We are right in the midst of Anti-Poverty Week – which commenced on 13 October and will run until 19 October. To commemorate Anti-Poverty Week, the Guardian, alongside other Commissioners, Guardians and Advocates from across Australia, calls on state and federal governments to end child poverty.
“I know when talking with children and young people in care and detention, they are acutely aware that poverty impacts every aspect of their life, and they believe poverty sinisterly assigns them ‘their lot in life’, we must simply reconstruct this narrative and we must simply end child poverty… period.” said Shona
All children and young people deserve the opportunity to thrive and flourish, and this most certainly should not be based on an income bracket or affluence.
As part of the Australian Children’s Commissioners, Guardians and Advocate collective, The Guardian has signed a Joint Statement on Poverty that states the facts about child poverty in Australia and calls out its very real impact on children and young people.
The Joint Statement calls on those in power to be active in ending poverty – to break the endemic cycle of poverty and stop the marginalisation of vulnerable people and communities across our nation. It calls on all levels of government to significantly reform legislation, policy, and service sectors to better meet the needs of children and young people, and indeed all people, who experience poverty.
“We must recognise that poverty (directly or indirectly) contributes to isolation and exclusion for many children and their families from everyday activities and opportunities, I encourage us all to think about how we can play our part in eradicating poverty and making more efforts to ensure no one is left behind and without.” said Shona
Please take the time to read the Joint Statement from Australia’s Children’s Commissioners, Guardians and Advocate, who say:
“Child poverty can be overcome. Australian governments have the power and resources to stop it. The persistence of child poverty in Australia – a modern and thriving nation – is indefensible.”
You can read more about Anti-Poverty Week and how you can act to end poverty on the Anti-Poverty Week website.