The Issues Tree

In Australia, one in seven adults and one in six children are living in poverty, even though we are the world's 15th largest economy.

So why is poverty such an enduring challenge in Australia? And what are the opportunities to improve this? 

Former Minister Jenny Macklin unpacks why JobSeeker is the gaping hole in Australia's safety net and how an increase to JobSeeker could lift individuals out of poverty.

Donna de Zwart discusses Fitted for Work's powerful models of supporting women and gender diverse job seekers into employment and financial independence.

And Ben McAlpine explains the false economy of cutting social services. The provocation: investing in poverty reduction saves more than it costs in the long term.

This episode is part of our four-part ‘Innovating social policy’ miniseries and draws on Mandala Partners' research on investments in social policy.

Find it at mandalapartners.com.

Guests: Hon Jenny Macklin AC, Chair, Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee

Donna de Zwart, Managing Director, Fitted for Work

Ben McAlpine, Director of Policy and Advocacy, NSW Council of Social Service

Hosts: Adam Triggs, Partner, Mandala

Aadya Mishra, Analyst, Mandala

This podcast is recorded and edited on the lands of the Wurundjeri, Ngunnawal and Gadigal peoples.

We pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging across Australia. Sovereignty was never ceded.