement and for your lovely messages on Instagram and social media.

“It’s been so, so fun to do this journey together with Australia.”

Young Jonas wouldn’t believe it.

“That’s probably been the most incredible gift of this Eurovision adventure, for young Jonas in Sweden, seeing that one day he would be standing on the other side [of the stage] and have a song that’s done so well.

“It’s such an amazing privilege.”

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.

Feature image: Supplied

More than a year on, Australia’s first Anti-Racism National Framework is still waiting for a federal response. So what happens now?

Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giri Sivaraman explains how the lack of progress on the Anti-Racism National Framework is deeply concerning.

So far, the Federal Government is yet to show clear commitment to acting on Australia’s first plan to tackle racism across all layers of our society.

“At this stage… they’re just sitting on it,” Giri said about the Federal Government’s response to The National Anti-Racism Framework.

“Other than acknowledging that they’ve got it, they’re yet to endorse it, and certainly they haven’t committed to funding any of its recommendations.”

Giri described the delay as disappointing, especially given recent events and what he sees as a growing urgency.

“We know that racism is an urgent issue and we need change,” he said.

“It’s something that needs urgent action, it’s simply not going to go away.”

The National Anti-Racism Framework

Created by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Framework is the first of its kind in Australia and offered a whole of government, whole of society roadmap to tackling racism.

In the past, efforts have been “ad hoc and disjointed,” Giri explained, with some parts of government avoiding the word “racism” altogether.

“We won’t get along by pretending racism doesn’t exist,” Giri said.

The framework includes 63 recommendations, with a key proposal being the creation of a National Anti-Racism taskforce to prioritise and implement changes.

“We knew that it was big and bold,” Giri said.

“We’re talking about a deeply entrenched problem.”

He pointed to education and workplaces as areas where meaningful change could begin.

“The person that ends up doing that hateful, violent act… they’re on a journey,” he said. “On that journey they would have gone to school and probably had a job.”

“If you intervene in those spaces, you can divert someone… away from a destination of hate to something more productive.”

Yet even amid the frustration, Giri has found reason for hope closer to the ground.

“I’ve had so much support from community organisations, business, unions,” he said.

“There are some… that have decided, look, we’re not going to wait for the government.”

Giri also addressed the challenge of helping people understand systemic racism, which goes beyond individual behaviour.

“They think, ‘if I’m not saying something racist… it’s not happening’,” he said. “I say, actually no… it’s part of the system.”

From job applications to workplace culture, he outlined how barriers can quietly shape outcomes for people from different backgrounds.

But he believes change isn’t only structural, it’s personal too.

“We all have some degree of power, privilege or opportunity,” Giri said. “Think about what influence you can have to make a difference.”

“Maybe… you might speak up next time you hear something and you go, ‘oh actually no, that’s not really appropriate’.”

“It’s hard… but we all have some degree of power… to make that little bit of difference, just to shift the dial that little bit more towards hope,” Giri said.

This article was prepared with AI assistance and then carefully reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by our Digital Team.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Canva

The Albanese Government’s new budget aims to ease pressure on Australians

On Tuesday 12 May, the Albanese government delivered its fifth budget.

It comes at a time of increasing economic pressure for many Australians, with rising costs for essentials amid a global oil crisis, and elevated interest rates.

“War in the Middle East has been pushing up prices, pushing down growth, and punishing Australians,” said Mr Chalmers.

“But how we respond is up to us. This budget is ambitious in the face of adversity.”

Relief

The budget is focused on delivering cost-of-living relief, housing affordability and supply, national security, energy security, and productivity.

“It makes the tax system fairer and stronger for workers, businesses, first home buyers and future generations.”

Tax

The budget includes a new tax break called WATO – Working Australians Tax Offset.

It will provide an extra tax cut of up to $250 a year (increasing the tax-free threshold to $19,985). It will come into effect from the next tax year (2027-28).

Meanwhile, individual tax rates announced in last year’s budget will begin this year, on July 1.

The lowest tax bracket (between $18,201 and $45,000) will drop from 16 per cent to 15 per cent, giving lower income earners up to an extra $268 a year.

Further, workers will be able to use a $1,000 instant tax deduction (no receipts needed), producing a guaranteed average annual saving of $205. The instant deduction is for those 6.2 million workers who claim under $1,000 in work-related expenses.

