One of the nation's key public actions in the fight against poverty - Anti-poverty Week - will be held this year from October 12-18.
Organisers are hoping that the 2008 activities will boost the steadily growing profile of the week that last year almost 300 registered events involving an estimated 10,000 people in more than 100 towns and suburbs across Australia.
Inspired by the United Nations' International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - marked annually on October 17 - Anti-Poverty Week was established in Australia in 2001 to enhance the breadth, flexibility and profile of activities. Only four events were held during the first Anti-Poverty Week in 2002.
Many other countries undertake activities on October 17 but none has yet established an annual Anti-Poverty Week, according to the National chair,
Professor Julian Disney.
(pictured)
Anti-Poverty Week aims to strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and within Australia. It also seeks to encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, organisations and governments.
"Anti-Poverty Week focuses on ways of preventing people from experiencing poverty or hardship, as well as on ways of helping people to escape from or reduce the impact of poverty and hardship," Pro. Disney said.
"It covers a wide range of causes and symptoms of difficulties, including, for example, issues relating to health, education, income, personal security, housing and transport.
"The week aims to encourage as many people as possible to express their interest and concern about poverty and hardship. It seeks to demonstrate in this way that most Australians care about these problems and want action taken to address them.
"By doing so, it can boost support for specific anti-poverty initiatives that are proposed by particular organisations during the week or at other times."
Pro. Disney said that the success of Anti-Poverty Week depended on individual people and organisations taking action with friends, colleagues or other groups.
"Any activity, large or small, that helps people to express their interest and concern about any aspect of local, national or global poverty is very welcome," he said.
Among suggested activities are: Tell people about poverty; encourage debate or discussion; call for action; encourage people to express their views; provide some practical help; promote a local community service; get the local community together; do something artistic or spiritual; organise a collection or fundraiser; volunteer or donate.
Some other links of interest
International Forum on the eradication of poverty (an inter-agency and multi-stakeholder event to mark the end of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty)
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