12/10/2026
Almost ONE MILLION Australian children could soon be living in poverty.
Let that sink in.
This week is ANTI-POVERTY WEEK | 11–17 October.
Behind every statistic is a child.
A child who deserves to feel safe, have a full belly, wear clean clothes that fit and have access to the everyday essentials many of us take for granted.
According to the Anti-Poverty Week 2026 Call to Action, poverty in Australia affects an estimated:
📊 1 in 7 Australians - approximately 3.7 million people.
💔 1 in 6 Australian children - approximately 757,000 children.
🏡 These figures are based on research using a poverty line of 50% of median household after-tax income, after accounting for housing costs. The figures are based on data from 2022–23, published in the Poverty in Australia 2025: Overview report. Anti-Poverty Week also notes that one projection suggests child poverty could soon reach one million.
These aren't just numbers.
They represent real children and families in our communities, including right here in Tasmania.
Poverty doesn't always look the way we expect it to.
It can be the parent quietly struggling to afford nappies.
The child wearing shoes that no longer fit.
The teenager going without toiletries.
The family trying to stretch every dollar just to get through the week.
And sometimes, the families experiencing the greatest hardship are the ones you'd never know were struggling.
🤎 This is why The Kindness Cubby exists.
We believe every child deserves access to basic essentials, regardless of their family's financial circumstances or their individual circumstances.
Through the generosity of our incredible community, we provide donated clothing, shoes, toiletries, baby essentials, books, bedding and other essential items to children, young people and families experiencing hardship across Southern Tasmania - including children living in foster care and other out-of-home care arrangements.
For a child entering a new home, something as simple as a new pair of shoes, a book, a toiletry bag or something that belongs just to them can make a world of difference. 🤎
We recognise that disadvantage can look different for every child.
Some may be living with financial hardship at home, while others may be navigating family separation, entering foster care, experiencing homelessness or moving between placements and other difficult circumstances.
Whatever their circumstances, every child deserves to feel safe, valued and cared for.
We know we can't solve poverty alone.
But we can make a difference, one child at a time. 🫶
This Anti-Poverty Week, we're asking our community to look beyond the surface, challenge the stigma surrounding poverty and remember that needing help is nothing to be ashamed of.
Every donation, every referral and every act of kindness matters.
Together, we can help make sure more children have access to the things they need to grow, thrive and feel valued.
Because no child should miss out on the essentials.
📚 Sources: Anti-Poverty Week, 2026 Call to Action; ACOSS and UNSW Sydney, Poverty in Australia 2025: Overview.
