Poverty and Inequality in Australia.
Does poverty exist in Australia? The answer is yes. In these lessons, students will find out who is affected and what needs to be changed to reduce poverty.
Cool, with the ACOSS/UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership and Anti-Poverty Week have created brand new resources for Primary and Secondary students that cover Maths, English and HPE. Students will learn about the effects of poverty and what constitutes living in poverty in Australia. They’ll take a look at real-life stories, as well as analyse and interpret current data to discover the realities of those experiencing poverty.
Enter the Anti-Poverty Week Pens Against Poverty Writing Competition.
Pens Against Poverty is a unique writing competition for school students in Years 3-10, reaching students across Australia. This year’s theme is Finding a Home, and the competition is open from now until 9 September 2022.
The winners will be announced in Anti-Poverty Week (16th to the 22nd of October 2022).
The judges will determine the winners based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrates empathy and humanity through creative writing.
- Creative treatment of the competition theme.
- Effective control of language to communicate meaning.
- Must be an original POEM or STORY and be no more than 500 words.
- Click here to learn more and enter
Primary Education Resources
What is poverty and why does it matter – Years 3 & 4
This lesson presents students with some basic facts and figures regarding what poverty in Australia looks like and how a range of people may experience it.
Fair Share
– Years 3 & 4
The class will watch an animated YouTube clip that aims to address the meaning of income and wealth inequality in Australia and why it is problematic.
Making Ends Meet
– Years 5 & 6
This lesson aims to help students understand the difference between the poverty line and the amount of government income support available for someone who is unemployed.
Poverty: In sickness or in health – Years 5 & 6
Students will analyse health and poverty-related data and discuss what this data indicates about poverty, as well as investigate why poverty and health outcomes are intrinsically linked.
Secondary Education Resources
Poverty and the social determinants of health – Years 7 & 8
What is the link between health and poverty? In this lesson, students explore the underlying non-medical factors, known as the social determinants of health, and how they influence health outcomes.
Understanding poverty and inequality in Australia – Years 7 & 8
The class will watch an animated YouTube clip that aims to address the meaning of income and wealth inequality in Australia and why it is problematic.
What are the chances?
– Years 7 & 8
This lesson aims to help students understand the difference between the poverty line and the amount of government income support available for someone who is unemployed.
People behind the statistics – Years 9 & 10
This lesson will have students critically examine and investigate how poverty impacts Australian society’s health and well-being.
What are the facts? – Years 9 & 10
This lesson will have students critically examine and investigate how poverty impacts Australian society’s health and well-being.
With Thanks to Our Partner
These lessons were developed in partnership with Anti-Poverty Week and ACOSS/UNSW Sydney Poverty and Inequality Partnership.
© 2021 Anti-Poverty Week, ACOSS/UNSW Sydney Poverty & Inequality Partnership and Cool Australia
Cool Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to land, water and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging.