Thursday, 18 June 2026 15:55
AI CHATBOT THAT REDUCES STIGMA
THE Alcohol and Drug Foundation is celebrating the success of its AI-powered chatbot, dib, which has been shortlisted in the Community Impact category of the Australian Financial Review AI Awards. Since launching a year ago, dib has conducted around 45,000 anonymous conversations, providing evidence-based information on alcohol and other drugs. Most users are aged 18–24, with alcohol the most common topic. Designed to reduce stigma and improve access to reliable support, dib uses trusted ADF content and safety safeguards. Winners of the awards will be announced in June.” Powered by AI, dib is a technological first in the Australian public health sector. Using dib is an anonymous, non-stigmatising way to find alcohol and other drug information in a familiar, chat-based format,” said the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s CEO, Dr Erin Lalor AM.
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Thursday, 18 June 2026 15:53
ILLEGAL TO LEAVE YOUR DOG UNATTENDED
NEW NSW animal welfare laws will make it illegal to leave a dog unattended in a vehicle for more than 10 minutes when temperatures exceed 28°C, with fines of up to $44,000. The reforms also ban prong collars, mandate pain relief for sheep mulesing, strengthen animal fighting penalties and improve emergency animal welfare responses. The legislation modernises 45-year-old laws and reflects strong community support for tougher animal protection standards.
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Tuesday, 02 June 2026 10:43
Campbelltown woman gifts parents a house with $2M Lotto win
A CAMBPELLTOWN woman is proving good fortune and good hearts go hand in hand, planning to buy her parents a house with her $2M Lotto Strike win.
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