Homes

Through a major overhaul of “investor tax”, the government says the market will finally be tilted toward first home buyers.

The government estimates that these measures (see below) will help 75,000 Australians buy their first property.

Also, to encourage the building of new homes, the government is spending $2 billion over four years on critical infrastructure.

“This funding will support up to 65,000 homes over the decade and brings the Government’s total investment in housing‑enabling infrastructure to $6.3 billion,” said a government statement.

 There will also be an overhaul of planning and zoning regulations so homes can be approved and built more quickly.

(The government is also extending its ban on foreign buyers purchasing any established homes until mid‑2029.)

Investor tax overhaul

The first big change is to negative gearing. In what critics have described as a “broken promise” by the Coalition, the Albanese government has overhauled a system long prized by investors.

From the next financial year, investors can only negatively gear a property if that property is a brand new home (not a pre-existing one).

For those who currently negatively gear a rental property, nothing changes, and their negative gearing can continue.

Negative gearing enables investors to reduce their taxable income by claiming the difference between their expenses (mortgage repayments and other costs), and the rental income.

The other big change is to Capital Gains Tax. Up until now, there has been a 50 per cent discount on CGT (the taxing on any profit when an investment is sold). From the next financial year, the government is scrapping that discount for new investments, though the purchase price will be indexed for inflation, softening the blow a little. (The reforms apply to gains made after July 1, 2027.)

Mr Chalmers admitted that the changes to the system, which have long been geared toward investors, were “contentious”.

“There’s no use pretending otherwise, but it’s the right thing to do,” the Treasurer shared.

“The easiest thing that we could have done from a political point of view would be to see these challenges in the housing market, particularly for young people, and to see the issues in the tax system, and to leave everything exactly as it was.”

Homelessness

The government is investing $59.4 million to help those at risk of homelessness. The funding will provide social housing for over 4,000 young at-risk people aged 16–24.

The budget will also release a further $100 million from the Housing Australia Future Fund to improve the quality of housing for Indigenous Australians living in remote communities.

Fuel crisis

As most Australians would be aware, the fuel excise has already been halved amid the oil crisis, and the government will invest $10 billion to strengthen Australia’s fuel security.

Small business

The ATO is “streamlining” access to temporary relief from tax obligations until the end of the current financial year.

This includes more generous payment plans for tax, support in varying pay as you go (PAYG) instalments (when taxable income drops), and a new dedicated way for businesses to access relief.

Defence

The government is giving the military $53 billion over 10 years to modernise the defence force. This will include investing in drone and counter-drone technologies.

“Road of Reform”

Treasurer Chalmers claimed that no other budget in the 2000s has set out this much “responsible repair” and economic reform.

“Tonight, we choose the hard road of reform, not the path of least resistance,” Mr Chalmers told Parliament.

“By responding to the pressures Australians confront today. And fulfilling our obligations and responsibilities to the generations to come.”

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the author: Michael Crooks is a senior journalist and former news editor of Who magazine. His work has appeared in People, Marie Claire, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, news.com.au, Qantas magazine and more.

Feature image: Canva

The most useful device in your life is also most likely your biggest real life distraction.

A third of the way through the year and struggling to find time to do any of the things you put on your 2026 list? You are not alone. Time is slipping by fast, but where has it gone?

For many of us there is one answer: the “smart” phone. The little device that slips into your back pocket is a portal to a world of information and activity, but it’s also a black hole that sucks away time and attention, adding overwhelm and anxiety if not used in moderation.

Sound familiar? It should. The average Australian spends four hours of their spare time each day watching TV or using devices (25 per cent of their waking time).

The evidence shows phone usage has many other negative impacts on our health and lifestyle, too. Disrupted sleep, depression, anxiety, lower self-esteem, addiction, and reduced attention span are only a few of the downsides of too much screen time. Add less time spent with friends and family, lower rates of physical activity and reduced time spent outside in nature, and it’s certainly a dark shadow over modern life.

But you can take back control.

If you see yourself in some or all of these scenarios and you’re ready to get your time and life back, it’s time to schedule a digital detox. Here are five tips to get you looking up and experiencing the world around you again.

Getting started

Ask yourself a few questions before getting started:

• What am I trying to achieve through a detox? Writing down your goals will help you stay focused and carry you through the moments when you want to reach for the phone.
• When do I use my phone the most? Identify the times and places when you use your phone and think about whether this is out of habit or genuine need.
• What do I use my phone for? Whether you are looking for information, entertainment or simply filling in time, this is helpful data for taking the next step.
• How do I feel about technology and myself when I use it? Be honest about the type of media you use and how it impacts your sense of self, your relationships and your family life.

Once you’ve set your goals and reflected on your current needs and habits, it’s time to commit to your digital detox. Remember: it doesn’t matter if you have “failed days”, what matters is how you pick yourself back up.

5 Strategies for a Digital Detox

1. Delete

Take a look through your phone and consider which apps take up your time unnecessarily. These might be games, news sites, social media or even language learning apps – you know who you are, Duolingo users.

If you’re ready to take the leap, delete the ones you know are simply consuming time without improving your wellbeing. If they are part of how you communicate with friends and family, let them know you are going quiet for a while. They could always call or send a text.

Remember, you can add the apps back later, so be bold now.

2. Silence

Do you start the day with laser-like focus only to find your train of thought interrupted by your phone beeping away beside you? Turning off all notifications is a step toward controlling who and what gets your attention. Schedule a time in the morning or afternoon to check news, weather and emails. Set a timer and you’ll be even more efficient at staying on top of the important and avoiding distractions.

Put yourself in charge of your time and agenda.

3. Relocate Your Device

Location, location, location. Proximity matters as much with your phone as with anything else. If it’s right beside you, habit will kick in and you’re far more likely to reach for it without even thinking.

Leaving your phone in another room removes the distraction and helps you build new habits.

4. Go Analogue

Do you still have recipe books on your shelves? Pull them out and leaf through them over your morning cuppa. Not only will you avoid mindless scrolling, but you might discover an amazing new recipe for dinner that night: win-win.

Set up a jigsaw puzzle and you’ll have something to return to whenever you want to switch off for a bit.

Is there a book you’ve been longing to read but never seem to get to? Put it next to your bed, on the kitchen bench, or on the coffee table. Do the same with a hobby you haven’t picked up in a while. Leave it in plain sight where you can easily reach for it. You’ll have plenty of extra time, especially if your phone is elsewhere.

Write a list, on actual paper, of things you want to do, places to go, or things to try. Start ticking them off. Yes, with an actual pen.

Get out in nature. Make your morning coffee and take it outside. Feel the breeze, touch some grass, and move your body. Your mind will thank you just as much as your muscles will.

5. Set Time Limits and Phone-Free Zones

There will be some apps you need to access throughout the day. Set realistic time limits on your device. Your phone will alert you when you’ve reached your self-imposed limit. If you find yourself repeatedly going over it, consider deleting the app for a period of time.

Establishing phone-free zones in your home can also help you and you build new routines. Keeping phones out of bedrooms can be particularly useful as you reclaim healthy sleep habits. Invest in an alarm clock, set aside a book you want to read and make the bedroom a place of peace and restfulness. After all, that’s what it’s for.

Next steps

As with any detox, a digital detox is designed to reset your habits and create space for something different. From there, you can decide which changes you’d like to make permanent. Experiment, see what works, and find what can realistically be integrated into your lifestyle long term.

As you develop new habits, they might even rub off on the people around you. After all, you’ll be inspiring company when you start climbing mountains and finally reading all those books.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Canva

Hundreds of school chaplaincy roles remain vacant across Australia, as demand grows for relational support in student wellbeing.

A growing number of Australian schools are seeking Chaplains, with over 200 vacancies across the country representing a vital gap in student wellbeing support.

SU Australia is one of the nation’s largest school chaplaincy providers. Recognising the important social and spiritual role chaplains fill in school communities, they’re urgently seeking recruits.

“Chaplaincy ultimately is really quite a practical and relational role,” shared SU Australia Executive Christy Mahrin.

“They might spend time one-on-one with a student who’s struggling or run small groups around things like resilience or friendship, essentially being a consistent presence in the playground, in the classroom.”

One of the reasons chaplains are such a necessary fixture in student wellbeing teams is that they have time to give students that teachers and other staff don’t always have the luxury of offering.

“Kids have got a lot going on,” Christy said.

“Often they’re looking for another caring adult to speak with that maybe is outside their family.

“Chaplains have the time to sit with the student, where maybe a teacher or another staff member who would love to do that may not have as much time and availability to do so.”

Interestingly, a recent SU Australia survey found that one of the main concerns young people want to talk through is the effect of the rising cost of living.

