Dear All,
The media response to the launch of the Australia Fair report, A fair go for all Australians: International Comparisons 2007 has been extensive. The Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Treasurer and Minister Brough have all had to respond to the findings of the report in the media today.
There has been coverage in most major papers across the country and radio and television interviews. The online coverage includes: The Australian, The Age, SMH, Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph, Western Australian, News.com.au and Bigpond. The News Limited sites (Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and news.com.au) all had at least one link to a Sky News video which is a 2 minute story on the report and poverty in Australia.
Here is the link to the news.com.au article: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22332336-5007133,00.html which has the story and a great video clip to the report.
Today would be a good day to email your networks and get them signed onto the Australia Fair – to that end I set out below the text that has been sent to the existing Australia Fair supporters.
New Australia Fair report shows Australia is slipping behind
If 1 in 10 Australians are living below the poverty line, is Australia Fair?
You may have seen reports of the new Australia Fair report in the news today, which you can read on www.australiafair.org.au. The report tracks poverty between 1994 and 2004 and finds that the number of Australians living below the poverty line has grown over that time.
The report also looks at how Australia’s performance compares with other rich countries.
It’s not fair that Australians are struggling with essentials such as high housing and dental care costs.
Have you sent the email on dental funding yet? It’s not too late to send it now.
Take a few steps to help make Australia fair for all.
Step 1: Log onto www.australiafair.org.au to have your say.
Step 2: Get your friends to get onto Australia Fair’s website.
Step 3: You can tell decision makers and the media about a fair go for all Australians.
Many thanks to those of you who assisted in the report.
Cheers
Andrew Johnson
Executive Director
Australian Council of Social ServiceTel: 02 9310 4844
Fax: 02 9310 4822
Friday, 31 August 2007
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Homelessness
Homelessness in NSW – some facts and figures
• In the middle of a cold and wet winter, across New South Wales, around 27,0001 people are homeless. They sleep in parks, under bridges, with friends or strangers, in vulnerable situations. Across NSW about only 15% of homeless people are lucky enough to get a place in a crisis refuge.
• In NSW, the percentages of where homeless people are sleeping are: - 45% with friends and relatives - 29% in boarding houses - 15% in SAAP accommodation - 11% in improvised dwellings and tents
• Of the almost 27,000 experiencing homelessness, 39% are women. These can be single women as well as women and children escaping domestic violence.
• 46% of those who are homeless are under 25 and almost 10,000 are under 12. Young people experiencing homelessness are often running away from families characterized by poverty, violence and drug and alcohol abuse.
• Indigenous people are more likely to experience homelessness than other Australians. Two percent of the population identified as Indigenous at the 2001 census, but 16% of clients in homeless assistance services were Aboriginal in 2001-022.
• Contrary to popular belief there are homeless people in regional areas:
- 39 people in every 10,000 are homeless in Sydney.
- 47 people in every 10,000 are homeless in NSW Regional areas.
• The Demand for SAAP Accommodation by homeless people 2004-053 report shows that NSW has the highest turn-away numbers of any State and Territory, with 58 potential clients and 33 accompanying children with valid requests for immediate accommodation being turned away each day.
• Across Australia more people with valid requests for immediate accommodation were turned away than were accommodated by a crisis refuge. Only one in two people with a valid request for accommodation received it, and three out of five accompanying children were turned away4.
1 Chamberlain, Chris. Counting the Homeless 2001: Australia
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2001), SAAP National Data Collection Annual Report 2001-02, Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Cat. No. HOU 61 2
3
4 Australian Institute of Health & Welfare 2004. Demand for SAAP assistance by homeless people 2002-03: a report from the SAAP National Data Collection. AIHW cat no. HOU 110. Canberra: AIHW (SAAP NDCA report. Series 8).
• Across Australia family groups were turned away in high proportions from crisis refuges. This was highest for couples with children and couples without children, where only one in five requesting groups were accommodated (81% were turned away). Sixty-four per cent of single people with children requesting accommodation were turned away.
• Despite recording the highest number of homeless people in the 2001 Census, NSW has not developed a homelessness strategy5. HomelessnessNSW.ACT is calling for the NSW Government to develop a Homelessness Strategy to ensure a better coordinated response to homelessness. Being homeless is a complex issue, created by the failure of a variety of service systems. Homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless are affected by common themes that include social exclusion, an ineffective service system, lack of access to housing that is affordable to people on low incomes and a lack of support and supported accommodation services.
5 Chamberlain, C and MacKenzie, D, Australian Census Analytic Program, Counting the Homeless 2001, Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Catalogue No. 2050.0
• In the middle of a cold and wet winter, across New South Wales, around 27,0001 people are homeless. They sleep in parks, under bridges, with friends or strangers, in vulnerable situations. Across NSW about only 15% of homeless people are lucky enough to get a place in a crisis refuge.
• In NSW, the percentages of where homeless people are sleeping are: - 45% with friends and relatives - 29% in boarding houses - 15% in SAAP accommodation - 11% in improvised dwellings and tents
• Of the almost 27,000 experiencing homelessness, 39% are women. These can be single women as well as women and children escaping domestic violence.
