ACLW Panel on the Concerns of Women Experiencing Disadvantage in Australian Communities

Press Release

5 June 2013

ACLW Panel on the Concerns of Women Experiencing Disadvantage in Australian Communities

In the lead up to the election, whilst attention focuses on marginal seats, those who are disadvantaged in the Australian community should not be marginalised.

The Report, How Australia is faring: Multiple Disadvantage 2012 which measured multiple disadvantage for people aged 18 to 64 years indicated that around 5% of the working age population, or 640,000 people, have multiple disadvantages. Between 2006 and 2010 there was a worsening in those disadvantaged by employment and education, and in the number of people experiencing poor health and little change in the income, safety and support indicators.  Disadvantage was found to be difficult to get out of as around 40% of the people aged 18 to 64 years who experienced multiple disadvantage in 2006, experienced multiple disadvantage two years later.

Women are more likely than men to experience multiple disadvantage, and persistent disadvantage, according to the Report, which also stated that the gap between men and women is wider, the longer the disadvantage persists.

In the lead up to the election, ACLW has brought together women community leaders who work on the frontlines with women who experience disadvantage in Australian communities to contribute to an analysis of Key issues that concern and impact on women in disadvantaged communities and make recommendations to government and the Opposition to address these issues in the upcoming election. 

A 15-women Panel of leading women with a record of achievement, experience and knowledge of particular social justice issues experienced by women in Australian communities, commenced their analysis in March 2013. The Panel closes on 7 September 2013.

To contact Panellists, please email Diann Rodgers-Healey at diann@aclw.org

Thank you.


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