Social Inclusion Ignored in Election

People experiencing social exclusion are largely being ignored by Australia's political leaders in the lead up to the Federal Election according to welfare organisation Anglicare.

New research called The State of Sydney Report 2010 released by ANGLICARE Sydney shows that single parents and people who are single, Indigenous or have a disability, experience deep social exclusion in Sydney.

ANGLICARE Sydney CEO Peter Kell asks where is the social inclusion agenda that the Government promoted a few years ago?

Kell says it seems the poor and marginalised won’t even get a mention in the lead up to this year’s election as both parties race to capture the hearts and minds of middle Australia.

He says just because peoples’ needs may not be visible doesn’t mean they are not legitimate – all Australians should be concerned at the lack of clear policy to help those at the margins.

The Report focuses on entrenched need in three groups in Sydney; people using Emergency Relief, African refugees and ageing parents caring for their disabled children.

The Report finds:

• More people are seeking assistance from ANGLICARE’s Emergency Relief services because of multiple and complex issues;
• Refugees are struggling to find secure housing, income, employment and experience discrimination; and
• Ageing parent carers experience poor levels of well being and disconnection from their local communities.

The report makes a number of recommendations on areas like refugee housing and in-home respite care and transition care plans.

Peter Kell says a holistic and flexible policy response at both a federal and state level is required for each of these socially excluded groups.

To download the State of Sydney Report, see attached PDF.

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