Anti-Poverty Initiatives

Anti-Poverty Initiatives in Councils(785 kb)

A report by the Australian Council of Social Services in 2013, indicates that,

…in 2010, after taking account of housing costs, an estimated 2,265,000 people or 12.8% of all residents in Australia, including 575,000 children (17.3% of all children), lived in households below the most austere poverty line widely used in international research.
(ACOSS Poverty in Australia Report 2013)

ACOSS identifies five primary causes, or determinants, of poverty which need to be addressed to ameliorate the levels of poverty in Australia. The five causes are:

Access to work and income
Education and lifelong learning
Affordable housing and shelter
Health and wellbeing.
Affordable services.

Councils support a wide range of activities that contribute to the prevention or amelioration of the impacts of poverty in their communities. Councils, in partnership with the community, other Councils, organisations, agencies and spheres of Government, provide education and tools for capacity building, relief support, advocacy and programs that effectively address factors that impact on poverty.

Councils have traditionally contributed in a variety of ways to the amelioration of poverty, supporting those in need and helping build the capacity of their communities to help themselves, and each other. Poverty, homelessness and other factors which can lead to such disadvantage and hardship are a significant public health concern.

A collective view of the activities of Councils is timely given the increased statutory responsibilities afforded to South Australian Councils under the Public Health Act 2011. Under the Public Health Act a Council is the local public health authority for its area and has responsibility for identifying public health risks and is required to take action to preserve, protect and promote public health within its area. Public health is defined as the health of individuals in the context of the wider health of the community.

Through this project, the LGA and Community Managers Network (CMN) have combined to better inform Councils and their communities, other stakeholders and partners, of the significance and variety of ongoing and one-off “anti-poverty” programs, policies and initiatives undertaken by Councils.

The idea for a database of Local Government Anti-Poverty Initiatives grew out of discussions during Anti-Poverty Week 2013 between the LGA and Local Government CMN. It was highlighted that while it is important to set aside a week for special activities and initiatives to raise awareness, Councils have programs all year round that help to prevent the impact of poverty. The Anti-Poverty Initiatives in Councils report brings together outcomes of a survey of Councils and case studies gathered to present an overview of the range of anti-poverty activities initiated by Councils in South Australia.

During Anti-poverty Week 2014 (12-18 October) Councils will be invited to submit further examples to add to the case studies to build the database. The CMN will accept submissions until the end of October.

Thank you to all the Council staff that submitted case studies and images, and those that participated in the survey; LGA staff and Members of the Community Managers Network on the project team- who contributed to development of the survey and report, analysis of the survey results, and production of the Anti-poverty Initiatives report- especially:

Cam Opie- Vice Chair Community Managers Network, and
Terra Lea Ranson- Member of Community Managers Network (City of Onkaparinga)

For further information on individual case studies please contact the person or Council listed on the case study, for more general queries about the report, survey findings or submitting your own case study, please contact:

Cam Opie- Vice-Chair, Community Managers Network
copie1@me.com
8298 1505

Rebecca Perkin – Policy Officer Planning and Community, Local Government Association
rebecca.perkin@lga.sa.gov.au
8224 2025