Our vision

UnitingCare Australia’s vision is for all children and young people in Australia to have access to the support and opportunities they need to be healthy, happy, and actively contributing citizens in Australian society.

This means recognising that well-functioning families are best placed to support and protect children, and committing to ensure that children live in safety and free from poverty.

Child social exclusion

Child social exclusion captures the multi-dimensional nature of disadvantage experienced by many of Australia’s children. It extends the lens on disadvantage beyond child poverty which is derived from household income alone. The 2016 Child Social Exclusion Index, commissioned by UnitingCare Australia, includes five domains – Socioeconomic, Education, Connectedness, Housing and Health – and 16 indicators. Child poverty rates are estimated using a poverty line set at half the median equivalised household disposable income, adjusted for housing costs.

Child social exclusion means lost opportunity, marginalisation from the life of a community and the risk of leading lives of unfulfilled potential.

The issues we face