Teacher content information

The content and information in these lessons may be overwhelming and cause some students to experience heightened emotions. Please ensure you allow students to ask questions and to discuss any issues or concerns. Before teaching the lesson, you may consider conducting a class check-in or circle time to establish a safe learning environment. Inform students that this might be a complex topic for them to comprehend. However, let your students know that differences in people’s incomes and wealth are nothing to be ashamed of and that these may be beyond the control of individuals and families – for example, some have more luck than others in landing a good job. Assure students that organisations and campaigns are working towards decreasing poverty in Australia, and if they would like more information, they can visit the Anti Poverty Week website (www.antipovertyweek.org.au) and the Poverty and Inequality website (povertyandinequality.acoss.org.au).

About this unit

This unit of work educates students and families about how poverty and inequality exist in Australia and how we can actively reduce the number of people living in poverty and inequality.

Our partner Anti-Poverty Week aims to support the Australian community by increasing understanding and taking action collectively to end it. Since 2002, they’ve been active every year in the week of the 17th of October, the United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Our other partner, the ACOSS/UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership, seeks to increase awareness of the issues of poverty and inequality through research and advocacy, including through regular publications with the latest data on poverty and inequality in Australia.
This year, we would like every classroom to dedicate a week to teach their students about poverty and inequality in Australia and how they can make a difference.

Poverty and inequality in Australia:

The resources available to households to meet their needs are divided unequally. Different countries have different levels of poverty and inequality, depending on the distribution of education and skills, the degree of unemployment, how pay is regulated, homeownership, and their social security and tax systems. See the Infographic accompanying Inequality in Australia 202 3 : Overview.

In Australia, the after-tax income of households is divided unequally. In households ranked by income, the highest 20% of people have twice the income of the middle 20% and over 5 times that of the lowest 20% (ACOSS & UNSW Sydney, 2020)

When households are ranked according to their after-tax income, their average weekly income is

$794 for people in the lowest 20% (these households typically rely on social security payments);
$1,467 for people in the second 20%;
$1,989 for people in the middle 20% (these households typically include one full-time and one part-time wage earner);
$2,627 for people in the fourth 20%;
$4,307 for people in the highest 20% (these households typically earn two high full-time wages and have significant income from investments).

Wealth is divided much more unequally than income. The highest 20% of people in households ranked by wealth has 6 times the wealth of the middle 20% and 90 times that of the lowest 20% (ACOSS/UNSW, 2023) Inequality in Australia.

At the lowest end of the income ladder, many Australians experience economic disadvantage at some stage in their lives - often due to unemployment, illness or disability, or a relationship breakdown. It is temporary for most of us, and we are back on our feet in a short time, especially if we have savings and family and friends to help. However, as ACOSS/UNSW reported in October 2022, as of 2019-20, there were 3.31 million people (13.4%), including 761,000 children (16.6%), living in poverty. That is one in 8 people, including one in six children. See the Poverty in Australia 2022 Infographic.

This is calculated by using poverty lines, which estimates the minimum income needed for different-sized households to cover basic expenses. For example, in 2019, the poverty line for a single adult was $489 per week and that for a single parent with two children was $1027 per week. See Poverty in Australia 2022: A Snapshot.

People living in single-parent families, unemployed, receiving income support, living with disabilities, Indigenous Australians, and children living in households where no one has paid work, face a much greater risk of poverty. See Poverty in Australia 2023: Who is Affected

As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, no one in Australia should forego meals to pay for medication or housing. However, recent research has revealed that 70% of households had at least one person who needed to receive income support because of unemployment, illness or relationship breakdown between 2001 and 2015 (APW Fast Facts, 2020). Most of the income support payments received by these people are below the poverty line. The Australian income support system does not ensure a minimum standard of living for all. Hence, it is up to educators and our future policymakers to disseminate clear messages about working together to create a better future and opportunities for all.

Before conducting each lesson, it is recommended that teachers read the Fast Facts produced by Anti-Poverty Week, which outlines the most recent data. For example, the data shows 1 in 6 children are living below the poverty line. This suggests that you may be teaching students that are or know someone living below the poverty line. With that in mind, please create an environment that is safe and respectful to the various lived experiences.

Suppose you notice that there is a student that may be experiencing difficulties. In that case, Cool Australia recommends following your school guidelines on how you can offer support to ensure your students are safe and free from harm or distressing environments.

Background information on poverty and inequality in Australia

More information about who is living in poverty, how this is changing over time, and how poverty and equality affect Australia is available from the following webpages:

ACOSS & UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership: Poverty
ACOSS & UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership: Inequality
UBS/Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report

Information on the links between poverty and health can be found at:

ACOSS/UNSW Sydney (2021)
Work income and health inequity
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Social determinants of health.

The ACOSS/UNSW Sydney Poverty and Inequality Partnership website contains searchable data on various dimensions of poverty and inequality.

Poverty and Inequality in Australia - Making Ends Meet

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