Capturing a nation’s soul through art
Posted on 07 Jun 2023
The talents of graphic artist Debbie Wood helped bring to life the theme of the 2023 Communities in…
Posted on 01 Jun 2023
By Greg Thom, journalist, Our Community
The level of inequality in Australia has increased markedly over the past seven years, according to a ground-breaking new online interactive tool designed to democratise the measurement of social wellbeing.
Financially supported by Our Community and developed by independent public policy think tank Per Capita, the Australian Inequality Index measures inequality across a range of economic, social and demographic indicators.
The tool is designed to look beyond traditional measures that focus on economic growth such as GDP by instead homing in on how that growth is distributed.
The Index revealed the major driver of growing inequality is a significant growth in the value of assets held by the wealthiest Australians.
So much so, the wealth divide in Australia is growing at a rate “not seen for generations.”
Other key findings include:
Per Capita Executive Director Emma Dawson said by democratising access to data and information, the Index empowers people and communities to understand the complex causes and effects of inequality.
Community and not-for-profit organisations in particular can now access the type of data used to informs policy making but is too often inaccessible to those without significant resources.
“The Australian Inequality Index reveals a deeply concerning trend: wealth inequality in Australia has reached staggering levels,” said Ms Dawson.
“The concentration of wealth in the hands of a few poses significant challenges to social cohesion and trust in democratic institutions."
The Index analyses inequality levels according to seven sub-indexes: Wealth, Income, Gender, Ethnicity, Disability, Generation and First Nations.
Ms Dawson said the index makes clear we can’t ignore the stark reality of growing inequality in Australia.
“It erodes social cohesion, exacerbates economic disparities and limits the potential of our nation,” said Ms Dawson.
“It is high time we prioritize policies that promote inclusive growth and bridge the wealth divide."
The good news is, growing economic inequality is not inevitable.
Rather, it is a consequence of policy choices.
“The Australian Inequality Index compels us to re-evaluate our priorities and commit to comprehensive reforms that ensure wealth is shared equitably, leaving no one behind," said Ms Dawson.
Unveiled at this week’s Communities in Control Conference in Melbourne, Ms Dawson said the development of the Australian Inequality Index would not have been possible without funding from Our Community - an organisation that champions real social and economic change.
“We thank them for their generous support.”
Our Community Managing Director Denis Moriarty said he was proud to provide the initial funding to develop such a valuable tool for the sector.
“The money could not have gone to a better organisation – Per Capita is just brilliant at working on progressive analyses,” he said.
“This body of work will provide the proof that state and federal governments and philanthropy must provide bigger investments across all sectors to break the growing inequality problems Australia is facing.”
“It erodes social cohesion, exacerbates economic disparities and limits the potential of our nation,” said Ms Dawson.
“It is high time we prioritize policies that promote inclusive growth and bridge the wealth divide."
The good news is, growing economic inequality is not inevitable.
Rather, it is a consequence of policy choices.
“The Australian Inequality Index compels us to re-evaluate our priorities and commit to comprehensive reforms that ensure wealth is shared equitably, leaving no one behind," said Ms Dawson.
Unveiled at this week’s Communities in Control Conference in Melbourne, Ms Dawson said the development of the Australian Inequality Index would not have been possible without funding from Our Community - an organisation that champions real social and economic change.
“We thank them for their generous support.”
Our Community Managing Director Denis Moriarty said he was proud to provide the initial funding to develop such a valuable tool for the sector.
“The money could not have gone to a better organisation – Per Capita is just brilliant at working on progressive analyses,” he said.
“This body of work will provide the proof that state and federal governments and philanthropy must provide bigger investments across all sectors to break the growing inequality problems Australia is facing.”
Communities in Control | Understanding Inequality: Emma Dawson speaking at the 2022 conference.
Posted on 07 Jun 2023
The talents of graphic artist Debbie Wood helped bring to life the theme of the 2023 Communities in…
Posted on 01 Jun 2023
The level of inequality in Australia has increased markedly over the past seven years, according to…
Posted on 01 Jun 2023
Thought provoking conversations sparked by big ideas defined the 2023 Communities in Control…
Posted on 15 Mar 2023
Social marketer Brett de Hoedt is a man of 1000 opinions, and he’s here to share his knowledge…
Posted on 14 Feb 2023
Small and medium not-for-profits, those that turn over less than $0.5 million and less than $3m a…
Posted on 15 Oct 2022
What would it look like if a government loved its citizens? This was the electrifying moment that…
Posted on 14 Sep 2022
Organisations – and the communities in which they operate – tend to be complicated, even messy,…
Posted on 15 Jun 2022
The 2022 Communities in Control cemented its place as Australia’s most important conference for…
Posted on 03 May 2022
Australia’s most important conference for community leaders has laid down the challenge to…
Posted on 23 Aug 2021
Policymaker, public servant, and author Andrew Wear is sick of problems and is hell-bent on finding…
Posted on 30 May 2021
Australia’s most progressive leaders, thinkers and community agitators have gathered in their…
Posted on 26 Nov 2020
Against the odds, the 2020 Communities in Control conference was one of the liveliest ever. An…