Our Team

Stephen LunnSocial Affairs Editor

Stephen Lunn is The Australian’s Social Affairs Editor, covering issues including health, wellbeing, ageing, disability and the care economy. He has previously been the paper’s environment writer and Tokyo correspondent. A journalist for more than two decades, he has also worked in public policy advocacy in the private sector, and practised as a lawyer in Australia and the UK. Stephen has a Masters degree in law from the London School of Economics.

@lunns

Latest

Politics

Margot Harker has given evidence to the Aged Care Royal Commission of her experiences receiving in-home care.She will be part of the reaction to the findings of the commission's interim report which is due to be released this afternoon.

Clients fear they’ll be overlooked

An in-home care recipient fears she and others like her will be overlooked in the wash-up of the aged-care royal commission.

Stephen Lunn

HEALTHPolitics

Ongoing care for suicidal patients plan

Health minister’s plan to integrate mental health system in ‘once in a decade’ transformation.

Rosie Lewis and Stephen Lunn

sweeping reforms urgedPolitics

06/11/2018: Michael Brennan; New chairman of the Productivity Commission, in Sydney.Pic by James Croucher

Hidden cost of mental illness to economy

A million Australians with mental health conditions are going untreated each year, while the economic cost has hit $180bn.

Stephen Lunn

Nation

Teen girl lonely and sadness on the beachMental health genericthinkstockGirl depressed on the beachfemale sad depressed lonelysuicidal teenagerDepression genericMental illnessSexual abuse generic

Early checks needed to ease risks

The Productivity Commission has backed checks of children aged up to three as part of a strategy to fight a mental health crisis.

Stephen Lunn

Nation

27/10/2019. Rob Sturrock and Julia Davis, with their two young children. They have been married five years, and have both opted to go part time four days a week to find a work/life balance. They say it is stressful juggling it all and key is an employer who actually buys in, rather than pays lip service.A New national survey has found 62 per cent of parents and carers report difficulties looking after their own physical and mental health as they try to balance competing work and family pressures. Half of all women and one-third of men who were parenting or caring reported they were under a lot or a great deal of stress when juggling work and family roles. Two-thirds reported feeling too emotionally or physically drained when they got home from work to contribute to their family and half had missed out on family activities in the past month, due to time they had to spend at work. Jane Dempster/The Australian

When it all gets too hard

Two in three parents are struggling with their physical or mental health due to the competing pressures of family and work.

Stephen Lunn

exclusiveNation

US anti-ageism author and activist Ashton Applewhite. PIC: Adrian Buckmaster

In a jam trying to open that jar?

Who’s fault is it when an older person struggles to open a jar? Ashton Applewhite says older people blame themselves.

Stephen Lunn

exclusiveTechnology

24/10/19 Sarah Spencer with her husband Jacob and their kids Jamison (7) and Isabella (5) in their Northcote home. Aaron Francis/The Australian

Parents’ digital do’s and don’ts

Like many kids, Jamison and Isabella prefer YouTube to TV. Their dad feels overwhelmed trying to ensure their online safety.

Stephen Lunn

aged careNation

A female nurse consoles a senior patient at home, aged care generic

Staff crisis puts aged care ‘at risk’

The aged-care system is in danger of failure if the workforce system isn’t reformed, the royal commission has heard.

Stephen Lunn

Politics

Four warnings over aged abuse

An aged care worker warned for ‘serious misconduct’ four times in 13 months finally resigned without being sacked.

Stephen Lunn

Politics

aged care home, generic, for moneysaverHQ

‘Hit, groped for less than Aldi pay’

Some carers are still receiving less than the modern award rate of $20-$25 an hour, the aged-care royal commission heard.

Stephen Lunn

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/stephen-lunn/page/113