Despite interest rates settling, rental stress remains unchanged nationwide, with households in many capitals still spending nearly a third of their income on rent. Perth, which overtook Sydney last year as the country's least affordable city, has seen another four per cent drop in affordability on top of last year's record low. The 2025 Rental Affordability Index by SGS Economics and Planning shows that rental affordability is worsening across the country and many households are struggling to k

As a teenager growing up in Perth in the 80s, Emma felt like she never fitted the mould of a "beautiful Western Australian woman". But she feels lucky to have found her "weird people" through the goth scene. She says the opportunity to escape to something "truly wonderful" gave her the confidence to find who she was . To hear Emma's story, and ways other Australians are finding escape from their daily reality, click here https://ow.ly/uX3H50VBnOQ Or watch Escaping Reality, where we ask if escapi