The latest Issues Paper from the Children’s Policy Centre highlights the profound impact of the housing crisis on children, emphasizing their unique vulnerabilities. It calls for a transformative shift in Australia’s housing system to ensure every child has a secure, affordable, and quality home. Key reforms include treating housing as a human right, fairer tax policies, child-inclusive urban planning, and better quality in emergency housing. Homelessness responses must prioritize children, with Homelessness Australia advocating for an action plan to end child homelessness. This change is essential for children’s well-being and Australia’s future.
Now for the Long Term: Safeguarding the Rights and Needs of Future Generations Dr. Jonas Salk, inventor of the polio vaccine, once posed a vital question: “Are we being good ancestors?” For children and future generations, today’s decisions have profound consequences. In the face of social, environmental, and economic challenges, we must ask: how can our institutions and choices safeguard the rights and well-being of children, young people, and those yet to come? This event brought together experts in law reform, medicine, population health, and child advocacy to explore how Australia can lay the foundation for a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. The discussion emphasized the need for Australian leaders to look beyond short-term cycles and financial quarters, advocating for innovative approaches to tackle persistent issues like poverty, health inequalities, and climate change. It was a call to action for policymakers to establish systems that prioritize society’s long-term well-being and encourage forward-thinking at every level.
Hunger Report 2024 15 October 2024 Prepared for Foodbank Australia Ipsos Public Affairs
In support of Anti-Poverty Week, Centrecare hosted several "Chat for Change" discussions across various branches. Anti-Poverty Week is over but doesn't mean the fight against child poverty has to end! You can still host your own "Chat for Change" events to raise awareness and create petition sign ups and organisational pledges.
Together for Children: Relationships Australia WA Backs the End Child Poverty Campaign
We need the reality of child poverty to become common knowledge among all Australians. These uncomfortable conversations are crucial for sparking the action needed to address our national child poverty crisis! During Anti-Poverty Week 2024, the Valuing Children Initiative stood alongside organisations to demand action. Foodbank WA Centrecare St Patrick's Community Support Centre 54 reasons Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS) Commissioner for Children and Young People WA Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA) Australian Human Rights Commission Youthgovau Minderoo Foundation Kate O'Hara Louise Giolitto Fraser Beattie Chris Twomey 12 Buckets Inc Larissa Muir Justice, Ecology and Development Office Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Shelter WA Kath Snell Wanslea Jo Sadler Daryl Higgins Mason Rothwell Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC) MercyCare Anglicare WA Joshua Patrick
Safer Internet Day Tuesday 11 February 2025
Now for the Long Term: Safeguarding the Rights and Needs of Future Generations Dr. Jonas Salk, inventor of the polio vaccine, once posed a vital question: “Are we being good ancestors?” For children and future generations, today’s decisions have profound consequences. In the face of social, environmental, and economic challenges, we must ask: how can our institutions and choices safeguard the rights and well-being of children, young people, and those yet to come? This event brought together experts in law reform, medicine, population health, and child advocacy to explore how Australia can lay the foundation for a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. The discussion emphasized the need for Australian leaders to look beyond short-term cycles and financial quarters, advocating for innovative approaches to tackle persistent issues like poverty, health inequalities, and climate change. It was a call to action for policymakers to establish systems that prioritize society’s long-term well-being and encourage forward-thinking at every level.
In support of Anti-Poverty Week, Centrecare hosted several "Chat for Change" discussions across various branches. Anti-Poverty Week is over but doesn't mean the fight against child poverty has to end! You can still host your own "Chat for Change" events to raise awareness and create petition sign ups and organisational pledges.
The VCI team joined The Equity Project and Social Reinvestment WA (SRWA) at the 2024 Awesome Festival, bringing awareness to our mission of valuing children and ending child poverty. Through fun, hands-on activities, we highlighted the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
National Children’s Week: Celebrating Our Kids, Every Day of the Year!
While every week is Children’s Week at VCI, this week (November 18-27) is National Children’s Week, an annual opportunity to for all adults to celebrate the children in their community and to advocate for their rights. This year’s theme is UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 24 “Children have the right to good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food and a clean environment so that they will stay healthy” check out some of the amazing events happening across WA this week here: Archives: Events | Childrens Week WA
Discovering Child Poverty Through a Child’s Eyes The More for Children research by the Children’s Policy Centre at ANU explores poverty from a child’s perspective, with the aim to end child poverty in Australia. Watch as Professor Sharon Bessell shares insights from this groundbreaking work, giving voice to children’s experiences and needs.
The latest Issues Paper from the Children’s Policy Centre highlights the profound impact of the housing crisis on children, emphasizing their unique vulnerabilities. It calls for a transformative shift in Australia’s housing system to ensure every child has a secure, affordable, and quality home. Key reforms include treating housing as a human right, fairer tax policies, child-inclusive urban planning, and better quality in emergency housing. Homelessness responses must prioritize children, with Homelessness Australia advocating for an action plan to end child homelessness. This change is essential for children’s well-being and Australia’s future.