“We run a survey in term three each year that captures the crux of the issues that chaplains are speaking with students about,” Christy said.

“The cost of living bumped up to the top of the list in the last 12 months.

“Historically, it’s been more things like friendship issues and bullying – which were still in the top five – but kids are worried and needing support.”

A wide variety of people can be chaplains, with the main requirement being an ability to build rapport with the students and care for their concerns.

“I’m always very surprised by how diverse our chaplain team is,” Christy said.

“It’s not about a specific background or experience but being relational and grounded.

“Just bringing what you have, bringing that care and support [and] being able to show that you genuinely care.”

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.

Feature image: Canva

Dear Australians, I would like to share the faith lessons I’ve learnt from leaving everything I knew behind. I hope you can also hold onto hope in these uncertain times.

I am a Ukrainian who had to relocate with my family to Australia four years ago because of the war. I was born at the time of the collapse of the communist Soviet Union, in an era marked by shortages and instability. I have lived through crisis, corruption, the pandemic, and now a war threatening to completely destabilise the world again.

As the world, including Australia, begins to feel unsettled, I have a personal story of resilience and hope to offer those who are feeling scared, defeated, anxious – or maybe can’t put a name to what you’re feeling yet. 

After four years, I am still learning to understand Australian society. It feels like a mosaic made up of different cultures and stories. To me, “Australians” are those who have lived here for a long time, who have become part of this community, who were born here generations ago.

They are open, kind, and in some ways even trusting people. Many live with a sense that Australia is its own world, a kind of island continent where life moves at a steady, calm pace. There is sunshine, the ocean, and a comforting sense of work-life balance.

At times, it feels as though all of this exists inside a kind of “glass room” with walls that are slowly, but steadily, closing in. For a long time, global events seemed distant, something happening far away in Europe or the Middle East, outside of everyday life. But recent events have shown that this is no longer the case.

The tragedy in Bondi was a sobering shock for everyone. I knew people who were personally affected by the attack. The response showed that society here was not prepared for something like this. It became a moment of realisation that global instability can reach even here.

Then came another, more everyday but equally noticeable pressure, rising fuel prices. This was a second signal that Australia is part of a globally connected world. What happens elsewhere does affect life here.

It is important to acknowledge that we do not live in isolation.

Not to become pessimistic, but so as not to live in denial; to be realistic and maintain inner stability in any circumstance, like a house built on rock.

Personal experience: loss and new beginnings

Who am I to say this? Here is my short story…

Back in 2014, when conflict began in eastern Ukraine, our family moved to Kyiv. Our familiar life, relatives, home, friends, church, the streets we grew up on, all stayed behind in memories and blurred photos. That was our first major reset.

But that experience shaped us. We lost a lot, but we gained a deeper understanding of God’s will and His love. In Kyiv, we learned to start again. Step by step, year by year. My wife served in a church campus with creative teams, and I continued building my career in marketing and communications. Our children were born there.

After that first move, we saw stability differently. Where others saw certainty, we recognised that comfortable seasons are often preparation for future challenges.

Then came 2022. A turning point not just for Ukraine, but for the world. Many Ukrainians were forced to relocate to different countries. For our family, that journey led us the furthest, to Australia.

And this move felt like a miracle. The local church community supported us in extraordinary ways. People helped with flights, accommodation, essential items, and work. It was a continuous flow of care and generosity, something that is hard to explain as anything other than God’s love in action.

I sincerely empathise with Australians who remember the weight of COVID restrictions. Life seemed to be returning to normal, and then new pressures began to emerge.

Here are three reflections that may be helpful in this season.

1. Accepting God’s will and your time are probably not the same

I used to ask God, “Why?” Now I ask, “God, what is the next step?”

Do not be afraid when things do not go according to your plan. They may not follow your plan, but they are still within God’s plan. This brings a sense of inner stability, even in unpredictable times, when unexpected events seem to gather overhead.

God cares for us. He knows every grain of sand on the beautiful Sydney beaches or the park where your children play and is every step ahead of you. You are part of His plan.

2. Rethinking what matters: letting go of attachment to things

The Bible says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

When we arrived in Australia, our entire life fit into four suitcases. Recently, when we moved to another suburb, it took a full van to carry everything. But that is not where our treasure lies.

In reality, we do not need much to live, and even less to endure difficult seasons. Happiness is not defined by fuel prices or numbers in a bank account.

