Economic Disadvantage in NSW
November 6th, 2019
This report, Mapping Economic Disadvantage in New South Wales, was commissioned by the New South Wales Council of Social Service (NCOSS). NCOSS is the peak body for health and community services in NSW. NCOSS works to progress social justice and shape positive change toward a NSW free from inequality and disadvantage.
Extract from Mapping Economic Disadvantage in New South Wales report:
“DESPITE NSW’S STRONG ECONOMY AND ABUNDANT RESOURCES, MANY IN THE STATE EXPERIENCE UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF DISADVANTAGE. EVEN IN THE MOST PROSPEROUS AREAS, MORE THAN ONE IN 25 PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN POVERTY. IN SOME COMMUNITIES THIS IS THE SITUATION FOR OVER A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION.
Not having sufficient resources to cover the basics and achieve a reasonable standard of living can have profound and long-lasting impacts. Poverty and disadvantage impact on social and emotional wellbeing, physical health, life expectancy and the ability to create a stable home environment. It can prevent communities from thriving.
Poverty is often talked about in terms of deficits, a lack of resources and the result of poor decision-making or personal failure. This ignores the resilience, resourcefulness and fortitude required to get by each day. It also overlooks the structural issues contributing to significant economic disadvantage – the changing nature of work; declining opportunities in regional areas; a shortage of affordable housing; the impact of gender inequality; and inadequate income support policies that prevent people getting their lives on track. In this report we have used the term ‘poverty’ interchangeably with ‘significant economic disadvantage’ to help highlight the systemic nature of many barriers that people face.”
