Around one in seven Australians who turn to welfare organisations for help lack a substantial meal at least once a day according to new research released in Anti-Poverty Week (14-20 October).

The research snapshot sheds light on the day to day experiences of Australians in need and has led to calls for a national strategy to tackle poverty.

It also proposes measuring poverty based on what the community believes is essential for an
acceptable standard of living. This includes access to key services and items that allow people to participate in community life – not income alone, the traditional indicator of poverty.

The report is part of an Australian Research Council-funded project called “Left out and missing out:

Towards new indicators of disadvantage” – led by Professor Peter Saunders from the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales in partnership with Mission Australia, Anglicare (Sydney) and the Brotherhood of St Laurence; as well as the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).

Survey responses from around 670 clients accessing the welfare organisations’ services reveal a higher level of deprivation when measured against community standards.

As well as the most basic need for food, 33.5 per cent of clients lack a decent and secure home; 31 per cent are unable to buy prescribed medicines; 38.8 per cent didn’t have access to mental health services; and 27 per cent have children who are unable to participate in school activities and outings.

The research pays particular attention to households with children, revealing 55 per cent don’t have access to annual dental check ups, 36 per cent don’t have access to up-to-date school books or new school clothes and 18.1 per cent lack a separate bed per child.

The research surveyed a random sample of 2700 Australians, resulting in broad agreement that the ‘essentials of life’ go beyond things which are solely income-related to include access to health services, reasonable housing, the space you live in and strong community and personal
relationships.

In terms of a national poverty strategy, the report calls on Australia to adopt a plan similar to those found in other OECD nations – such as the United Kingdom and Ireland – with identified targets and timeframes for addressing disadvantage in a comprehensive way.

The Top 14 Essentials of Life*

*Based on a survey of 2700 Australians in Saunders, P., Naidoo, Y. and Griffiths, M (2007) Towards new indicators of disadvantage, deprivation and social exclusion in Australia, Sydney, SPRC

Copies of the Left out and missing out: Voices from the margins research snapshot are available here.

Left out and missing out: Voices from the margins (359.3 kB)