• 46% of those who are homeless are under 25 and almost 10,000 are under 12. Young people experiencing homelessness are often running away from families characterized by poverty, violence and drug and alcohol abuse.
• Indigenous people are more likely to experience homelessness than other Australians. Two percent of the population identified as Indigenous at the 2001 census, but 16% of clients in homeless assistance services were Aboriginal in 2001-022.
• Contrary to popular belief there are homeless people in regional areas:
- 39 people in every 10,000 are homeless in Sydney.
- 47 people in every 10,000 are homeless in NSW Regional areas.
• The Demand for SAAP Accommodation by homeless people 2004-053 report shows that NSW has the highest turn-away numbers of any State and Territory, with 58 potential clients and 33 accompanying children with valid requests for immediate accommodation being turned away each day.
• Across Australia more people with valid requests for immediate accommodation were turned away than were accommodated by a crisis refuge. Only one in two people with a valid request for accommodation received it, and three out of five accompanying children were turned away4.
1 Chamberlain, Chris. Counting the Homeless 2001: Australia
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2001), SAAP National Data Collection Annual Report 2001-02, Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Cat. No. HOU 61 2
3
4 Australian Institute of Health & Welfare 2004. Demand for SAAP assistance by homeless people 2002-03: a report from the SAAP National Data Collection. AIHW cat no. HOU 110. Canberra: AIHW (SAAP NDCA report. Series 8).
• Across Australia family groups were turned away in high proportions from crisis refuges. This was highest for couples with children and couples without children, where only one in five requesting groups were accommodated (81% were turned away). Sixty-four per cent of single people with children requesting accommodation were turned away.
• Despite recording the highest number of homeless people in the 2001 Census, NSW has not developed a homelessness strategy5. HomelessnessNSW.ACT is calling for the NSW Government to develop a Homelessness Strategy to ensure a better coordinated response to homelessness. Being homeless is a complex issue, created by the failure of a variety of service systems. Homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless are affected by common themes that include social exclusion, an ineffective service system, lack of access to housing that is affordable to people on low incomes and a lack of support and supported accommodation services.
5 Chamberlain, C and MacKenzie, D, Australian Census Analytic Program, Counting the Homeless 2001, Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Catalogue No. 2050.0
Visit
Do you work in a Community Service organisation?
You are invited to attend a special forum on
The NSW Ombudsman’s current work
in child and family & disability services
Thursday August 23,
Catholic Club, 61A West High Street, Coffs Harbour
Steve Kinmond,
NSW Community & Disability Services Commissioner/Deputy Ombudsman, will speak about the role and current work of the NSW Ombudsman in relation to child and family and disability services in NSW and how it impacts consumers and services.
Do you know that we:
· Inquire into & report on major community sector issues
· Monitor the child protection system
· Review deaths of certain children & people with a disability in care
· Monitor and review standards in community services · Deal with complaints about community services · Educate & inform service providers & consumers about rights & responsibilities
We are also keen to hear about sector issues specific to your area.
There will be plenty of opportunity for input & feedback.
· Session 1 Child & Family Services - Child protection Issues
10.00am -11.30am Morning tea will be provided
· Session 2 Disability and other Community Services
1.30pm -3.00pm Afternoon tea will be provided
Each session is free of charge but numbers are needed for catering
To REGISTER email tarestides@ombo.nsw.gov.au
by Tuesday August 21
For ENQUIRIES please call Tracylee on 02 9265 0440 or toll free 1800 451 524
A COPY OF THIS INFORMATION IS ATTACHED IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PASS IT ON TO STAFF OR OTHER COMMUNITY SECTOR WORKERS IN THE AREA. THANK YOU!
You are invited to attend a special forum on
The NSW Ombudsman’s current work
in child and family & disability services
Thursday August 23,
Catholic Club, 61A West High Street, Coffs Harbour
Steve Kinmond,
NSW Community & Disability Services Commissioner/Deputy Ombudsman, will speak about the role and current work of the NSW Ombudsman in relation to child and family and disability services in NSW and how it impacts consumers and services.
Do you know that we:
· Inquire into & report on major community sector issues
· Monitor the child protection system
· Review deaths of certain children & people with a disability in care
· Monitor and review standards in community services · Deal with complaints about community services · Educate & inform service providers & consumers about rights & responsibilities
We are also keen to hear about sector issues specific to your area.
There will be plenty of opportunity for input & feedback.
· Session 1 Child & Family Services - Child protection Issues
10.00am -11.30am Morning tea will be provided
· Session 2 Disability and other Community Services
1.30pm -3.00pm Afternoon tea will be provided
Each session is free of charge but numbers are needed for catering
To REGISTER email tarestides@ombo.nsw.gov.au
by Tuesday August 21
For ENQUIRIES please call Tracylee on 02 9265 0440 or toll free 1800 451 524
A COPY OF THIS INFORMATION IS ATTACHED IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PASS IT ON TO STAFF OR OTHER COMMUNITY SECTOR WORKERS IN THE AREA. THANK YOU!
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