Do not be afraid of losing things. Be concerned about losing your relationship with God.

3. Do not live in false expectations; live by faith

In both 2014 and 2022, many people I know left behind their homes and belongings, holding on to the belief that everything would soon return to the way it was. But it will not.

Living in the past can prevent you from fully living in the present.

Instead of holding on to false expectations, choose faith. Faith does not expire. Faith brings the understanding that, in the end, God has already won.

There is a phrase I appreciate: “In the end, everything will be OK. If it is not OK yet, then it is not the end”.

Easter is a reminder of what truly matters

Easter is a time that brings us back to the foundations of faith.

For me, Easter has always carried more weight than Christmas. Christmas marks the beginning, the arrival of hope. But Easter reveals the outcome.

Jesus died for our sins and rose again, offering us life, eternal life, and a restored relationship with God.

If you feel the current pressures are shaking your foundation, start with something simple. Begin to pray. Begin to trust God. Open the Bible. Come to church. Reflect, share, and support one another.

It may seem simple, but this is exactly what the devil tries to take from us, especially when we are standing in line at the petrol station.

Written by a Ukrainian living in Sydney.

Article supplied with thanks to Christian Media & Arts Australia.

Feature image: Canva

Psychologist Anna Ponnudurai reflects on how Scripture and neuroscience intersect.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feature image: Canva

In a world where disasters like bushfires, floods and storms can escalate quickly, timely warnings are vital. The Australian Government is rolling out a new national emergency alert system called AusAlert.

AusAlert uses modern cell broadcast technology to send emergency notifications straight to mobile phones, bypassing traditional text messages that can be slowed by network congestion.

Instead of SMS, AusAlert will deliver messages tailored to a very specific location, to within 160 metres — sometimes to as little as a single street or building — so people in harm’s way can be warned quickly and accurately. That’s a big step forward from the older system, which could struggle to get messages to everyone on time during major emergencies.

The system will alert for a range of serious events including natural hazards like bushfires, floods and cyclones, public safety threats, biosecurity risks and health emergencies.

The trial and how the rollout will work

Before AusAlert becomes fully operational, the Government is conducting phased testing to make sure it works smoothly. 

Here’s what’s planned:

June 2026 – Community Trials

In June, a series of smaller tests will be conducted in a range of urban, regional and remote areas across the country. These trials are designed to check the technology in real-world settings and to build community familiarity with what the alerts look and sound like. Locations include:

• Liverpool, NSW
• Port Douglas, QLD
• Majura, ACT
• Launceston, TAS
• Geelong, VIC
• Tennant Creek, NT
• Goomalling, WA
• Port Lincoln, SA
• Queanbeyan, NSW (cross border test) 

27 July 2026 – National Test

Everyone with a compatible phone across Australia will receive a nationwide test alert at 2pm AEST on Monday 27 July 2026. This is a big moment for awareness and checking that the system can reach as many devices as possible.

October 2026 – Operational Launch

The Government aims for AusAlert to be fully operational by October 2026, just ahead of the 2026–27 high-risk weather season.

What Australians can expect

AusAlert messages are designed to stand out:

• They will appear on your phone screen even if it’s locked, on silent or in Do Not Disturb mode.
• They use a distinct sound and vibration for the most urgent alerts.
• Alerts can include information about what is happening, where it is, how severe it is and what action to take, along with a link to more details.

There are two types of alerts:

• Critical alerts: For immediate threats to life and property. These have a fixed volume and cannot be disabled.
• Priority alerts: Less intrusive messages that you can opt out of.

About 90 per cent of phones in Australia are expected to be compatible, especially models from recent years.

What you should do if you receive an alert

If you get an AusAlert message:

1. Read it carefully before dismissing it. Alerts provide specific actions you should take.
2. Follow official guidance, whether it’s to evacuate, seek shelter, or stay informed through emergency services.
3. If you’re unsure what the alert means, check state or territory emergency services websites or official social channels for updates.

Remember: these messages are there to help you make safe choices quickly.

Sharing the news and helping others

This is a new system, and not everyone will understand it immediately. Here are ways your community can support one another:

Helping older generations

• Explain that AusAlert is not spam or a virus: it’s an official emergency system.
• Show how alerts might look and sound on everyday phones.
• Remind them not to ignore it, even if it’s loud or catches them by surprise.

