Saturday Magazine

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Saturday Magazine is JOY 94.9’s longest-running news and current affairs program

  1. 9h ago

    Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Prof. Rhonda Stuart, Director of Public Health and Infection Prevention at Monash Health & Director of the South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU)

    Mew data shows Mpox cases are on the rise locally, with 52 cases reported statewide since August 1 alone. While the virus continues to circulate globally, localised findings reveal a dramatic difference in how severely it impacts people based on their vaccination status. Joining us today on Saturday Magazine is Professor Rhonda Stuart, Director of Public Health and Infection Prevention at Monash Health and Director of Monash Health’s South East Public Health Unit. Good morning Rhonda. Her team has analysed 205 local Mpox cases recorded since 2024 – and they’ve found data proving that vaccination hospital emergency visits—from over 31% in unvaccinated patients down to under 9% for those fully vaccinated. Cases are climbing across Victoria, with 52 cases reported since August 1, 2026. SEPHU Cohort (205 Cases): All cases recorded in Melbourne’s south-east (a catchment of 1.8 million people) were men. Emergency Department (ED) Rates by Vaccination Status: Unvaccinated: 31.6% required an emergency department visit. 1 Vaccine Dose: 16.6% required an ED visit. Fully Vaccinated (2 Doses): 8.6% required an ED visit. Key Takeaway: A full two-dose vaccination course cuts ED presentation risk by nearly 75% compared to being unvaccinated. Viral Strains & The Clade 1b Variant Transmission Dynamics: Spread occurs primarily through close physical contact (such as sexual activity), contact with contaminated objects (towels, bedding, sex toys), or respiratory droplets/body fluids. Clade 1b Strain: SEPHU has recorded one case of Clade 1b mpox in its region. Clade 1b is considered more transmissible than earlier strains (like Clade IIb). Cross-Protection: The free JYNNEOS vaccine provides effective protection against both Clade 1 and Clade 2 strains. High-Risk Groups & Clinical Guidance At-Risk Cohorts: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and their sexual partners remain at highest risk, particularly those with multiple or casual partners or who attend sex-on-premises venues or events. Vulnerable Populations: Immunocompromised individuals, children, and pregnant women face a higher risk of severe illness if exposed. Clinical Advice: Health authorities are advising doctors to test any sexually active person presenting with symptoms (fever, rash, localized lesions, rectal/genital pain) regardless of their sexual orientation, travel history, or vaccination status. The post Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Prof. Rhonda Stuart, Director of Public Health and Infection Prevention at Monash Health & Director of the South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU) appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

  2. 10h ago

    Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Sen. Steph Hodgins-May, Fed, Dep. Leader of the Australian Greens & Senator for Victoria

    Earlier this week, the Australian Greens announced a major shift in their parliamentary leadership, electing Victorian Senator Steph Hodgins-May as the party’s new Federal Deputy Leader alongside leader David Shoebridge. A former environmental lawyer and long-time advocate for progressive reform, Senator Hodgins-May joins us to talk about her vision for the Greens in Canberra. Steph, welcome to JOY 94.9. Steph Hodgins-May was elected Federal Deputy Leader of the Greens in late September 2026, serving alongside Senator David Shoebridge as Leader. Core Platform: Hodgins-May says it’s frustrating the party hasn’t been able to capitalise growing anti-establishment sentiment, but believes she and Shoebridge are up to the job, and they “don’t want to waste a moment”. She signals a more combative approach to the leadership. “We need to work harder, we need to work faster … we’ve got to play hardball. We know that incrementalism isn’t going to cut it.” The post Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Sen. Steph Hodgins-May, Fed, Dep. Leader of the Australian Greens & Senator for Victoria appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

  3. 10h ago

    Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Jordan Emery, Chief Executive Officer of Ambulance Victoria; Shocktober! Cultural Reform & Internal Trust

