Data from the 2021 Census shows that more than 122,000 people in Australia experienced homelessness on Census night. Social housing waitlists remain unacceptably high, with more than a quarter of a million households (254,571 applicants) waiting for social housing, including 122,457 in greatest need on priority waitlists, a 12% increase.
Poverty is on the increase, with one in six Australian children assessed as living in poverty according to the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) report of October, 2025.
Toil is not producing the wealth to live without hardship, causing economic stress for many. Mental Health Australia’s 2023 Report to the Nation found that over half of Australians believe the rising cost of living is having a significant impact on their mental health.
