Poverty
The Global Financial Crisis has impacted on many people who thought they were immune to hardship and insecurity, because life has been so buoyant and privileged. But even during the economic boom others were doing it tough - they were often silent, powerless and ignored.
When most people picture poverty there are usually images of people living in third world conditions, in developing or war torn countries. However, poverty should be seen as what is relative to that countries norm. That is why when the OECD measures the level of poverty in a country they base their definition on 50% of the median disposable income. In 2006/07 Australia’s relative poverty had increased to more than 11%.
Another common measurement of Poverty is the “Henderson Poverty Line”. In March 2009 this line recorded the single poverty line for an unemployed person as $317.73 a week. At the same time the Centrelink payment (including maximum rent assistance) was $35 a week below the Henderson Poverty Line.
Whilst an adequate income assists people to escape poverty it is not the answer to social exclusion or doing it tough. Those most affected by poverty include:
- Unemployed
- Households headed by young people
- Renters
- Those who rely on Centrelink for their main income.
Poverty is not a lifestyle that people choose, yet many Australians are ill prepared to save themselves from financial stress if they lose their income source. The recent increase in unemployment figures is raising community awareness as to the complexities involved in navigating the Centrelink and employment services systems. The Welfare Rights Centre is funded by the Commonwealth and State government to act as an independent voice for the people mystified, misrepresented or disgruntled by these systems.
Consequences of Poverty
Children living in poverty do it tough. Rarely do they participate in extra curricular activities. They face the shame of not fitting in and there are many stories as to how they miss out on school excursions and eventually avoid school as their parents are too embarrassed to send them to school hungry or without lunch.
Older people living in poverty often experience the following:
- Losing touch with friends and family.
- Losing their accommodation and ending up homeless, with no one having time to listen to their story and outsiders making judgments about what put them there.
- Not seeking medical treatment, prescriptions and oral health care.
For further information on poverty check out the following links:
http://www.melbourneinstitute.com/labour/inequality/poverty/default.html
http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/index.htm
http://www.acoss.org.au
http://www.qcoss.org.au