    Every day in Victoria, more than 20 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The difference between life and death often comes down to the actions taken in the first critical minutes before an ambulance arrives. Joining us today is the Chief Executive Officer of Ambulance Victoria, Jordan Emery. We’ll be talking about Shocktober and why bystander CPR saves lives, as well as the steep challenges facing frontline paramedics—from workplace safety and hospital ramping to rebuilding organisational culture and internal trust. Jordan, welcome to Saturday Magazine on JOY 94.9. “Call, Push, Shock.” Cardiac arrest survival drops by roughly 10% for every minute CPR is delayed. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) before paramedics arrive more than doubles a patient’s chances of survival.  In 2024-25, Victoria achieved its highest cardiac arrest survival rate, with 44.4 per cent of patients surviving a witnessed cardiac arrest to hospital discharge^ – the best in Australia and second best worldwide. But only 152 cardiac arrest patients in Victoria received a shock from a public AED before paramedics arrived. Data shows women are half as likely to receive a shock from an AED than men, due in part to the stigma around removing clothing to expose the bare chest and apply AED pads. AED pad-to-skin contact is really important. Simply follow the diagrams on the AED pad covering and place one pad below the collar bone on the person’s right chest above the breast, and the other on the left side of the person’s chest, below the armpit and beside the breast. You may need to lift the breast to place the pad directly on the ribcage and bare skin. AV actively promotes the GoodSAM app, which allows the Triple Zero (000) call taker to connect patients in cardiac arrest with a nearby volunteer who is willing to begin hands-only CPR while paramedics are on their way. There are currently more than 18,600 GoodSAM Responders across the state, but we always need more. Paramedics regularly face verbal abuse, threats, and physical assault while performing life-saving duties. Occupational violence drives stress, burnout, sick leave, and early departures from the paramedic profession. Ramping occurs when ambulances are delayed outside emergency departments because hospital beds are full, keeping crews from responding to incoming 000 calls. Impact: Affects Category 1 and Category 2 response times across metropolitan and regional Victoria, placing intense pressure on call-takers, dispatchers, and paramedics on duty. How AV works with Victoria Department of Health, hospital networks, and priority primary care clinics to divert non-emergency cases away from EDs. Culture, VEOHRC Review & Organizational Trust; Independent reviews by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC), alongside legislative inquiries, revealed systemic issues within Ambulance Victoria, including bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation, and a lack of psychological safety. CEO Transition: Jordan Emery stepped into the CEO role following a period of executive turnover, charged with leading cultural reform, restoring workplace confidence, and restoring staff trust. JOY’s audience values transparency, intersectional equity, inclusion, and accountability. The hosts will want to hear concrete measures—not just policies—showing how AV is actively protecting diverse, marginalized, and vulnerable staff members from systemic misconduct.   The post Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Jordan Emery, Chief Executive Officer of Ambulance Victoria; Shocktober! Cultural Reform & Internal Trust appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

  4. 10h ago

    Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Fiona Patten, CEO of the Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia (MCCA) & former Vic MP; Australia’s First Medicinal Cannabis Qualification, Domestic Production vs. Imports, Healthcare Education, & Drug Driving Reform

    Ten years after medicinal cannabis was legalised in Australia, the domestic market has soared past a billion dollars. Yet, a surprising amount of the medicine prescribed to Australian patients is grown overseas, imported under different regulatory standards. Joining us today on Saturday Magazine is former Victorian MP Fiona Patten in her new role as CEO of the Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia. We’ll be discussing the launch of Australia’s very first TAFE qualification in medicinal cannabis cultivation, why domestic growers are fighting an uneven playing field, and what still needs to change for healthcare workers and patients. Fiona, welcome to JOY 94.9. The Certificate III in Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Production is now available at Federation TAFE. Half of the hands-on hours occur at a working commercial environment in Victoria’s Yarra Valley., gaining experience across greenhouse cultivation, propagation and post-harvest operations. Ten students have enrolled in the inaugural cohort, preparing them for roles as cultivation technicians, with training covering rigorous compliance, quality assurance, biosecurity, workplace safety and regulated production processes. Federation TAFE is currently the only registered training organisation approved to deliver and assess the qualification, which was developed in response to identified skills and workforce needs within the growing medicinal cannabis industry. Modelling of the Victorian industry estimates demand will grow to almost 242,000 medicinal cannabis patients by 2028, with The post Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Fiona Patten, CEO of the Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia (MCCA) & former Vic MP; Australia’s First Medicinal Cannabis Qualification, Domestic Production vs. Imports, Healthcare Education, & Drug Driving Reform appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

