Hi Wentyl,

This week generational clashes were on my mind, with a number of stories exploring how Gen Z and Gen Xers are viewing the future. 

One story discussed research that showed the Bank of Grandma and Grandpa is open for business, with a new study finding many parents are expecting to financially support their adult children well into their retirement. The study of 50-somethings with kids aged 18 to 25 found at least half were factoring contributions to the cost of cars, weddings, rent, insurance and houses into their financial planning. 

I particularly liked the dad who noted that he wanted his daughter to be more independent so rather than driving her around, he bought her a car. But of course not all parents can afford to do this!

My colleague Darcy Fitzgerald wrote about a major uni study into how young people from Gen Z feel about the future, and it suggests none of them are taking this kind of parental largesse for granted.

It showed four out of five believe they will be less financially well off than their parents, thanks mainly to rising house prices and insecure jobs. What a turnaround in just one generation.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, with one young Victorian, Hannah Swinnerton, writing an inspirational account of how she turned her life around after being cruelly bullied throughout her school days. Swinnerton, now 31, stood before 600 of her peers in year 12 and talked about what the bullying was doing to her.

“Teachers and students applauded, and even some of the bullies came up to apologise. For the first time, I realised the power of my voice – and I knew I was meant to use it to help others.”

Someone else who’s finally found their voice is a Queensland teacher who wrote a devastating piece about how a false allegation derailed his life. It ruined his marriage and his mental health.

"I was left isolated, humiliated, and broken by a system that was supposed to protect both me and my students ... I carried the stigma of being that male teacher accused of misconduct. Even though I was cleared, the impact remains. The psychological toll was immense. Anxiety became my constant companion."

The story struck a big chord with readers, who left more than 300 comments and sent us dozens of emails telling their own stories.

Enjoy these, and many other great stories, this week.