Poverty in the Bendigo Community
THE IAN Spring
TIMES
By Ian Lau
Research has shown that
24 percent of people in
poverty in the Greater
Bendigo community are
children under fifteen. The
Victorian Council of
Social Services have
found that poverty rates in
regional cities like
Bendigo and rural areas
are higher than in the
Melbourne CBD.
As of September 4, 2023,
there are 2300 Bendigo
residents living in poverty,
and 24% of them are
children under 15.
In Bendigo, poverty is still
a big issue, as 18% of the
population are living in
poverty. Of those living in
poverty 32 percent are
under 24, 45 percent are
25 to 64 and 24 percent
are 65 and over. This is
due to the rising cost of
living and high
unemployment rates.
Poverty is also affecting
other suburbs, as 3000
people from Golden
Square to Kangaroo Flat,
2100 from California
gully to Eaglehawk and
1400 in Flora Hill to
Gully and viewed 2 November 2023,
Maryborough and https://www.bendigoadver
Heathcote were the worst
suburbs. tiser.com.au/story/833197
Luckily, due to the efforts 9/more-than-14000-in-
of our government and the greater-bendigo-living-in-
increased opportunity for
poverty-data
more jobs, poverty is
decreasing. In 2016, the
population of unprivileged Poverty in Bendigo
people in regional Age Groups
Victorian cities, like
Bendigo decreased from
15.5 in 2016 to 13.4
percent in 2021, equating
to about 20,000 people in
reduction.
As the Lord’s prayer says,
‘Give us today our daily Under 24 25-64
65+
bread,’ the less fortunate
needs to have their food.
That is why you can make
sure they get three meals a
day by donating to
Bendigo Foodshare. To
start, check out the link
below.
https://
bendigofoodshare.org.au/
Thank you for reading this
article.
Sources:
Magrath, J 2023, More
than 14,000 in Greater
Bendigo living in poverty:
data, Bendigo Advertiser,
Poverty in the Bendigo Community