Our focus is on issues that allow us to challenge inequality and eradicate poverty. These are diverse, depending on a variety of different factors.
In Australia, it is estimated that 1 in 6 children and 1 in 8 adults live in poverty.
Soaring increases to the cost of living and an ongoing lack of affordable housing are pushing more South Australians into severe financial hardship. Single parents and women over 50 experience poverty at higher rates than the general population.
Poverty doesn't discriminate. It impacts every aspect of life: health, education, housing, employment, access to services and wellbeing. It is isolating, stressful and complex.
Most definitions of poverty are based on median income. For the statistics presented below, poverty is defined as half of the median household disposable income, around $460 a week for a single person.
To learn more about poverty in South Australia visit: SACOSS, Anti-Poverty Network of South Australia
References
Department of Social Services, 2021
Davidson, P., Bradbury, B., Hill, T., and Wong, M. (2020), Poverty in Australia 2020: Part 2, Who is affected? ACOSS/UNSW Poverty and Inequality
Partnership Report No. 4, Sydney: ACOSS.
Marks, S; Tilley, S. & Earl, C. 2021, Understanding the poverty system in South Australia. South Australian Council of Social Service and the Wyatt Trust: Unley, South Australia.
IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA POVERTY IS EXPERIENCED BY:
102,850 people rely on JobSeeker or Youth Allowance payments (2021) for income, well below the poverty line.
ONLY 1%
of private rental listings in Adelaide were affordable for a single person receiving JobSeeker or Youth Allowance
Households in regional areas experience
2X THE RATE OF POVERTY
than those in the Greater Adelaide area
Poverty doesn’t only affect the unemployed – 30% of people living below the poverty line are part of a household where wages are the main source of income. This is concentrated in families with children.
Children in sole parent families experience
3X THE RATE OF POVERTY
than those in couple parent families
45%
of households in poverty live in a rental
Each of us may be only a life event away from experiencing poverty, and those with the greatest susceptibility to poverty include:
If you are experiencing financial difficulties, free information and advice can be accessed through the National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 or www.ndh.org.au
