Anthony Burke's By Design

Where would you prefer to age: in an institution or your own home? The recent Four Corners episode The Waiting Game investigated how the current aged care support system is failing thousands of Australians who want to stay in their own home as they age. It’s a dire situation with many vulnerable older people being left in precarious scenarios. But what if good design could make ageing in place easier, safer and more comfortable?
Guest: Professor Phillippa Carnemolla, School of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Technology Sydney

Hypodermic needles. They may provoke anxiety, but behind their infamous sting lies a remarkable design story.
Born from centuries of experimentation, the hypodermic needle transformed medicine by delivering drugs safely, accurately and effectively beneath the skin. From glass syringes to disposable plastics and needle-free alternatives, this is the evolution of a device that reshaped modern healthcare.

Urban growth is threatening endangered species that live around cities at the same time that many of them are finding sanctuary in the rooves of our houses or under our floorboards. So is it time for us to start designing homes that have specific species in mind?

It’s hard to imagine modern life without it, but toilet paper as we know it has only been around in the West since the mid-19th century. While paper was being used for personal hygiene in China centuries earlier, the humble loo roll has undergone a surprisingly fascinating design evolution.

Bees are in trouble, but the fix isn't the one most of us reach for. Most of Australia's 1,700-odd native bee species are solitary, and many nest in bare ground rather than a colony. So what does help? It might be the messy corner of the backyard, the bare patch of dirt, the herbs you let run to flower.