This article was originally published in August 2017.
Anti-Poverty Week in 2017 starts on Sunday 15 October and ends on Saturday 21 October. The UN’s International Anti-Poverty Day is 17 October.
The Week focuses on poverty around the world, especially in the poorest countries, but also in wealthier countries such as Australia. Its main aims are to:
- strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and within Australia
- encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments.
Interest has been growing steadily in Australia in recent years and activities such as public lectures, workshops, conferences, debates, concerts, displays, sports days, media briefings and other events have been organised. Last year, at least 600 organisations around Australia participated in more than 400 activities during the Week, with a total participation of more than 10,000 people.
The research undertaken by Life Course Centre researchers is aimed at building the evidence base that service delivery organisations need to expand their work and extend its impact. For example, we are investigating:
- the value of linked government welfare payment data to understanding disadvantage
- the opportunity that mentors have to shape children’s life aspirations
- the power of parenting skills to lift whole communities out of disadvantage
- the influence that family structure has on children’s development outcomes
- the impact that disadvantage has on children’s lifelong decision making.
This research is helping us to identify critical life turning points that lead to disadvantage, and is critical to developing effective interventions to help people overcome disadvantage and realise their life’s potential.
Once again, this year the Life Course Centre will join with our partners to participate in a range of events.