Social inclusion is about people having the ability and opportunity to learn, work, connect with others and have a say. So, how inclusive is Australia?
The 2006 Census found 12 per cent of all homeless people were children under the age of 12 (12 100 children) and 21 per cent were between the ages of 12 and 18 (21 900).
For 20–24 year olds at the bottom 10 per cent of the socioeconomic ladder only 47 per cent complete Year 12, compared with 83 per cent of people from the top 10 per cent.
During the economic downturn (June 2008 to June 2009), the proportion of 15–64 year olds who had paid work fell 1.6 percentage points. For lone parents the fall was close to five percentage points and for lone parents with their youngest child under five years of age, the fall was eight points.
In June 2009, 15 per cent of children (619 000) were living in jobless families. Of these families, 67 per cent were one parent families and more than half had at least one child under the age of five.
Source: Social Inclusion Australia: How Australia is faring (2010).
An event organised by Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Social Inclusion will take place in Canberra on Wednesday 23 November, during Social Inclusion Week.
Connect with your community at a professional baseball game!
24 November 2011
26 November 2011