Family poverty in Australia affects millions, with one in six children living in poverty.¹
Family poverty in Australia is a pressing issue that affects millions of lives, particularly those of children. The scale of poverty in Australia should not be underestimated. Today, one in six Australian children and young people are living in poverty¹, struggling to access even the most basic necessities. This financial disadvantage can have long-lasting effects on their education and overall life outcomes.
Family poverty refers to a situation where a family lacks the financial resources to meet basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, medicine and education. This often results in limited access to opportunities that can improve their quality of life. In Australia, family poverty is a significant concern that requires immediate attention and action.
Brutally in NSW, the number of households skipping meals has risen by 30% since 2022 and 90% of single parents have gone without essentials.²
Child poverty in Australia is an alarming issue. With the rising cost of living and basic government income support falling short, more children and young people are at risk of experiencing poverty than ever before. Once caught in poverty, breaking free can be incredibly challenging, trapping families in a cycle that can affect generations.
Children growing up in poverty are less likely to achieve educational outcomes comparable to their peers from more affluent backgrounds. This educational gap limits their employment prospects and overall life outcomes, passing on disadvantage to the next generation.
Children who experience poverty are more than three times as likely to be poor as adults. They are 2.5 times more likely to live in social housing, and more than twice as likely to experience financial stress.³
Children living in poverty are also more likely to experience poor mental and general health. Children, young people and their families are increasingly going without essentials like food and medication, impacting their future health.
Children who grow up in a family that receives government support payments are also twice as likely to receive support payments themselves, compared to children whose families do not receive support payments.⁴
The lack of affordable housing means more families with children are living in cars or in overcrowded and unsafe accommodation, which results in children living in potentially dangerous situations or being exposed to violence or other inappropriate behaviours.
Disrupted education from regularly moving house or being homeless – living in cars, couch surfing, overcrowded environments – impacts a child’s ability to focus on their schooling. The lack of consistency interrupts their routine and children become concerned about their safety or feel embarrassed. In addition, not having breakfast or lunch can impact their ability to concentrate in class, while not being able to afford school supplies or uniforms means children feel shame and don’t want to go to school.
When families are unable to afford essentials or face homelessness, their children often stop attending school. This means fewer opportunities to make connections or participate in community activities, leading to social isolation.
Families going without doctor’s visits or medication for their children leads to poor physical and mental health, which sadly means many childhood disabilities or special needs may go undiagnosed. While inability to afford healthy meals leads to poor nutrition and health problems.
Family poverty in Australia is not just an economic issue; it’s an educational crisis that affects future generations’ potential. By providing targeted support through organisations like Barnardos Australia and advocating for national policies focused on reducing child poverty, we can make significant strides toward breaking this cycle of disadvantage.
For more information on how you can help or access services designed to support families in need, visit Barnardos Australia’s services page today.
Barnardos works with children, young people and families for as long as it takes to create sustainable change and break the cycle of disadvantage with a unique, holistic approach that surrounds the child and their family in specialised support.
Barnardos Australia offer various services aimed at supporting families experiencing poverty:
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