Hunger Report 2024 15 October 2024 Prepared for Foodbank Australia Ipsos Public Affairs
Every child in every community needs a fair go’. This message captures the essence of National Child Protection Week which aims to promote a safe and supported life for every child, now and into the future. In 2024, the message that ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’ will be complemented with the theme ‘Every conversation matters’. Conversations are powerful tools to keep children and young people safe and well.
Child Poverty is on the rise in Australia, caused by the national housing crisis. Check out the story on Sunrise. We are failing every Australian child who each day is going hungry, without a place to call home and reduced educational and life opportunities. Most Australians are shocked to discover that 17 per cent of our kids live in poverty. Children depend on adults to create the conditions that allow them to have a dignified life and the ability to thrive, and we all have a responsibility to make that happen. That’s why we are calling on the Australian government to introduce legislation to end child poverty. We have the wealth, knowledge and means to achieve it. Join us in our fight to end child Poverty In Australia - sign the petition
Researchers warn that Australia’s poverty rate is expected to rise even further in 2024. The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre Child Poverty in Australia 2024 report has just been released. The report compared the life outcomes of young people who grew up in poverty, exposing the scarring effect on life outcomes. Following their paths through life over 22 years, the data shows: • Child poverty in Australia has risen significantly as a result in the years since COVID. • Children who experience poverty and housing stress are significantly more likely to suffer nervousness or feel unhappy with their lives for up to ten years after leaving home. • Children are 8 per cent more likely to stay in poverty • Children are 11 per cent less likely to be employed • Rising housing costs hit low-income families harder = with rents increasing by 17.8% for lower quartile rentals between 2020-2022. • Many families are forced to move to more affordable housing, often resulting in dissatisfaction and psychological distress. • Another 102,000 children were plunged into poverty between 2021 and 2022. • 3.7 million people and 823,000 children living below the poverty line. We are failing every Australian child who each day is going hungry, without a place to call home and reduced educational and life opportunities. Most Australians are shocked to discover that 17 per cent of our kids live in poverty. The Child Poverty in Australia 2024 report by Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre released during Homelessness Week was commissioned by the Valuing Children Initiative for the End Child Poverty campaign.
For more than 20 years Anti-Poverty Week has operated in Australia around the 17th of October, the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Our purpose is to help Australians understand poverty and to take action collectively to end it. Anti-Poverty Week 2024 will run from Sunday 13 October to Saturday 19 October.
VCI joined hundreds of Western Australians on the steps of State Parliament calling on the Sate government to close Unit 18. The rally, organised by Boorloo Justice, featured powerful calls to action by a number a dozen, including Dr Hannah McGlade (legal academic), Cheryl Kickett-Tucker (Koya), Professor Fiona Stanley (The Kids Research Institute), Sophie Stewart (Social Reinvestment WA) and Jim Morrison (Noongar Elder).
As the Valuing Children Initiative continues its campaign to end child poverty in Australia, it's crucial to revisit the important discussions from last year’s End Child Poverty webinar. The insights shared remain just as relevant now as we strive to create a better future for all Australian children. The webinar brought together international experts to explore effective strategies from countries like the United States and New Zealand, where dedicated measures to address child poverty are already in place. Our esteemed guest speakers discussed the positive impact these policies have had on children living in poverty and what we can learn from their experiences. Our guest speakers included: Kate Breslin, President and CEO, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, New York Cara Baldari, Vice President, Family Economics, Housing and Homelessness, First Focus on Children, U.S. Hugh Webb, Principal Analyst, Child Wellbeing and Poverty Reduction Group, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, New Zealand Toni Wren, Executive Director, Anti-Poverty Week, Australia While the conversation around child poverty continues to evolve, the statistics and urgency behind the issue remain unchanged. More than ever, we are committed to advocating for strong policies and solutions to ensure no Australian child is left behind. The discussion is ongoing, and we need your help to keep this critical issue at the forefront of public attention.
Make WA Fair: Building a Brighter, Fairer Future for All Ahead of the 2025 State Election Valuing Children Initiative proudly supports the Make WA Fair campaign launched by WACOSS ahead of the 2025 State Election. As Western Australia faces rising costs and low wage growth, many families are struggling to meet basic needs like securing affordable housing, regular nutritious meals, and planning for the future. The campaign calls for bold reforms in three key areas: Housing Security: Abolishing no-reason evictions and implementing rent stabilisation measures to provide tenants with secure, affordable housing. Early Years Education: Expanding universal access to early childhood education and improving family support services through integrated Child and Family Hubs. Equitable Financial Assistance: Addressing the historical underfunding of vital community services to ensure those most in need can access the support they deserve. At the Valuing Children Initiative, we believe every child deserves a fair start in life. That's why we're standing with WACOSS in their vision for a WA where no one is left behind, and every person is given the opportunity to thrive. Now more than ever, we need policies that prioritise the wellbeing of our children and families. Let’s join together to create a fairer WA for all.
eSafety Resources for National Child Protection Week: Protecting Your Child in the Online World
National Child Protection Week – A Community United for Safer Online Spaces National Child Protection Week serves as a crucial reminder of our collective responsibility to protect children in every aspect of their lives, especially online. This year, one of the standout moments was witnessing the deep passion shared by individuals from all walks of life, all committed to making the internet a safer place for our children.
