Our Team

Stephen LunnSocial Affairs Editor

Stephen Lunn is The Australian’s Social Affairs Editor, covering social policy issues including ageing, population, disability, welfare, and migration. He has previously been the paper’s environment writer and Tokyo correspondent. 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

commentaryHealth

girl covers her face. The girl plays with the pop it sensory toy. Relief of stress and anxiety. Fashionable silicone game for stressed kids

ADHD kids treated as ‘poor cousins’ of those with autism

Parents of children with ADHD who have needs similar to children diagnosed with autism can feel rightly aggrieved about how the NDIS has operated to date.

Stephen Lunn

ExclusiveHealth

Baby toddler early development. Wooden stack and count rainbow colored learning game. Child learn colors and numbers

ADHD and autism overlap – so why has the NDIS favoured one over the other?

Your child’s ADHD may be just as debilitating as your neighbour’s kid’s autism. A new study finds both conditions are on the same neurodevelopmental continuum. So why have their supports been funded by NDIS and yours haven’t?

Stephen Lunn

persistence and positivityHealth

31/10/2024 84-year-old Elaine Herbert with her trainer of 20 years Dilek Ali at Fit 4 Living in Gardenvale. Aaron Francis / The Australian

It’s no big secret, but this really is how to live your best life longer

Taking that first step to doing more physical activity can put you on the path to a longer, healthier – and independent – life. But you have to keep moving.

Stephen Lunn

ExclusiveHealth

Alice Springs, Australia - December 25, 2012: Shopping Mall in the center of Alice Springs. On Christmas Day the Shops are closed but normally there are a lot of local people and tourists here.

Grog price changes ‘a danger to women’

The NT government is set to push ahead and dump the floor price on alcohol despite calls to leave it in place.

Stephen Lunn

EXPLAINERMedical

drinks with blur beach and sunset in background

How to protect yourself against methanol poisoning

Travellers take note – methanol poisoning is more common and widespread than generally understood. Here’s how to avoid it.

Stephen Lunn

ExclusiveHealth

Annette for The Australia. Picture: Supplied

This isn’t the photoshoot you think it is

Midwife Annette Rockley adopted the classic Demi Moore pregnancy pose for this portrait as a provocation, a call to action. She died less than three weeks after these pictures were taken.

Stephen Lunn

ExclusiveMental Health

Critical shortage of professional help for those at risk of suicide

You’d think there would be help at hand for those so distressed they’re at risk of suicide. A shortage of mental health professionals, especially outside the big capital cities, suggests that’s not always the case.

Stephen Lunn

Calculate your ‘health age’Health

What is your ‘health age’?

Want to know your ‘health age’? Use our ‘health age’ calculator to find out.

Stephen Lunn

ExclusiveMedical

Bacteria medical illustration - 3d rendered microbiology image. Illustrate of Lactobacillus Bulgaricus Bacteria, Microbacterium Tuberculosis Bacteria (MTB). Medical research, health-care concept. SEM (TEM) scanning view

The ‘silent global pandemic’ that will undermine healthcare systems and food safety

If the danger of drug-resistant superbugs is not addressed there could be a return to the medical dark ages, where a superficial scratch could be life-threatening.

Stephen Lunn

EXPERT TIPSHealth

Senior woman has a fun in turquoise sea water top view.

What you need to be doing at a minimum to age well

Want to know how to live better for longer? We all do. Here are the latest tips from Australia’s experts on how to improve your chances of ageing well – and it’s not just diet and exercise.

Stephen Lunn

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/stephen-lunn/page/4