Leader of more than 500,000 Catholics across Perth, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President and Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB said the church is committed to supporting the Valuing Children Initiative to End Child Poverty in Australia.
The End Child Poverty campaign, launched on 29 July, aims to influence the Federal Parliament to enact comprehensive legislation by 2030, establishing measurable targets and actionable steps to eradicate child poverty and uphold every child's right to a life of dignity and opportunity.
Teddies representing the impact poverty has on children have been delivered to every Federal Parliamentarian this week in the first major action calling for legislation to end child poverty in Australia.
Teddies symbolise those that are lost when children must leave home due to violence, poverty, high rents, and homelessness.
This year, the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) reported that 17 per cent or one in six children live below the poverty line.
This number has not improved for the last 50 years.
Led by a dedicated leadership committee, the campaign marks a significant step toward addressing one of the nation’s most pressing social issues.
Archbishop Costelloe said protecting the rights of “children in our communities” is a responsibility the Catholic Church takes seriously.
“We believe every child deserves equal opportunities and necessities which include a safe space they can call home, decent food, education and healthcare. Sadly, we know this is not the case here in Australia,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“What’s most distressing about this is that children become the innocent victims of a situation they cannot change or do anything about.
“We’ve witnessed children having to skip meals in schools, we hear about families living in cars due to poverty etc. Being in this situation can affect a child’s development, mental health and future opportunities,” he continued.
“The Church has done much work in this space to advocate for change, and support the most vulnerable in our communities, but in order to help Australian children get the level of care they truly deserve, we need legislation that will address the root causes of poverty - because every child’s future should be filled with hope, not hardship.”
Globally, children make up more than 40 per cent of the refugee population (UNICEF).
The Western Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office supports the settlement of families with children of refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.
“90 per cent of the families that come through our doors live below the poverty line, and their temporary Bridging Visa’s prohibit work rights,” said Director Deacon Greg Lowe.
Deacon Greg spoke about the countless barriers that these children continue to face after settling in Australia.
“Children who flee their homes due to war, persecution or disaster often arrive in Australia having endured separation from family, poor living conditions and disrupted access to education and healthcare,” Deacon Greg explained.
“Once in Australia, refugee children still face barriers including language differences. disrupted schooling and mental health concerns. So, imagine being exposed to significant adversity during crucial phases of their development, having to start over and adjust to a new country, yet still face significant issues around poverty.
“It just doesn’t seem fair or right. I don’t believe that in a country as wealthy and well resourced as Australia, our children still must go through something like this,” he concluded.
