BSL Talks - Measuring poverty in Australia - Henderson's legacy and the path ahead
Register now for our upcoming BSL Talks webinar on Wednesday 15 October
2025 marks 50 years since the release of Australia’s landmark Inquiry into the nature and extent of poverty, chaired by Professor Ronald Henderson.
The Henderson Inquiry laid the foundation for how we understand and measure poverty in Australia. The Henderson Poverty Line has been a consistently measured long-term benchmark – relative to average living standard. It is the same today as it was 50 years ago, but it needs refreshing.
Globally, 156 countries have adopted either a monetary, multidimensional, or combined approach to poverty measurement. Best practice is to have both – Australia has neither.
As part of ongoing work to support improved poverty measurement, the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and the Melbourne Institute have developed a demonstration Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for Australia. This work draws on the internationally recognised methodology of Professor Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and global leader in poverty measurement.
Facilitated by BSL’s Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, Zeah Behrend, join our latest BSL Talks discussion with Dr Nicole Bieske (BSL’s Director of Research, Policy and Advocacy), Dr Melek Cigdem-Bayram (Ronald Henderson Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute and BSL) and two experts with lived experience, Jo and Tamara, as we explore what having official poverty measures would mean for Australia.
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If you have any questions, please email bsltalks@bsl.org.au