Anti Poverty Week
Anti-Poverty Week 2025 (12-18 October)
Help us act to end poverty
The importance of Anti-Poverty Week — together we can make a difference
Anti-Poverty Week has been observed in Australia for more than 20 years, centred around the annual United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17).
This national campaign has two key aims.
- Deepening Australians’ understanding of poverty — highlighting the issues that contribute to and sustain poverty for individuals, families and communities
- Motivating people to take meaningful, collective action to address (and ultimately eradicate) poverty
Anti-Poverty Week is supported by a wide range of individuals, charities, and organisations, including The Salvation Army.
Poverty in Australia
According to research by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in 2022: One in eight people in Australia (3.3 million) live in poverty
- One in six children live in poverty in Australia
- The poverty line in Australia is generally defined as 50 per cent of median household income: This was $489 a week for a single adult, $783 for a sole parent with two children and $1,027 for a couple with two children in 2019-20
Salvation Army network of support
The Salvation Army is committed to reducing poverty and financial stress by promoting financial stability, capacity and wellbeing, and advocating at all levels of government.
A range of essential services — including Moneycare (free financial counselling and capability service) and Doorways (emergency support and case management service) — play a vital role in this effort. These services are part of a broader Salvation Army network addressing issues that may be related to poverty, such as homelessness, housing, family and domestic violence, and drug and alcohol issues.
In 2024-25, The Salvation Army:
- Provided nearly 12,000 people with free financial counselling via Moneycare
Assisted 140,000+ people through Doorways and community services - Provided $24.3 million in financial assistance
- Conducted over 200 meetings with government officials on issues including poverty and cost-of-living
(Source: The 2025 Salvation Army Impact Report)
Discover the challenges many are facing in the cost-of-living crisis, and ways The Salvation Army is helping, in our report The Cost-of-Living Squeeze
3.2M
living below the poverty line
In 2022, there were 3.3 million people (13.4 per cent) living below the poverty line, including 761,000 children (16.6 per cent).[1]
More ways to act to end poverty
The challenge of combating and ending poverty can seem overwhelming, but every action creates a ripple effect that can lead to significant change. The more of us who become informed, get involved, speak out, and take action, the more impact we have collectively.
This Anti-Poverty Week, we all have the power to make a difference! Here are some ways:
Write letters and articles:
- Write informed articles or social media posts — and invite others to share their voice too.
- Be an advocate: write letters to politicians and publications (like newspapers and websites) — and encourage others to add their voice.
Create special events:
- Organise special church services or other events focused on ending poverty
- Host talks or presentations featuring individuals with lived experience of poverty and/or those working to address it
- Combine events with social activities, like shared meals
Volunteer and donate:
- Volunteer your time or donate to organisations like The Salvation Army working to alleviate poverty
- Reach out to businesses, encouraging them to offer free or low-cost assistance to those experiencing poverty — this may include services like dental care, car repair, accountancy, legal services, and so on
Act creatively:
- Encourage community members to produce art that explores issues around poverty, and consider sharing it via virtual workshops, exhibitions, or displays
- Combine creative activities with fundraising efforts, this could include charging a small fee at the exhibition or auctioning off the art
Remember, every effort counts, and together we can make a difference. Explore more ideas for activities and advocacy here.
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8–9, NIV).
