A new year brings fresh guidance from UniSC experts on reducing food waste, building healthier habits, managing your budget, travelling flexibly and safely, and protecting yourself in the summer sun.
Waste not, want not
Contact: dcave@usc.edu.au
With so many party tables overflowing with food this holiday season, Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics Dr Danielle Cave shares some great ideas on how to reduce food waste. Dr Cave’s research also delves into reducing food waste in residential aged care.
- Menu plan and delegate dishes for Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve events.
- Remember the two-hour/four-hour rule: Put at-risks foods in the fridge within two hours so they can be used again later, use immediately any food that’s been left out for two to four hours, throw away food left out for more than four hours.
- Encourage guests to bring containers to take home leftovers.
- Repurpose leftover food:
Ham and roast vegetables can be used in soup, frittatas or fried rice
Fruit can be frozen for smoothies
Bread can be made intro croutons, breadcrumbs or French toast
Avoid dressing the entire salad, only what is served on the plate. - Compost food that can’t be safely consumed, such as eggshells, fruit peels and coffee grinds. Check local council websites for composting guidelines. Some councils have rebate programs for equipment and community gardens where you can drop off your compost.
Further information and free resources to reduce household food waste: OzHarvest.
Make change, feel better
Contact: RSharman@usc.edu.au
As New Year's Eve heralds new beginnings, many people choose to set goals around healthier habits. But how can you realistically turn hopes and dreams into a workable plan? Senior Lecturer in Psychology Dr Rachael Sharman explains what to do when 2026 brings competing priorities and/or boredom – and temptation reappears.
Dr Sharman also has guidance for married couples having relationship issues. “The first week of January is known by family lawyers across Australia as divorce week,” she says. “Why do so many couples pick up the phone to dissolve their marriage immediately after the new year – and how can psychological insights help them?”
Bank on a budget
Contact: sanwar@usc.edu.au
Starting a new year with a positive attitude toward your budget is especially important amid ongoing inflationary pressures in Australia and continued uncertainty around interest rates. Professor of Finance Sajid Anwar offers five ways to get on top of your spending and saving.
- Rather than aiming for perfection, begin with clarity.
- Review last year’s spending to identify a few high-impact areas where small adjustments can make a difference.
- Set realistic monthly targets, prioritise essentials, and build a modest buffer for rising costs.
- Automate savings where possible to reduce decision fatigue and schedule regular check-ins to stay on track.
- A practical, flexible budget is not about restriction. It is a tool for maintaining control, reducing stress, and making informed choices throughout the year.
Sky’s the limit, be a flexible tourist
Contact: mtham@usc.edu.au
Pent-up demand since the COVID-19 pandemic and better accessibility in terms of air travel domestically and internationally are prompting many of us to plan dream holidays in 2026. According to the 2025 Holiday Barometer, Australians are ranked first among 21 nations in terms of their readiness to spend on summer holidays (Sydney Times, 2025).
Senior Lecturer in Tourism, Leisure and Event Management Dr Aaron Tham says direct flights from Queensland to Kuala Lumpur and Cebu (Philippines) are facilitating greater options for inbound and outbound travel as people seek value-for-money holidays as well as cultural destinations.
However, he urges holidaymakers to build in some level of flexibility and contingency to allow for changes of plans and experiences.
“Be prepared for busier lines at airports, highways and other tourism hubs, which can give rise to service failures such as delays, cancellations or mismatched expectations. Think about how to help older and younger family members avoid tension in these situations.
“Can your reservations be cancelled at short notice? Could this become ‘downtime’, allowing you to have a swim at the beach or a casual bushwalk? Spontaneous or serendipitous moments can be great for social relations as well as health and wellbeing outcomes. Happy holidays.”
Enjoy the beach, screen that sun
Contact: Andrew.Dettrick@research.usc.edu.au
Yes, we’re the Sunshine Coast and for many locals and tourists, that means a lifestyle revolving around sun, sand and surf. Guard against our high incidence of skin cancer with these tips from Associate Professor Andrew Dettrick, a medical doctor, volunteer lifesaver and UniSC skin cancer researcher.
- Use sunscreen on exposed skin, especially face, hands and forearms. Research done over many years has proven that regular sunscreen use reduces your risk of skin cancer. For the latest on sunscreens, including controversies about SPF labelling, see my blog.
- Have an UV App on your phone. You cannot feel or see UV radiation but you can add a widget to your home screen. If the UV index is more than three, you need protection.
- Stay out of the sun in the middle of the day. Schedule outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon.
- If you must go out in the middle of the day, wear a long-sleeve shirt and a hat. Remember your sunnies – the sun damages your eyes as well as your skin. (And you look cooler.)
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