Sunday's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Police defend waiting six days to notify the public of Tiahleigh Palmer’s disappearance.

Following the disappearance and subsequent murder of 12-year-old school girl, Tiahleigh Palmer, police are facing criticism as to why they waited six days to make a public alert about her disappearance.

It was only on Thursday morning, the day her body was eventually found by fisherman, that police first made calls to the public for information.

The Guardian reports that when questioned about the six-day delay in investigation, Detective Superintendent Dave Hutchinson claimed the police service were already interviewing witnesses.

“Throughout the whole period there was a whole range of investigations being conducted and there were a number of [unconfirmed] sightings,” said Hutchinson.

However, the Superintendent wasn’t interested in further outlining their investigations, rather focussing on the current circumstances of the crime.

“What we’re here talking about today is the investigation of the location of a decease child, OK?” Hutchinson stated.

“We’re interested in what’s happening from now on…anything that might have occurred prior to this, those further investigations, I can talk to about [about] later.”

Tiahleigh was found dead near the Pimpama River, in the northern Gold Coast, last Thursday afternoon at around 5:00pm.

Police say that Tiahleigh was last seen leaving her school on the 30th October and was wearing her Marsden State High School Uniform and carrying a pink backpack. Both Tiahleigh’s uniform and backpack have not yet been located, and police are appealing to the public for information.

If anyone has any information relating to the murder of Tiahleigh Palmer, contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

2. NSW paramedics are being ‘crippled’ by untreated mental distress.

The Sydney Morning Herald are reporting horrific mistreatment of many paramedics enduring mental health issues across the NSW ambulance service.

A number of current and former paramedics are revealing the “macho culture” developed in NSW Ambulance with minimal support services available, causing them to self-medicate through drugs, or alcohol.

Steve McDowell, who in January was medically discharged from the service, alleges that he developed suicidal thoughts and anxiety due to the pressure of his job. As a paramedic, he particularly remembers the cases of a 14-year-old who took their life, a man who set himself on fire, and being held at knifepoint.

After realising the psychological damage he was suffering, McDowell’s doctor requested that he should be taken off night shifts. In response, the NSW Ambulance asked that a certificate be provided to prove McDowell was afraid of the dark.

McDowell claims the peer support group and chaplaincy program currently available is not enough to deal with the very serious mental health issues incurred with the job.

In another case, a paramedic who asked to receive support management from the service was told, “When you get home, drink a bottle of bourbon, watch some porn and you’ll be right.”

The Victorian Coroners Prevention Unit have identified that ambulance workers were second, after veterinarians, in the likelihood to take their own lives. Their suicide rates are almost four times higher than the average Australian worker.

The NSW Ambulance have stated that they are committed to preventing and treating staff with PTSD and were undertaking significant improvements to their current system.

3. Michelle Payne is appearing on Sunday Night with an exclusive interview on her personal life.

Winner of this year’s Melbourne Cup, Michelle Payne, will be appearing on tonight’s episode of Sunday Night, in an exclusive interview with Melissa Doyle.

The interview is reported to reveal a more emotional side to Michelle Payne, discussing her career, love life, and a near-death experience on the race-track.

Sunday Night are facing some criticism following the promotion of the interview, claiming it unjustifiably focusses on her ‘girly’ side.

In the interview, Payne tells Sunday Night:

“[When] holding the Cup on Tuesday – being so busy I hadn’t had the chance to get a manicure or a pedicure in so long – I just looked at my hand when they said hold up the cup and I was like, ‘Oh my God, how embarrassing!’.”

The interview airs tonight on Channel 7.

4. A report has found that 100% of schoolies are undeterred by alcohol abuse warnings.

Flinders University have released a concerning report that reveals absolutely none of the respondents were deterred from binge drinking or dangerous alcohol behaviours, despite being exposed to years of health warnings.

The report also found that most of the school-leavers intended to get drunk on most nights of their week-long holiday. Many said that they considered it a “must” after graduating from high school.

Many respondents reported spending copious amounts of time planning the cheap alcohol they intend on buying.

One school-leaver from Adelaide, who was interviewed in the report, claimed that her friends spent five hours debating what type of alcohol they were going to buy most cheaply.

Another respondent wrote, “By the time you’re drunk enough of the nice drink you can just go to goon and it just goes down really well anyway.”

Associate Professor of Nursing at Flinders University, Alison Hutton, states that we must change our messages to school-leavers during this time to more effectively influence their behaviours.

“Targeted messages of ‘take care of your mater’ or ‘look after your friends’ would have far more relevance to schoolies during this time of celebration,” Hutton wrote.

5. Sierra Leone has officially been declared Ebola-free.

The World Health Organisation have officially declared that Sierra Leone if free of Ebola, following 42 days with no new cases reported.

WHO’s country director, Anders Nordstöm, confirmed to the nation that the 42 day gap between the last reported case of Ebola met the international criteria that the virus was no longer being transmitted in the nation.

“10, 9, 8, 7…” The moment Sierra Leone was officially declared free from Ebola: https://t.co/NWYdcO7wek pic.twitter.com/DXL4gyKZgf

— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) November 7, 2015

Following the announcement, the capital city, Freetown, was transformed into a spectacular carnival to celebrate the eradication of the virus, and also the lives of those affected by Ebola. Many spontaneous parties and candlelit vigils broke out, with many describing the atmosphere as ‘jubilant’. Healthcare worker, Yusuf Kamara, received a standing ovation after making an emotional speech regarding his experience with the virus. “For us, Ebola is not over. We need your help to treat the many, many health problems we still suffer from…The disease challenged the very foundations of our humanity.”

Co-discoverer of Ebola on preventing further outbreak after Sierra Leone declared Ebola free https://t.co/tZ5RuGwg8S pic.twitter.com/4TT8OH4xDs — BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) November 7, 2015

He also said that health workers and other survivors must not be stigmatised in the community, but celebrate the heroism in their country.

Sierra Leone was one of the hardest hit in the world with more than 4,000 lives taken from the virus.

Do you have a news tip? We’d love to hear it. E-mail us at: news@mamamia.com.au

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