Talking with teenagers and young adults

• Most teens already use smartphones regularly, so focus on why the alerts matter.
• Encourage them to share accurate info with family and friends on social media or group chats.

Provide feedback

The Government will be seeking feedback as the system rolls out. 

Engaging with local emergency services and participating in community trial feedback helps improve AusAlert before it becomes fully operational.

Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the community testing and national test are significant milestones for AusAlert. 

“The Albanese Government is undertaking these tests to ensure the technology performs as expected, and to build community awareness before AusAlert is needed in an actual emergency,” Ms McBain said.

“This is an important project that will help us and emergency services organisations warn people when they are in harm’s way, saving lives and protecting property during a disaster, delivering on a key finding from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. 

“This is a major development in Australia’s emergency communication landscape, and I thank Australians in advance for their cooperation as we move into the launch phase for AusAlert ahead of the next high risk weather season.”

This article was prepared with AI assistance and then carefully reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by the Hope 103.2 Digital Team.

Article supplied with thanks to Christian Media & Arts Australia.

About the author: Kim is a media and communications professional who specialises in building community and valuable relationships.

Feature image: Canva

As military strikes continue to rock Iran and surrounding countries, it can be difficult to know what’s going on – or how to pray. Open Doors Australia, who serve the persecuted church around the world, offers seven specific prayers.

Open Doors CEO Adam Holland shares about religious persecution faced by Christians in Iran. Ranked as the 10th most dangerous country for Christians, Iran presents a harsh environment for those choosing to follow Christianity, as they often face discrimination and violence. Through this conversation, Adam sheds light on the complexities faced by Christians in Iran and the wider Middle East and calls for prayer and support as the conflict intensifies.

Benjamin is an Iranian Christian who has lived in Sydney for more than a decade. He discussed the anguish he and his church family feel for their relatives and friends in Iran. Benjamin believed God’s word has foretold what is happening in Iran, and he knows God can use the Middle East conflict to bring more Iranian people to his saving Son, Jesus.

Please note, names have been excluded for to protect people’s safety.

The situation is fluid and can be difficult to follow. On Saturday, 28 February, the United States and Israel killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the long-time Supreme Leader of Iran, along with other high-level officials. An Iranian TV presenter announced his death, while the channel aired archive footage marked with a black mourning banner. The country declared 40 days of mourning.

At the same time, videos on social media showed Iranians celebrating the death of the Ayatollah. In other countries around the world, Iranian expatriates and refugees took to the streets in jubilation.

“The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marks a significant and sobering moment in Iran’s history,” an Open Doors analyst and an Iranian Christian said. 

“I cannot ignore that under his leadership, the church in Iran lived for decades under intense pressure, facing restrictions, surveillance, arrests and the constant weight of uncertainty. Many faithful believers endured suffering simply for following Christ.
“This moment is not about revenge or triumph, but about the possibility of a different future,” he said. 

“One where freedom of conscience, dignity and justice are extended to all Iranians, regardless of faith or background. My prayer is that this turning point will open the way for peace, reconciliation and genuine freedom for our nation.”

“The sound is very frightening”

Meanwhile, the strikes continue as the world wonders what will happen with Khamenei out of power. 

“The sound of the explosions is very frightening. The loud fighter jets are carrying out terrifying attacks,” an Iranian Christian living in a town near the capital said. She was able to get a message out to Open Doors partners just before the internet connection was cut off throughout the country.

“However, I believe that God will save me and deliver me from this war.”

Iranians have begun to tape up their windows to resist the force of the strong explosions taking place as they remain indoors in this unstable situation.

The violence has also begun to spread around the region as Iran retaliates against the attacks. 

“We are hearing the sound of explosions and airplanes,” an Iraqi believer in Erbil in northern Iraq said. Another Christian said her house “was shaking” by the explosions this weekend.

Open Doors sources in Erbil report that this morning, Iran has tried to attack the American consulate in Erbil. The attacking drones were shot down before they could hit the consulate.

“We had at least five rockets exploding, and we hear constantly fighter jets above us. We are worried that Iran-backed groups will plan attacks in our region on American targets,” an Open Doors source said.

Iran has also carried out attacks in countries throughout the Arabian Peninsula, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates and Oman, primarily targeting US military sites, Israeli government offices and international shipping areas.

