Five Tasmanian community service providers have partnered together during Anti-Poverty Week to highlight the impacts of poverty in Tasmania and encourage action for change.
CatholicCare, Loreto Housing, Mission Australia, TasCOSS and the St Vincent de Paul Society have called on the Australian Government to establish standard measures of poverty in Australia and set targets to reduce it.
A new Poverty in Australia 2026: Who is affected report, released by the Poverty and Inequality Partnership earlier this week, revealed that that about one-in-six Tasmanians were living in poverty.
Tasmania’s poverty rate has increased from 14.2 per cent to 16.9 per cent in the past year, and remains among the highest in Australia.
Critically, these figures are based on 2022/23 data, so given the ever-increasing cost of living pressures, today’s real numbers are likely to be much higher.
CatholicCare Tasmania CEO, Ms Julia Mangan, said hardship was no longer confined to people traditionally considered vulnerable.
“Working families, older Tasmanians, young people and those on modest incomes are increasingly feeling the impact of rising costs. Many people are only one unexpected event away from crisis,” Ms Mangan said.
“Housing affordability and availability are increasingly pushing people into financial hardship.
“People are sacrificing essentials, such as food, health care, education and social participation to maintain housing.
“Stable, affordable housing is the foundation for health, wellbeing, education, employment and community participation.”
St Vincent de Paul Society CEO, Ms Connie Digolis, said the year-on-year figures highlighted the devastating impact of poverty and disadvantage, yet far too little has changed for those experiencing it.
“This year, we stand united, inviting Tasmanians to stand with us and put their voices behind the call to break the poverty cycle,” Ms Digolis said.
“We know change is possible, but it requires governments to set clear measures and targets and to be accountable for reducing poverty in Australia.
“In a country like ours, poverty should be an exception — one that we can respond to accordingly and address — not something that for far too many, is inevitable because of factors our of their control. It can be avoided and our governments should be prioritising preventing poverty all together.”
TasCOSS CEO, Ms Paula Wriedt, said the latest figures showing poverty increasing should serve as a wake-up call.
“Poverty is not inevitable and we cannot accept a future where one-in-six Tasmanians are trapped in a cycle of poverty, forced to make impossible choices — between putting food on the table, paying the rent, filling up the car to get to work or affording essential medical care,” Ms Wriedt said.
“Reducing poverty must be a priority for governments, with clear targets and public reporting on progress.
“We also need sustainable funding for community organisations, with the recent TasCOSS pulse check finding three-in-five organisations have been forced to turn people away because they lack the resources to meet growing demand.”
The five community service providers gathered in the Elizabeth Street and Brisbane Street malls in Hobart and Launceston between 11am and 2pm today (14 October 2026).
Those who visited were able to:
- Sign an Anti-Poverty Week postcard calling for action on poverty which will be delivered to key members of the Tasmanian Government.
- View displays, activities, information and stalls supported by community service organisations.
- Learn more about poverty in Tasmania and the work being done across the community to support people experiencing hardship.
- Meet representatives from organisations working across Tasmania to reduce poverty and its impacts.
Anti-Poverty Week is an opportunity for individuals, community groups, businesses and organisations across all sectors to come together, raise awareness and advocate for meaningful action to reduce poverty.