Data reveals shocking statistics for

poverty in Greater Bendigo

By Jonathon Magrath
Updated September 4 2023 - 6:14pm, first published 6:00pm
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WATCH: The brutal impact of Australia's cost-of-living crisis, but there is
hope
Twenty-four per cent of children under the age of 15 are living in poverty in
Bendigo, shocking new data has revealed.
Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) released a poverty analysis for
Victoria last week, breaking down economic disadvantage by suburb
groups.
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In Greater Bendigo, data mapping revealed the suburb of Bendigo had 18

per cent of its population, or about 2300 people, living in poverty.
Of those, 32 per cent were aged under 24, 45 per cent were aged 25 to 64
and 23 per cent were aged 65 and over.
Forty-five per cent of people living in poverty in Bendigo were aged 15 to 64
and not in the labour force.
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The majority of people living in poverty in Bendigo lived in private rentals,
with 31 per cent owning a home.
In other suburbs, there were about 3000 people in the Kangaroo Flat to
Golden Square in economic disadvantage, 2100 people in the California
Gully to Eaglehawk area, about 1400 in Flora Hill to Spring Gully and
Heathcote and Maryborough were two of the worst suburbs in the state for
poverty rates.
About 19 per cent of people (900 people) in Heathcote were living in
poverty, while 20 per cent of Maryborough's population (1500 people) were
living in poverty.

24 per cent of people living in economic disadvantage in Bendigo were

under the age of 15. Image by Shutterstock
The data from VCOSS showed the gap between the rates of poverty in
regional and city areas had narrowed.
In 2016, 15.1 per cent of regional Victoria was living in poverty, down to
13.4 per cent in 2021, equating to about 20,000 fewer people.
The statewide rate of 13.3 per cent has stayed the same.
Salvation Army reveals more
vulnerable Aussies in extreme
poverty

By Anna McGuinness

Updated May 17 2023 - 8:02pm, first published 1:00pm

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WATCH: The cost of living in Australia is rising – quickly – and it's expected
to keep rising throughout 2023.
Australians are skipping meals and can't afford essential healthcare amid the cost of
living crisis, new research has revealed.
The Salvation Army has found that after paying for essentials such as food and
housing, vulnerable Australians are left with less than $6 a day to spend or save.
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The charity surveyed more than 1700 people it has helped in the past 12 months.
It found nine in 10 respondents are struggling to afford basic living necessities.
Meanwhile three-quarters of households with children are living below the poverty
line, leaving parents desperate to stay afloat.
One in five are unable to provide their child with three meals a day.
"I eat the leftover food from my child's meal, if there is any, or I just don't eat," one
parent said.
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"I wait at the school car park from drop-off until pick-up if I'm short on fuel. I have
sold most of my own clothing to buy my children clothes."
More Australians are sinking below the poverty line, new research from The
Salvation Army reveals. Picture file
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Salvation Army Secretary for Mission Captain Stuart Glover said the need to support
vulnerable community members was greater than ever before.
"We have seen a significant increase in everyday Australians who have fallen through
the cracks over the last year," he said.
"In many instances, we are seeing those who used to volunteer or donate money and
time to help the Salvos now coming to us for help."
Salvation Army Secretary for Mission Captain Stuart Glover says some
people who used to volunteer for or donate to the Salvos are now seeking
help themselves. Picture by The Salvation Army
Captain Glover urged people to support the Red Shield Appeal with its aim to raise
$37 million to help fund more than 2000 services nationwide.
"For many Australians who are doing it tough, the Salvos are often their last line of
defence," he said.
"We will always be there to give them a hand, whatever their circumstances may be,
so that nobody has to struggle alone."
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Poor in 'war of survival' as more

face financial stress
By Tess Ikonomou

Updated August 15 2023 - 2:22pm, first published 2:17pm

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An inquiry's been told any rise in welfare payments has been eaten up by
the higher cost of living. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Australians living in poverty are fighting a daily "war of survival" as they struggle to
afford basic necessities.
Karen, a woman experiencing hardship, made a passionate plea to meet with Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese while giving evidence at a parliamentary inquiry
examining the extent of poverty in Australia.
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"We don't have war on our doorsteps, but we are experiencing a different type of war,
a war of survival," she told the hearing on Tuesday.
"Is this what the lucky country has come to? Stealing the basic food necessities
because of the ridiculously high prices."
Salvation Army general manager Jennifer Kirkaldy said failures in the welfare and
housing systems were leading people to live in hardship.
The average person the charity worked with had $39 a week left after necessities such
as housing, transport, groceries and utilities were covered.
"The extent and nature of poverty in Australia, as the Salvation Army sees it every
day, is that it is very real, it is widespread, and it is devastating," Ms Kirkaldy said.
She said any rise in welfare payments was being swallowed up by soaring inflation
and cost of living pressures.
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Dawn, a woman with lived experience of homelessness, broke down in tears while
giving evidence as she described the daily struggle of being unable to afford the
basics.
"The food found in the fridge of an average Australian household will be considered
luxury items to those of us on JobSeeker," she said.
She said people on welfare led a "smaller life" than the one they imagined they would
live.
Ms Kirkaldy said Australia lacked effective data on how much poverty was costing
the economy every year.
She said buy now, pay later services and access to safe credit were important, but
were increasingly used to pay for necessities.
Lifeline Australia chief research officer Anna Brooks said the suicide prevention
support service was experiencing an increase in people reaching out due to financial
distress at levels "not seen before".
She said an increase in welfare payments helped, but if it wasn't a substantial change,
it wouldn't change the distress people were feeling.
Brotherhood of St Laurence chief executive Travers McLeod said the "natural next
step" was to have legislated measures on poverty reduction and economic inclusion.
"We have a choice about how ambitious Australia wants to be," he said.
"How ambitious people in this place (Parliament House) want to be in preventing
and eliminating poverty in this country."
Dr McLeod said legislated measures and adequate social security payments must sit
alongside other structural approaches to reduce poverty, including job security and
significant investment in social housing.