we see OUR ADVOCAC Y
EACH YEAR, UNITING COMMUNITIES’ EASTERN SERVICES PROVIDES EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH POVERT Y AND MEETING BASIC DAY-TO-DAY LIVING EXPENSES.
They’re also working with the Anti- Poverty Network to address the root causes of poverty.
As part of this partnership, Eastern Services hosted the Stand Up! Speak Out! Ideas, Stories and Action Against Poverty Conference in October 2015. The conference was organised by the Network, a group of people on low incomes who campaign for a fair deal for people living in poverty.
The conference featured the lived experience of people in poverty as well as prominent speakers such as Eva Cox, eminent campaigner for women’s rights and social justice; John Spoehr of the University of Adelaide;
18 | Uniting Communities Annual Report 2016
… advocacy as a way of influencing outcomes and stimulating positive change for people who are disadvantaged.
Linda Tirado, a US welfare activist; and visitors from interstate.
“We supported the conference by providing staff to assist with planning and organisation, a venue, Hope’s Café and catering, as well as a small financial sponsorship,” says David Winderlich, Manager Eastern Services.
David says that empowering people on low incomes to advocate for themselves is a key aim of the partnership.
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the number of jobs required for full employment of all South Australians.
We are also advocating for lower fines for people on low incomes. A recent report by the Australia Institute on South Australia’s traffic fine system has found that the system is unfair and has suggested adopting Finland’s approach by fining people based on their income.
People who are most affected need to be supported to speak out about issues that affect them,” he says.
Other key anti-poverty programs supported by the organisation include an advocacy summer school, which aims to give people the skills and knowledge to advocate around issues to do with poverty, and the ‘80,000 jobs’ campaign – 80,000 being
Peter McDonald, Executive Manager, Advocacy and Community Relations, says that taking a systemic approach to advocacy is critical to address disadvantage.
“We respond to people at an individual level who might be disadvantaged or struggling to pay their bills, but we also want to take a systemic approach to the problem,” he says. “For example, if someone is having trouble with their budget, we can help with that, but we also want to look at the high interest rates that some ‘payday’ lenders are charging, and whether there is sufficient regulation in place.”
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