Mikaela Ortolan
Melbourne, VIC
Mikaela Ortolan is a journalist and digital producer currently working in Melbourne. She has also worked for the ABC in Wodonga and Shepparton.
Latest by Mikaela Ortolan
With Victorians living closer together, noise complaints are a reality of life — these are the rules to know
Noise complaints in Victoria have almost doubled in the last financial year. How should you approach a conversation with a neighbour if they're making too much noise and what do you do if it doesn't result in change?
Four teenagers jailed over murder of Melbourne boy Declan Cutler
Four teenagers have been sentenced to jail terms of at least 17 years for the murder of Melbourne boy Declan Cutler as he was leaving a friend's party in 2022.
'Nothing short of amazing': Why these two athletes stand out from the pack
Josh Young's life changed forever when a mountain bike accident left him a paraplegic in 2017. Now he's competing on the world stage.
Experts release plan to head off potentially fatal overdoses as fentanyl and nitazenes hit Victorian drug market
Synthetic opioids like fentanyl and nitazenes are already finding their way into Australia's drug supply. Experts are concerned surges in the drug could have fatal consequences and are calling on the government to prepare.
Here's what will happen if Greg Lynn appeals his conviction over the murder of camper Carol Clay
Even for legal minds, Greg Lynn's murder trial over the deaths of two Victorian campers was filled with "unusual" twists and turns. Here's what could come next in the long-running court case.
'We need to accept the evidence': Victorian government outlines details of pill testing trial
Pill testing will be rolled out across 10 Victorian festivals this summer and a fixed site will be established in the city in a bid to decrease drug overdoses.
Are schools doing enough to educate students about the dangers of AI as teachers fall victim to deepfake pornography?
A student has been expelled at a school in Melbourne's east after creating explicit images of a female teacher. The Independent Education Union says images of several other teachers have been used to create deepfake pornography.
After hearing some of the darkest stories involving the deaths of Victorian women, Marcia Neave says there's more to be done
Marcia Neave led the nation's first-ever royal commission into family violence. She has since labelled the government's response to reform as "simplistic".
Melbourne mother recalls 'begging' armed abductor to leave her and daughter alone
A mother says a man armed with a knife told her to "just stop crying" as he forced her to drive and buy laptops in Melbourne's south-east while her six-month-old daughter sat in the back seat.
This European country doesn't charge people for public transport. Could Australia do the same?
Australia ranks among the most expensive countries in the world when it comes to the cost of public transport. But free fares might not be the solution.
Victorian opposition vows to fight to scrap payroll tax on doctors, in state budget response
Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto labels Tuesday's state budget a "failure of leadership", accusing his political opponents of missing an opportunity to turn around the state's growing debt.
Who are the winners and losers in Victoria's 2024 state budget?
Families with school-aged children are among the biggest winners in this year's budget. But as the government grapples with rising debt, there are some cuts and delays to major projects.
'I wanted to feel normal but I couldn't' — Mackenzie is one of many children suffering long-term impacts of a concussion in sport
Mackenzie was knocked unconscious during a netball game and suffered a concussion that she says still affects her today. New research could help identify which children will have long-term symptoms so early intervention can take place.
Can you afford a house in Melbourne? Probably not — here's why
Melbourne has seen improvements in its affordability metrics over the past five years, but data shows there are no suburbs the average Victorian on a single wage could afford to buy a house without mortgage stress.
What is a rip at the beach and how do you safely swim out of one?
Rips are the number one coastal hazard contributing to a number of deaths each year so how do you spot one and what should you do if you're caught in one?
Ballarat community gather to support the family of missing mother Samantha Murphy
The Ballarat community has gathered for a vigil to honour Samantha Murphy after a 22-year-old man was charged with her alleged murder.
Labor primary vote holds strong in by-election in Melbourne seat of Dunkley, with Jodie Belyea claiming victory
Jodie Belyea claims victory in by-election in the federal seat of Dunkley in Melbourne's south-east.
Votes are being counted for the federal Dunkley by-election, as the PM joins campaign
The count has begun for a crucial by-election in Melbourne's south-east tipped to be a test for the Albanese government.
Final votes to be cast in Dunkley by-election as test looms for government
The poll for the outer-suburban seat in the Melbourne's south-east was prompted by the death of popular Labor MP Peta Murphy in December last year.
The Victorian government's annual Iftar dinner has been cancelled following backlash
Muslim community leaders have welcomed the cancellation of the Victorian premier's annual Iftar dinner, after several groups threatened to boycott the event over the way Labor has responded to the Israel-Gaza war.
Fire crews keep bushfires within containment lines in Victoria's west
Firefighters kept a fire south of Ballarat within containment lines overnight ahead of cooler conditions on Thursday.
Emergency warning for fire south of Ballarat as strong winds sweep Victoria
Residents in the Victorian town of Dereel are warned to leave immediately, as their properties come under threat from a fast-moving grassfire ignited during a day of extreme fire risk.
Fire crews battle to contain blaze in Victoria's west — as it happened
Emergency crews on Friday battled large bushfires west of Ballarat in Victoria, with authorities urging nearby residents to leave immediately.
Homes threatened as bushfires erupt in Victoria and Tasmania — as it happened
There are warnings for several regional communities in Victoria and Tasmania as bushfires begin to impact both states.
Taylor Swift has touched down in Melbourne — she's already making economic waves
Businesses are cashing in on the Taylor Swift hype, with more than 620,000 tickets purchased for the Australian leg of the Eras Tour. We look at the impact it's having on our economy.