Defining poverty and the things that matter in life ...

At least 90 per cent of respondents from both surveys also identified five items relating to children (for example, can they participate in school activities and outings) which were seen as essential.

The list of “essential items” gives a much richer sense of what social inclusion - and its converse social exclusion - means in Australia today. It also broadens our collective understanding to show that “poverty” can go well beyond material deprivation.

Preliminary analysis of the data has shown that a significant number of Australians are missing out on some of the “essentials of life”. The client survey showed for example that one in eight participants couldn’t afford one substantial meal a day.

Having identified which items are essential, and that there is a high level of agreement on what these items are, further analysis is currently taking place to get a stronger sense of who is missing out on the essentials of life and what this implies for the extent and nature of deprivation and social exclusion in Australia. A major report will be released later this year.

These findings are likely to confirm the daily experience of many community organisations working in Australia today - that there are some Australians who are missing out on the essentials of life - both in terms of immediate needs such as food, but also in other key service areas, such as dental care. Added to this, the survey confirms the importance of being treated with respect - this was seen by many as a basic prerequisite for an acceptable life.

Australia, unlike nations in the European Union and elsewhere across the globe, does not have a national “anti-poverty strategy”, with clearly identified initiatives and targets to reduce poverty. While there are many Commonwealth, State and Territory, and other initiatives in Australia that play a role in improving the wellbeing of individuals and families, the lack of a cohesive national strategy to address poverty and social exclusion with clearly identifiable poverty targets is regrettable.

Given the broad acceptance by the general community of what constitutes an acceptable standard of living, as evidenced by the research discussed here - as well as the evidence of the daily experience of many Australians who are missing out - it may well be time to “mention the ‘p’ word” more explicitly in public policy in Australia.