USQ experts available - The impact of COVID-19 on... *SPECIAL EDITION*

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will announce today when restrictions will next be eased, and possibly revealing when the borders will reopen. A controversial decision in light of Victoria’s recent COVID-19 outbreak.

It has now been five months since the first positive case in Australia and everyone has been impacted in different ways. From small businesses, relationships and families to farmers, employees and school children - the world as we know it has changed.

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE WORLD

182 days since China confirmed its first COVID-19 infection, the world has marked a new milestone surpassing more than 10 million confirmed cases with more than 25% in the United States - according to Johns Hopkins University.
Expert: Microbiologist Professor Mike Kotiw
Contact: Nat Gradwell

• IMPACT OF COVID-10 ON AUSTRALIAN TRADE

From port closures, export bans and tariff hikes Australian trade has taken a hit this year highlighting how reliant some sectors are on Chinese demand.
Expert: Chinese trade expert and economist Associate Professor Ben Lyons
Contact: Sarah Green

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON EDUCATION

Education’s age-old three Rs – Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic – are being joined by a fourth: Rethink. With schools, teachers and students undergoing a transformation that will go on long after the virus threat subsides.
Expert: Remote and Online teaching educator and advocate Tania Leach
Contact: Sarah Green

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SMALL BUSINESS

Despite help from the Government, many small business have collapsed due to Coronavirus restrictions – and those which have managed to withstand the changes are unlikely to ever recover from the economic impacts.
Expert: Marketing expert Professor Jane Summers
Contact: Nat Gradwell

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MENTAL HEALTH

As we continue to work our way through the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been considerable discussion about the impact the virus is having on our mental health. For many while physical distancing is helping to prevent people from contracting the coronavirus, it has also created other problems, including isolation, loneliness and anxiety.
Expert: Professor Gavin Beccaria
Contact: Nick Britnell

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON CAREERS

Surviving the career shock: COVID-19 has made Aussies re-think their work choices, but will it also impact on the career and study choices of young people?
Expert: Careers and employability expert Michael Healy
Contact: Griffith Thomas

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Social distancing measures has meant most people spent most of, it not all of their time at home, which has led to fewer opportunities to be active and a higher chance of sedentary behaviours.
Expert: Physical activity and health expert Prof Stuart Biddle
Contact: Griffith Thomas

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON WORKFORCE

Millions of Australia have been left unemployed, stood down or had their hours cut due to COVID-19, but there are steps people can take to increase their competitiveness in a shrinking jobs market.
Expert: Unemployment impacts researcher Dr Chris Kossen
Contact: Griffith Thomas

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON LOVERS

Coronavirus lockdown has proven to be a recipe for cabin fever, with stay-at-home measures placing an incredible strain on intimate relationships and pushing couples to breaking point. Meanwhile, online dating has become more popular during lockdown with more singles turning to dating apps to find love.
Expert: Relationship expert Raquel Peel
Contact: Griffith Thomas

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON TIME MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION

Death by notification: Digital technology has created a growing distraction from work and learning during the coronavirus pandemic.
Expert: Tech guru Dr Andrew Maxwell
Contact: Griffith Thomas

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE ARTS

The arts and cultural sector contributes $110 Billion a year to the Australian economy and is at the core of our national identity – so how has COVID-19’s extended interval impacted Australia’s community well-being?
Expert: Associate Professor Janet McDonald
Contact: Nick Britnell

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

With film and television releases postponed and shootings on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, the impact on the industry has been felt on all levels,from Hollywood to smaller production companies.
Expert: Film and Media Studies expert Dr Daryl Sparkes
Contact: Griffith Thomas

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON TOURISM

Border closures and overseas travel bans have had major implications on Australian tourism which has become one of the country’s worst affected economic sectors.
Expert: Tourism expert Francis Cassidy
Contact: Nat Gradwell

• IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON POPULAR CULTURE

From Tiger King to TikTok, COVID-19 has created a culture of binge-watching and escapism, epitomised in the Netflix documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.
Expert: Media Studies expert Dr Susan Hopkins
Contact: Griffith Thomas

Media Contacts:
Sarah Green: 0417 799 331 (available from 6am for media requests)
Nat Gradwell: 0449 186 116
Griffith Thomas: 0423 234 822
Nick Britnell: 0477 007 443