Lin Hatfield Dodds
The good old Aussie fair go has slowly but surely been eroded as our nation has become ever more divided between the haves and have-nots. Social inclusion is a society in which everyone has access to the means and opportunities to participate in, contribute to, and be valued by their community..
Unpack the issues...
At the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) national conference on the eve of the 2007 election, the Rudd government unveiled, almost unnoticed, a social inclusion strategy that promoted both fairness and prosperity, and in which economic and social policy would work together to create a fair go for all Australians.
It was a timely commitment, as the social fabric of Australia had become worn out in places and in need of mending.
This vision for a fairer Australia is one embraced by Australia’s community and welfare sector. It is our sector that works each day with low income, disadvantaged and vulnerable Australians. We see the human face of the research evidence that tells us social disadvantage still exists in this country.
The reality is that, despite sustained prosperity and economic growth, more than 1/10 Australians struggle to pay for the bare essentials of life — housing, food, electricity and health care. Australia has experienced strong economic growth but not all Australians have shared in it.
Disadvantaged Australians miss out because they have restricted access to life’s essentials — things such as work, education, affordable housing, aged care, child care, counselling, and legal services.
Many miss out because they are busy caring for others. The social and economic costs of this disadvantage can be seen in ‘poverty postcodes’, typically on the outer edges of metropolitan cities and in rural Australia. These are disadvantaged communities in which many people are unemployed, have low levels of education, live on low incomes, and often live with disability or experience illness.
Social inclusion is the opposite of this experience; an Australia in which everyone has access to the means and opportunities to participate in, contribute to, and be valued by their community.
For the fair go to have a future in Australia, we need to get serious about building an enabling society — one that actively promotes the inclusion and participation of all citizens through integrated policies that underpin healthy communities, a healthy environment and a healthy economy. 
Social inclusion does not happen by accident, or overnight. It requires sustained political commitment and government leadership, including through building action partnerships across government, business, the community sector and local communities. Experience in Australia and overseas indicates a number of key building blocks for a strategic national approach.
First, we need a bold vision of an enabling society that puts people at the centre and ensures those most vulnerable have their basic needs met with dignity.
Second, we need to create pathways to inclusion that identify and remove the significant barriers that stand in the way of vulnerable Australians. Barriers like lack of education, skills and training — around 60% of Australians on welfare have Year 10 as their highest level of educational achievement. Barriers like access to childcare — it’s hard for anyone to access quality childcare, let alone single parents re-entering the workforce who often need flexible arrangements. Barriers like affordable housing, and access to dental and general health care.
Third, to be effective, a national social inclusion strategy requires transparent goals, targets and milestones. We need to be clear about where we want to be, to monitor progress and refine our strategies, and engage a growing circle of people in achieving an enabling society.
Our research tells us that the vast majority of Australians care about a fair go for all. As a nation, we want to put people first, and support them in achieving a decent life. We want to create opportunities for people.
We know that as a nation we have the resources and the wisdom to make the difference. We know that we all gain from the creation of an enabling society.
This is the moment we must move forward and build a stronger, healthier and fairer Australia. Government must take the lead with a vision for Australia that’s about inclusion, and they must drive the process. But we all need to play our part; the corporate world, the workplace, the non-government sector, and as members of local communities. We all need to work together if we want to see a future for the fair go.
Lin Hatfield Dodds is president of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS); national director of UnitingCare Australia; chair of the ACT Community Inclusion Board and 2007 ACT Australian of the Year.
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written by Mark , December 16, 2008
I agree that there is poverty out there but I dont believe its the role of the government to force those who are taxpayers to provide a living for others. Other tax revenue besides Income Tax could be used to provide opportunity for others but not to provide. Free Market Capitalism is the best solution not incremental socialism. For example in India and China they want more capitalism and free enterprise not more government regulation or communism. The Govt. does not love everybody like Jesus does! They are the problem not the solution. I keep hearing charities talk about how all the poor children need a toy, our Australian children dont need more commerical junk made in china full of lead and meleamine, they need a secured future in a free market
written by Glen Powell , January 25, 2009
It's difficult to be arguing for free markets when the global economy is melting down thanks to the de-regulated greed of large corporations. Free markets cannot exist without government and while governments don't love everybody like Jesus, it's even more certain that profit-maximising corporations don't love anybody except themselves. Big Corporations are the problem. Break them down and free up competition. But perhaps the same could be said for Big Government, Big Church and Big Charity...?
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