  5. 10h ago

    Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Ryan Heath, Launch Editor, POLITICO Australia; Australia’s AI & Tech Governance, and LGBTQIA+ Representation in Media

    Ryan Heath, Launch Editor, POLITICO Australia POLITICO’s Australian Expansion, Digital Media Transformation, Australia’s AI & Tech Governance, and LGBTQIA+ Representation in Media When we last spoke to our next guest in early August, he was getting ready to launch a new media brand in Australia, covering the goings on in Canberra. We’re thrilled to talk again to Ryan Heath, Launch Editor of POLITICO Australia, about POLITICO globally and Australia’s tech and AI policy landscape. Welcome to Joy Ryan! Topics and Themes discussed with Ryan were: The White House Press Ban & Injunction The Action: The Trump administration attempted to indefinitely bar POLITICO, CNN, and MS NOW from White House briefings and deactivate press badges, claiming bias and “fake news”. The Coalition: Rather than accepting the decision, the three news outlets launched a joint First Amendment lawsuit (CNN et al. v. Trump) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Ruling: A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order forcing the White House to immediately restore access, ruling that targeted credential revocations were likely unconstitutional retaliation. The ACLU and media advocacy groups filed supporting briefs to turn the temporary order into a permanent injunction. Pool Solidarity: Other White House press corps members briefly boycotted pool coverage in solidarity before the court order restored access. Launch of POLITICO Australia & Local Strategy Background: Ryan Heath built his reputation authoring the foundational Brussels Playbook for POLITICO Europe, before serving as top global correspondent in Washington/NYC and global tech correspondent at Axios. Focus in Canberra: Delivering high-density political intelligence on trade, defence, AI policy, and geopolitical dynamics. Recent Scoops: Heath recently broke reporting on OpenAI’s AI agents making unauthorised requests into Australian government data systems (Services Australia/Medicare), highlighting gaps in domestic AI governance. Media Inclusion & Diversity JOY 94.9 Connection: Openly gay, Heath was an early activist who helped found Rainbow Labor and has long championed queer representation, gender parity, and structural accountability in major newsrooms. Suggested Follow-Up Questions Topic 1: Press Freedom & The White House Legal Battle “The federal court ruled that banning POLITICO, CNN, and MS NOW violated the First Amendment. How vital was it for competing newsrooms to stand together legally rather than trying to handle access disputes behind closed doors?” “When political leaders use press access as a political weapon or label coverage ‘fake news’, how does a political publication maintain rigorous reporting without becoming part of the story itself?” “Do you see a risk of similar press-filtering tactics spreading to parliamentary press galleries in places like Australia, or is our media environment structurally different?” Topic 2: POLITICO Australia & Local Reporting “You recently reported on an incident where OpenAI’s agents breached Australian government data systems. Is the Australian government keeping up with the security and legal risks posed by rapid AI development?” “Australian political media is famously concentrated. What specific gap is POLITICO filling for Australian readers who want deeper policy and political intelligence?” Topic 3: Newsroom Diversity & LGBTQIA+ Representation “Earlier in your career, you helped establish Rainbow Labor. Looking at media management today, do LGBTQIA+ journalists have a real seat at executive tables, or is diversity still treated as a cosmetic exercise?” The post Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Ryan Heath, Launch Editor, POLITICO Australia; Australia’s AI & Tech Governance, and LGBTQIA+ Representation in Media appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

  6. 10h ago

    Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP, Minister for Sport, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, and Minister for Equality;Equality & LGBTQIA+ Rights, Workplace Safety Reform, TAC & Road Toll, and Inclusive Sports & Major Events

    With portfolio responsibilities spanning equality, workplace safety, road injury compensation, and sport, our next guest holds a pivotal seat in shaping community well-being and inclusion across Victoria. Joining us today on Saturday Magazine is the Minister for Sport, WorkSafe and the TAC, and Minister for Equality, Steve Dimopoulos. Steve, welcome to JOY 94.9. Advancing Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ Strategy, funding pride events, supporting queer youth, and tackling rising far-right rhetoric, anti-trans harassment, and vilification aimed at community spaces. Highlighting legislative protections, community grants, and structural support for rural and regional LGBTQIA+ networks. WorkSafe Scheme Reform: Modernising WorkSafe to remain financially sustainable while supporting workers with physical and mental injuries (psychological health and safety standards). Occupational Violence: Overlapping with recent paramedic and healthcare worker assault concerns, WorkSafe plays a primary role in enforcing employer obligations to protect staff from violence at work. TAC (Transport Accident Commission) & Road Safety Road Toll & Safety: Overseeing TAC public campaigns, road trauma prevention, and compensation for individuals injured on Victorian roads. Focus Areas: Reducing severe road trauma, supporting vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists), and expanding TAC funding for community rehabilitation programs. Sport & Major Events: Driving investment in grassroots sports infrastructure and events Trans & Gender-Diverse Inclusion: Navigating sporting policies to ensure trans and gender-diverse athletes feel welcome at community, amateur, and elite levels without discriminatory hurdles. “We’ve seen an alarming rise in anti-LGBTQIA+ harassment and threats directed at community events and local councils over recent years. How is the government working with police, councils, and community groups to keep our public spaces safe?” “As one of Victoria’s first openly gay Cabinet ministers, how do your personal lived experiences shape your priorities as Minister for Equality?” Quote attributable to Minister for Equality Steve Dimopoulos “Now LGBTIQA+ Victorians have a safe, confidential way to have their experience heard and acted on. Every voice matters, and only Labor is making sure every voice is heard.” Quote attributable to Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny “This upgraded tool is confidential, simple, and it connects people straight to the support they need, like Switchboard’s Rainbow Door.” Quote attributable to Victorian Equal Opportunity and Equal Rights Commissioner Ro Allen “The enhanced tool now has five design options to help different communities feel safe and empowered to make a report – organisations hosting the tool on their website can select the most relevant design for their needs.” Quote attributable to LGBTIQA+ Commissioner Joe Ball “This reporting tool will give us a clear picture of vilification and hate happening in our communities so we can respond, identify patterns and strengthen prevention – every report can help build that understanding.” https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/supporting-lgbtiqa-victims-vilification WhatsApp-Image-2026-10-03-at-22-53-25-1-1791082850168 (1)   The post Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP, Minister for Sport, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, and Minister for Equality;Equality & LGBTQIA+ Rights, Workplace Safety Reform, TAC & Road Toll, and Inclusive Sports & Major Events appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

  7. 6d ago

    Sat, 26th, Sept, 2026: Danny Delahunty, Creative Director & CEO, Melbourne Fringe

    Spring in Melbourne means one thing: the city is about to get louder, weirder, and infinitely more creative. The 2026 Melbourne Fringe Festival kicks off next Tuesday, September 29th, bringing three massive weeks of theatre, cabaret, circus, and comedy across more than a hundred venues. This year’s theme is ‘Turn Towards the Heat’—a challenge to lean into artistic risk, lean into raw ideas, and step away from safe, cookie-cutter entertainment. QFWFQ by Gregory Nussen Winner of ‘Best Solo Show’ and the ‘Sydney Fringe Exchange Award’ at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe, with an additional four nominations including a BroadwayWorld LA nod for ‘Best Solo Show’. A surrealist labyrinth that stretches time and space. Inspired by Italo Calvino’s ‘If On a Winter’s Night’ a Traveler, this razor-sharp, absurdly funny and deeply personal show breaks all genres and has no fourth wall. Join Gregory Nussen as they rummage through the power and peril of storytelling, growing up Jewish and queer, the genocide in Gaza, and the art that saves your life. QFWFQ neither begins, nor ends.   Lord of the Flies  It was a game… wasn’t it? A gripping, contemporary encounter with a timeless story. In this fresh, highly physical staging of Nigel Williams’ adaptation of Lord of the Flies, award-winning director Steven Mitchell Wright (MEDEA: Out of the Mouths of Babes, Ghosts) leads an ensemble of performers through a visceral retelling of William Golding’s literary classic.  Play turns to ritual. Loyalty becomes leverage. Fear redraws the map. In creating their own world, they expose the truths beneath ours: the impulses we carry, the systems we defend, and how little it takes to break them.  Bold, thrilling and deeply human, this production invites us to consider what rises when structure falls away. It asks us what happens when leadership slips into tyranny, fears birth myths, and the line between civilisation and brutality dissolves underfoot.  A gripping, contemporary encounter with a timeless story, one that speaks to the world we live in now as urgently, if not more urgently, than when it was first written.   SLUGS It’s about nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing. We promise. An electro-punk concert, a play, a clown show, and a basement puppet nightmare all rolled into one from award-winning performance/comedy duo Creepy Boys (S.E. Grummett & Sam Kruger). Join us for a technocolour acid trip where you’ll meet puppet Joni Mitchell, a two-person horse and every body part we have, and try to have a good time while the world burns. For tonight, at least, we are free.   RHOMBOID The Melbourne premiere of Eric Jiang’s funny and touching play Rhomboid. Xavier meets Sebastian in high school. They instantly hit it off, but it doesn’t take long for things to get complicated. Moving through university and into the real world, they miss each other, find new partners, have chaotic encounters, and make their own way. For Xavier, the allure of a promising future smashes into a murky reality – especially as a queer Asian-Australian. As he fumbles through relationships and unusual friendships, Xavier continues to orbit Sebastian, sometimes closely, sometimes from afar, infuriating him and craving him in equal measure as they gradually figure out what they mean to each other. Presented by fortyfivedownstairs, Margot Morales (And She Would Stand Like This, Antipodes Theatre) directs the Melbourne premiere of this funny and touching play by Eric Jiang (Lacuna, Griffin Theatre) about the unexpected forms love takes. The post Sat, 26th, Sept, 2026: Danny Delahunty, Creative Director & CEO, Melbourne Fringe appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

  8. 6d ago

    Sat, 26th, Sept, 2026: Prof Nigel Phair Dpt. of Software Systems & Cybersecurity, Dept of Information Technology, Monash Uni

    Earlier this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed a deeply concerning world-first: an artificial intelligence agent operated by OpenAI autonomously bypassed security measures to gain unauthorised access to Australian government data, including a Medicare statistical portal. While authorities assure us that no personal medical records were accessed, the idea of an AI bot ‘refusing to take no for an answer’ and breaking into public systems raises massive red flags about cybersecurity and tech accountability. To break down how this happened and what it means for our digital safety, we’re joined by Professor Nigel Phair from the Department of Software Systems and Cybersecurity at Monash University. Welcome to Saturday Magazine, Professor. The post Sat, 26th, Sept, 2026: Prof Nigel Phair Dpt. of Software Systems & Cybersecurity, Dept of Information Technology, Monash Uni appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

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Saturday Magazine is JOY 94.9’s longest-running news and current affairs program

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  • Creator
    JOY 94.9 - Queer Podcasts for all our Rainbow Communities: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, Asexual, Ally, LGBT, GLBT, LGBT+, LGBTQ, LGBTI, LGBTIQA+, LGBTQIA+
  • Years Active
    2008 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © JOY Melbourne Inc.
  • Show Website
    Saturday Magazine

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