Jessica Clifford
Wollongong, NSW
Jessica is the Nowra reporter for ABC Illawarra.
After spending nearly a decade as a volunteer lifesaver and professional lifeguard she graduated from the University of Wollongong in 2013 with degrees in law and journalism.
She had a brief stint as a lawyer and travelled through Africa, the UK and Europe before taking a newspaper cadetship at the Milton-Ulladulla Times Newspaper.
After spending almost two years writing about local news, sport, court cases and community events she made the switch to the ABC local radio at the end of 2016.
She will travel anywhere on the South Coast for a good story and keeps a spare microphone in her handbag at all times next to her emergency supply of strawberry liquorice.
In her spare time she volunteers as a surf life saver, edits a lighthouse magazine, continues to travel the world and spends most weekends surfing or snowboarding depending on the season.
Latest by Jessica Clifford
Body of man, who died allegedly trying to evade police, pulled from Fitzroy River
The body of a 36-year-old man who jumped into the Fitzroy River on Thursday night while allegedly trying to flee police has been found by a member of the public.
BHP announces sale of Blackwater and Daunia mines in US $4.1 billion deal
BHP has made another move away from coal mining, selling its Blackwater and Daunia mines. The new owner, an Australian company, will take over operations from June next year.
Gandali the chimp survives snakebite at Queensland zoo after mistaking eastern brown for toy
The three-year-old chimpanzee — whose surrogate mother rushed to his aid and refused to let go — is recovering after being bitten by the deadly snake in his enclosure at Rockhampton Zoo.
If you've ever bought sesame seeds or eaten them, they were likely imported. An Australian growers hub is changing that
When you pick up a sesame seed product in an Australian supermarket, there's a near 100-per-cent chance the seed has been grown overseas.
Melanoma rates dropping for younger people in Queensland, but skin cancer still on the rise
A Greens senator's experience with skin cancer prompts a warning about cumulative sun exposure as skin cancer rates rise, despite the success of the Slip Slop Slap campaign for those born after 1980.
Man charged with murder of woman, 74, at Queensland retirement village
A man, 68, is in police custody after a woman was found dead in her retirement village home in central Queensland last week.
Divers pull $300k car from river with crocodiles after keys allegedly stolen from tourists
Police divers were flown to Rockhampton from Brisbane to retrieve the car from the depths of the Fitzroy River with a crane after it was allegedly stolen from a Victorian family.
Holidaymakers still dreaming of the tropics but international airlines slow to return
A cold snap in the southern states pushes more travellers to north Queensland but international tourists are competing for a limited number of flights into the region.
Social media influencers ruining ancient Indigenous art at Carnarvon Gorge, rangers say
Indigenous leaders and local rangers say the lengths people will go to for the perfect photograph at Carnarvon Gorge are disrespectful and unlawful.
This 19th century sandstone homestead once owned by artist Arthur Boyd has been restored to its former glory
The historic former homestead of renowned artist Arthur Boyd was gifted to the Australian public in the 1990s and has operated as a national museum since.
Behind the rows of chestnut trees, something deeper is changing lives at this farm
At first glance, a farm run by Christian organisation Salt Ministries in the remote New South Wales town of Sassafras appears like any other commercial operation. But a peek behind the scenes shows it's much more than that.
Search begins in NSW's Hampton State Forest for missing woman Jessica Zrinski
The NSW homicide squad is treating the disappearance of Sydney woman Jessica Zrinski as suspicious as it leads a search of the Hampton State Forest near Jenolan.
Search resumes for 70-year-old fisher swept off rocks near iconic blowhole
Bystanders and a friend the man was fishing with say they heard him calling for help before they lost sight of him last night.
Major roads in flood-hit NSW South Coast still being repaired a year after landslips
More than 12 months after flooding caused Moss Vale Road in the Shoalhaven to be cut off by landslips, there is still no date as to when the rest of the major repair work will begin.
Former Liberal MP facing sexual assault charges to be re-elected, Antony Green predicts
Independent Kiama MP Gareth Ward, set to face trial later this year charged with five historic sexual assault offences, is predicted to be re-elected.
Gareth Ward 'confident' of innocence after facing court on sexual assault charges
The incumbent Kiama MP Gareth Ward has pleaded not guilty to four sexual assault charges and one count of common assault in the district court at Nowra.
Families remember 'adventurous' and 'kind-hearted' American firefighters during inquest into fatal Black Summer plane crash
An inquest into the death of three aerial firefighters who died when their large air tanker crashed during the Black Summer bushfires hears from their surviving families, as investigations fail to determine why the C-130 stalled.
RFS radio operator changed log following deadly plane crash
A NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer changed his radio log after a large air tanker crashed in the Snowy Mountains during the Black Summer bushfires, a coronial inquest has heard.
American pilot felt pressure from the NSW RFS to keep flying during Black Summer bushfires, inquest hears
An American aerial firefighter giving evidence at a coronial inquest into the deaths of his colleagues during the 2019-20 bushfire season tells the coroner he felt pressure from the NSW Rural Fire Service to continuing flying.
US pilot who died fighting New South Wales blaze was on last flight before retirement, inquest hears
Ian McBeth was one of three US firefighters killed when the C130 large air tanker they were were flying crashed during Black Summer.
Australia's getting nuclear subs with the AUKUS deal, but where will they be based?
Port Kembla, Newcastle and Brisbane are all shortlisted as possible east coast sites for a nuclear submarine base, but what are the pros and cons of each location?
Port Kembla community concerned about potential nuclear submarine base
The NSW Ports boss says she has been kept in the dark by Defence about whether it will host a nuclear submarine base at Port Kembla, despite reports the port is now firming up as the preferred location.
Federal government apologises for PFAS contamination impact
Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite apologises for the way PFAS has impacted upon the lives of Jervis Bay residents and promises an independent review of land around contaminated defence bases will be undertaken this year.
NSW Ports boss tells defence to look elsewhere for nuclear base
NSW Ports chief executive Marika Calfas has called for the state's trade needs to be prioritised ahead of a nuclear base, while unveiling plans for an offshore wind farm facility at Port Kembla.
The tiny community radio station that helped save Braidwood from fire becomes platform for new podcast
A community radio station in the NSW country town of Braidwood staffed by exhausted volunteers became a lifeline for residents through the black summer bushfires.