Before midday on 2 March, a Christian living in one of the Arabian Peninsula countries sent this message: “Missiles and sirens close to home. Alerts going off on phones. Windows rattling. We’re going to the shelter, please pray.” We can’t tell you exactly which country this believer lives in because the region is so dangerous for Christians.

While most of Iran’s missiles were intercepted by defense systems, some have hit land, causing demolition, fires and destruction. “We received recurring alerts on our phones, urging us to remain indoors and not to go out except for urgent matters,” another Christian living in the Gulf area shared. 

“The sounds we heard were very intense and scary.”

Impact across the Middle East

Attacks are also happening throughout the Levant. Hezbollah, a political party and paramilitary group in Lebanon and an ally of Iran, sent rockets into Israel, and Israel responded with strikes in Beirut and elsewhere in Lebanon. According to Syrian sources, an Iranian missile or its remnants have fallen on a residential building in the city of Suwayda, killing five people. Civil air traffic in Syria was also suspended. Iran targeted a US military base in Jordan, and the country has dealt with debris from intercepted attacks.

Due to the rocket attacks from Iran on Israel, many citizens in Israel and Palestine have had to hide in the shelters. 

“We hear rockets and airplanes all the time,” one of our sources in the West Bank said. “The people are upset in the West Bank. Since the Gaza war ended, tourists have come back to the area. This will stop all tourism again, and many Christians depend on tourism for their jobs and income. Please pray for an end to this war and for all politicians to put aside their own interests.”

No one is sure how the situation will resolve or when the war might end. US President Donald Trump suggested the operation against Iran could last four to five weeks or longer, and no one knows who the replacement will be for Ayatollah Khamenei.

Resilience, hope and prayers

But an Open Doors analyst and Iranian believer reminds us that no matter what happens, there is hope. 

“Even in hardship, the [Iranian church] has remained resilient, prayerful and deeply rooted in hope,” he said.

And some believers look forward to the end of the war and pray for a more lasting peace. 

“We are Christian converts who fled Iran because of persecution. Not having any freedom to express and live out our faith, we endured years of displacement and lived as refugees,” one Iranian believer said. 

“We are so hopeful that we would be able to go back to our homeland. May God bring peace and protect the whole Middle East through this time of change for Iran.”

No matter what happens, we know that God is in control. And remarkably, He’s offered us the gift of bringing all of the uncertainty and our hopes and fears to Him in prayer.

Here are just a few ways you can pray right now

1. Prayer for prisoners in Iran

• Pray for the protection of prisoners, that they would not be used as human shields or exploited in times of conflict.

• Ask God to guard their lives, uphold justice and surround them with His mercy and presence.

2. Prayer for pregnant women in Iran

• Pray for mothers who are in the last weeks of pregnancy, facing intense stress and limited access to hospitals and medical care.

• Ask for peace, safe deliveries, protection for both mother and child, and divine provision of medical help where it seems impossible.

3. Prayer for Iranian children living under bombardment

• Lift up children who constantly hear explosions and live in fear.

• Pray for emotional healing, protection over their minds and hearts, and that God would be their refuge and comfort.

4. Prayer for those experiencing economic hardship in Iran

• Pray for families struggling under severe economic pressure.

• Ask God for provision, job opportunities, daily bread and wisdom for leaders to make just and stabilising economic decisions.

5. Prayer for the church and our brothers and sisters in Iran

• Pray for the protection of the Iranian church and all believers in vulnerable regions.

• Ask for strength, endurance, boldness, wisdom and multiplied grace in these challenging times.

• Pray that the church would be a light, a refuge and a source of hope.

6. Prayer for protection in the Middle East

• Pray for God’s protection over civilians in the Middle East and other countries affected by war.

• Ask for an end to violence, protection for the innocent and the establishment of peace.

7. Prayer for Iran – for justice, freedom and unity

• Pray for unity, perseverance, solidarity and wisdom among the people of Iran.

• Ask God to guide the process of seeking justice and freedom, and to protect those standing for righteousness.

Article supplied with thanks to Christian Media & Arts Australia.

About the author: Kim is a media and communications professional who specialises in building community and valuable relationships.

Feature image: Canva

Valentine’s Day comes and goes with very little fanfare for the unmarried, uncoupled or uninterested, but without fail it fills our feeds with content about the reality of modern relationships and what you’re up against if you want a healthy one.

