antipoverty2More than 400 activities will be held around Australia as part of Anti-Poverty Week 2014. About 1,000 organisations and more than 20,000 people will participate.

Activities and events

Activities during the Week will include launches, forums, workshops, awards, exhibitions, fund-raisers, publications, presentations, addresses, festivals and many other activities focussing on different aspects of poverty and hardship at home and abroad.

Venues include shopping centres, parks, cathedrals, community centres, libraries, hotels, health centres, welfare agencies, business offices, town halls, parliaments, universities, schools, car parks, squares and markets

Themes and participants

Key themes include links between poverty and education, health, work, finance, housing, food and utilities. Other issues include Indigenous poverty, homeless people, poverty and children, poverty and older people, poverty and people with disabilities, rural poverty and many others.

Participants include major national organisations like ACOSS, Anglicare, Australian Education Union, Australian Red Cross, Australian Housing and Urban Research Unit, Big Issue, Catholic Social Services of Australia, Foodbank, Mission Australia, Salvation Army, Smith Family, St Vincent de Paul, UnitingCare and United Voice.

Other participants include religious groups, educational institutions, credit unions, welfare agencies, community groups, businesses, unions, government departments and local councils around Australia.

Participants during the Week include the Governor General of Australia, the Governor of South Australia, the Premier of NSW, the Premier of South Australia, the Premier of Tasmania and other senior State and Territory Ministers, Quentin Bryce, Jenny Macklin MP, Cassandra Goldie, Andrew Leigh MP, Joel Berg from the New York Coalition against Hunger, Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Lisa Wilkinson, Joe Roff, former Wallaby player and Prof Fran Baum.

For more information about activities, including detailed State programs and contact points, check http://www.antipovertyweek.org.au/ calendar-of-activities-2014

SOME ADDRESSES, FORUMS AND CONFERENCES

  • Don Dunstan Foundation, The Age of Disentitlement in Adelaide, 10 October
  • Melbourne Conversations Forum, Does Poverty Exist in our Community, 13 October
  • Inaugural Food Security Conference, Putting food on the table in Sydney, 13-14 October
  • Social Determinants of Health Inaugural APW Oration in Canberra, 14 October
  • Child Poverty and Policy Responses in Melbourne, 14 October
  • University of South Australia and Hawke Centre, Poverty Q&A in Adelaide,14 October
  • Panel of state politicians speak on Domestic Violence in Hobart,14 October
  • AHURI forum, Affordable Housing and disadvantage in Sydney,14 October
  • Southgate Institute forum, Housing, Health and Refugees in Adelaide, 15 October
  • Arab Council forum, Social Equality and Discrimination in Sydney, 15 October
  • Central Institute of Technology, Opportunity Education and Training in Perth, 15 October
  • State Schools Relief public lecture on Free Education in Melbourne, 15 October
  • University of Canberra, Pathways out of Poverty , 6 October
  • Brisbane City Council, Poverty and a Fair Society forum in Brisbane,16 October
  • Anglicare Q&A forum, Disengaged Young People in Canberra, 17 October
  • 28th Annual Craig Lecture in Melbourne, 17 October

SOME LAUNCHES OF PUBLICATIONS

  • ACOSS, Poverty in Australia Report 2014 at Villawood in Sydney on 12 October
  • CEDA/Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Falling through the Cracks Perth 13 October
  • Anglicare Australia, State of the Family Report: Being a/part in Sydney on 14 October
  • Foodbank, End Hunger Report 2014 in Perth on 15 October

 

EXAMPLES OF A DIVERSE WEEK OF ACTIVITIES

SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER

  • Anti-Poverty Bike Ride in Albury; Stand against Poverty Community Expo in Templestowe; “Hands up for Anti-Poverty” in Wangaratta; youth homelessness initiative in Bankstown.

MONDAY 13 OCTOBER

  • Bring your bills/service providers Expo in Goodna; Boardroom lunch in Canberra on the potential of philanthropy; Food Drive in NT Schools; Free Party in the Park in Whyalla.

TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER

  • View Club hosts a speaker on homelessness in Bayswater WA; Kids Shoe Swap in Streaky Bay; Free legal advice and lunchtime snack in Devonport; Local action on inequality in Darebin

WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER

  • Tasmanian Premier hosts reception in Hobart for community volunteers; Fight against Poverty rally outside Parlt House Melbourne; Discussion on how to address poverty in Darwin.

Thursday 16 OCTOBER

  • Launch of The Big Breakfast in Sydney by NSW Premier; Impact of changes in the welfare system discussion in Rockhampton; free counselling and housing advice in Palmerston.

Friday 17 OCTOBER

  • Perth CBD Expresstival concert raising awareness of poverty in WA; SA Governor and Premier at Celebrity Chef Event in the Adelaide Central Markets; Social justice history walk in Fitzroy.

SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER

  • Fairer World Bazaar at Leongatha; Family Fun Day at Ulladulla; a Charity Fashion Parade at Tea Tree Gully; Soccer match and workshop on Fighting Poverty in the World at Coniston.