Perceptions of poverty – why measurement matters

Poverty shows up in obvious ways — kids missing out at school, families stuck in poor housing, people delaying going to the doctor.

But it also hides in isolation and quiet stress. Whether seen or unseen, poverty chips away at education, health, housing, and social connection — and that’s a cost Australia can’t afford to ignore.

Australians agree government should act on poverty. Yet Australia remains an international outlier: 156 countries have official poverty measures. We have none.

BSL, with others, is calling for dual poverty measures — monetary and multidimensional — to understand overlapping disadvantages and guide smarter action. This commitment would give us the opportunity to work together across government, community, academia, and lived experience to move the dial on poverty.

Why does this matter?

Countries like Canada and New Zealand have official poverty measures — and both have made some progress in reducing poverty. Australia can do the same.

Take this as your open invitation to join us in addressing poverty. Let’s make 2026 the turning point — when Australia decided not just to talk about poverty, but to measure it, and act on it.

How you can be involved

In 2025, we spoke with government about the positive potential of dual poverty measures and demonstrated what a Multidimensional Poverty Index for Australia could look like and how it can be used to reduce poverty in Australia, with lived experience advocates backing us in. But we want to do more.

Made possible by your support, we’re launching a national report which reveals that Australians see poverty and inequality as urgent issues — and believe action is needed. Introducing official poverty measures could be a game
changer, guiding smarter solutions that help us track real progress toward a fairer Australia.