This week a book landed on my desk: a Christian approach to “bringing your romance fantasies into the real world”. Then, I was sent an article on “heterofatalism” (we’ll get to that), got a link to podcaster’s theories on declining birth rates, was reminded having a boyfriend is embarrassing now, and suffered through ads for whatever they’re doing on the new season of Married at First Sight.

The dating world these days really is a complex one. Even in the Christian sphere, agreed upon boundaries of what we’re looking for, how to behave, views on intimacy and the value of marriage itself are seemingly dissolving.

After overcoming the hurdle of meeting someone online or in person, you have to assess whether their framework for dating and relationships is the same as yours: are they a Christian who’s dismissed “traumatic purity culture” or do they still see sex as “sacred”? What gender roles do they support? Do they value monogamy in dating? Are they interested in marriage or is it too traditional for them? Can we just have fun hanging out? You cannot assume anything.

As a church-raised teen, marriage was painted as the pathway to greater purpose, family, sex and experiencing God’s ideal relational framework. If you weren’t married, the implication was you should prepare yourself for an unfinished form of life: childless, untouched and alone.

However, once you reach 25 and don’t have a husband and four kids, there’s a world beyond the one you were told was coming that you can’t ignore and have to figure out how to handle. You find joy in singleness. You find some God-fearing women chose solo IVF, adoption or fostering to have kids. That not all “Christian” men and women are nice people who make ideal partners. That independence isn’t horrible, and that in our Western society a spouse may help in having financial security but isn’t a necessity. We haven’t even touched on the variety of views on sex.

It’s a newfound awareness that can work against us: if we don’t “have to” have marriage anymore, do we still want it?

Yes, there’s still the predominant norm of school, study, job, partner, kids, holiday but there’s a growing “rebellion” against that and less judgement allowed of those who defect. We can be lazy in dating because, well, what does it matter if it goes nowhere?

Which brings me to “heterofatalism” – a phenomenon contributing to aforementioned defection.

The term expands on scholar Asa Sersin’s original definition of “heteropessimism” reflecting the resigned experience of – largely women – dealing with their coexisting desire for a male partner and disappointment in the process of finding one. 

A few things need to be addressed here:

Can we ditch the idea that wanting a relationship is “embarrassing”?

You don’t need to overcome your very human, very God-given need for connection, community and companionship. It doesn’t have to be found in a romantic context, but it’s OK if you want it to be found there. Total self-sufficiency is not our end goal.

In “heterofatalism” there’s a read-between-the-lines suggestion that men are dropping the ball in the relationship equation.

I don’t want to exacerbate that narrative. For many reasons men – especially young ones – are having their roles in society redefined which, at its best, opens up space for inclusion and reflection but, at its worst, destabilises confidence and identity. Some guys do get things wrong in relationships. But us women do too.

As much as we’d like to believe these attitudes don’t affect the church and dating in Christianity is different, sadly they do and it isn’t.

Our feeds are filled with the same commentary, users on our apps ghost just as much, and we’re dating people who hear the same stories everyone else does about the changing relational landscape.

While we have the benefit of hope in a God who “ordained all our days before one of them came to be”, it also means we have bigger questions about why we haven’t met someone yet.

Unlike our “defeated secular counterparts” we can’t just blame “a terrible dating scene” for the husband we pray for still not being in our lives, or why one friend can meet their partner online in months and you can’t. Our answer to the (dumb, unnecessary and backhanded compliment) question of, “How are you still single?” feels dramatically existential.

We have to balance the fight in our minds between knowing it’s OK to be single, given some of the greatest biblical figures were – including Jesus himself – with the fact that God tells us He’ll grant us the desires of our heart and that for many that’s still marriage.

We live in a wait we don’t know will end: will our story be one of finding someone, or of accepting that not all prayers are answered in the way we want?

There’s no way of knowing for sure, and if you don’t see an end date to when you have to find this person by – first weddings happen at 50 friends – our hope only expires when we choose to let it.

What we do have control over is how we wait.

Will you engage in the life you currently have while you press forward in building another one?

Will you delight in the coupling of friends while you’re still single?

Will you commit to seeing purpose in what’s in your hands without wishing for what could be?

Don’t believe the lie that a single life isn’t fulfilling or rich with God’s goodness, but don’t also fall into the trap of idolising self-sufficiency. You have God-given inherent value just as you are, but it is OK to want someone romantically to share your life with.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.

Feature image: Canva