Women, especially single mothers, older women and caregivers, are at higher risk of poverty due to systemic barriers like unpaid care work, wage inequality, and lack of financial support.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that four in ten people living in poverty in Australia are living in wage-earning households.
Sharlene, WA’s first Aboriginal woman to complete the Diploma of Financial Counselling Scholarship Program, is one of these women. Despite working full-time - while caring for her granddaughter and disabled mother - rising living costs means she is still only just getting by. She has no room to save and no financial security while she provides essential support for her family.
Sharlene is only just getting by even though she works full-time.
Younger women aged 18 to 24 are also one of the most at-risk groups for financial hardship and housing insecurity, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare research shows.
When Kim's mother died when she was 7 years old, she and her father fell into financial hardship. Her father, a previous small business owner who struggled with depression, passed away when Kim was 20, and this took her down the slippery slope of homelessness. She moved into youth housing and survived on youth allowance while studying at university, barely scraping by and often skipping meals to make ends meet.
Around 358,000 Western Australians – of which over 90,000 are children – are facing the harsh realities of poverty. That’s one in eight people and one in six children living in poverty in our state right now.
To ensure the economic security of people in Western Australia who are doing it tough, a new anti-poverty movement, No Place for Poverty, is advocating for fairer systems that support our state's most vulnerable. This includes raising income support so that no one is forced to live below the poverty line and targeted financial relief instead of short-term cash handouts.
With the accessibility of housing at its lowest rate in 75 years, a contributing factor to homelessness in our state, the movement is also calling for long-term investments in affordable and secure housing to prevent housing insecurity and homelessness.
Kim was on the streets at the age of 20 when her father passed away and relied on youth allowance.
WA’s rising poverty levels are up from 8.7 per cent in 2014 to 12.8 per cent in 2022.
No Place for Poverty Lead Alex Hughes said these rising poverty rates are showing no signs of slowing down, with rising living costs and a housing crisis.
“People need help, and we all have a role to play in that. We believe that poverty has no place in WA’s heart, economy, or potential. This movement ultimately is a rallying cry for change and reflects our determination to create a fairer future for all,” Mr Hughes said.
Research tells us that one in three single mums in WA are living in poverty and women over 55 years are a significantly struggling group. A recent Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) report shows that single-parent families, of which the majority are women, are up to 35 per cent more likely to experience poverty than couple families. People with a disability are also a high-risk group of people falling to poverty.
Laura, a former school principal and single mum, had to leave work to become a full-time carer for her severely disabled daughter and three other children, and was forced to make ends meet on a carer’s welfare payment. This dropped her and her family of four children below the poverty line. She is often forced to choose between feeding her children and going hungry herself.
Single mum and former school principal Laura is the full-time carer of a child with a disability and three other children.
Australian Institute of Family Studies reports that 45 per cent of single mothers report skipping meals or going without essentials due to financial hardship.
Foodbank WA is inundated with cries for help from people in WA to help put food on the table to feed themselves and their children.
“Our Foodbank teams are seeing a steady rise in the number of people seeking assistance – many of whom never imagined they’d be in this position. Households that once felt secure are now struggling to make ends meet and keep their homes,” Foodbank WA chief executive Kate O’Hara said.
“Through collaboration and collective action, we can drive real change and ensure that fewer people fall into poverty,” she added.
“It’s time to raise awareness and inspire action across all sectors – government, agencies, corporates, philanthropists, and communities – working together to identify and implement lasting solutions.”
Raising income support payments, which cover unemployment assistance, disability support payments, age pension, and parenting support payments, can reduce the barrier to getting a job, being physically and mentally healthy, having secure housing, and undertaking training and education.
The Raise the Rate for Good campaign promises to provide more support for people who are falling below the poverty line. “While there are government subsidies and welfare payments aimed at helping with the cost of living, these have not kept pace with inflation,” Ms O’Hara said.
“We believe systemic change is crucial in tackling the growing inequality and rising poverty rates."
Visit www.noplaceforpoverty.org.au to learn more about the movement, dive deep into the research, or take action.
