Victoria

Victoria's Environment Protection Authority forecasts poor water quality at all of the 36 beaches it monitors in Port Phillip Bay, including some of Melbourne's most popular swimming spots.

As Mission Australia reports seeing a rise in young people seeking their services, the future of a successful program helping to prevent them from ending up sleeping rough hangs in the balance.

Alcoa's Portland aluminium smelter will continue production over the next four years thanks to a $240 million government rescue package, but why was the facility at risk and how will this bailout help?

An Albury-based historian looks for answers to why Australia voted no to sending men overseas to fight during the World War I.

An ancient Aboriginal settlement and aquaculture site in south-west Victoria is a step closer to being named a UNESCO World Heritage site, after the Federal Government submitted it to be included on a tentative list.

Cancer-free Jarryd Roughead will take on captaincy of the Hawks for the 2017 season.

The big guns are on show on day five at the Australian Open, including top seeds Angelique Kerber and Andy Murray and the likes of Roger Federer.

The future of Alcoa's Portland aluminium smelter in Victoria is secured, with the Federal and Victorian governments announcing a rescue package worth about $240 million.

Rafael Nadal raises hopes of filling the vacuum left by Novak Djokovic's loss after demolishing Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the third round.

Novak Djokovic says he wants to spend time with his family and will not confirm a return to Melbourne Park in 2018 after his shock Australian Open loss to Denis Istomin.

Tim Cahill's double and Roy O'Donovan's red card set Melbourne City on their way to a comfortable 2-1 A-League win over Central Coast.

Serena Williams charges into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday with an emphatic win over Czech Lucie Safarova after third seed Agnieszka Radwanska was knocked out early.

Ella Azura Pardy is one name you need to know before Usain Bolt's Nitro Athletics event in Melbourne next month.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic is dumped out of the Australian Open in the second round by world number 117 Denis Istomin.

Local favourite Daria Gavrilova is into the third round of the Australian Open after a tough three-set win over Ana Konjuh.

Australian hospitals all deliver different antenatal education programs with one expert calling for a more standardised approach.

Hundreds of workers at a sawmill in Victoria's east are told they could be out of a job by September, and many fear for their prospects in the already hard-hit Gippsland region.

Victorian Holstein heifer calf sold for a quarter of a million dollars and makes Australian dairy history.

A new solar energy plant to be built in regional Victoria will run Melbourne's entire tram network by the end of 2018, the State Government says.

The morning after his disappointing singles loss to Andreas Seppi, Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of his Australian Open doubles match with an abdominal injury.

A crowdfunding campaign succeeds in raising enough money to install billboards featuring two girls in hijabs around the country, after an Australia Day sign was taken down in Melbourne following complaints it featured Muslims.

British tennis star Johanna Konta advances to the third round of the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Japan's Naomi Osaka.

A man who is accused of contacting men online while pretending to be a woman is charged over a string of alleged sex offences in Port Melbourne.

Skin-to-skin contact is safe for vulnerable premature babies and should be encouraged to help a newborn's first few weeks of life, a new study reveals.

A number of children and alleged Apex gang associates have been referred to Border Force for potential deportation, Victoria Police says.