From Collingwood to Kew, and from Redfern to Baulkam Hills, there are larger divides than a road or a river. Communities in New South Wales and Victoria are often defined by their position on the socio-economic ladder.
Disadvantage is strongly correlated with location according to the Community Adversity and Resilience research report recently released by the Ignatius Centre, the policy and research arm of Jesuit Social Services.
The report, authored by Emeritus Professor Tony Vinson, indicates that the negative effects of social adversity in Australia are heavily concentrated in particular areas, defining these people’s opportunities throughout their lives. The report aims to provide data to policy makers about the location of social disadvantage in Australian society and to contribute to research into the influence of place on poverty and social disadvantage.
Community Adversity and Resilience builds on earlier research by Jesuit Social Services in 1999, Unequal in Life. The findings of the new report echoed those of Unequal in Life, concluding that a small number of communities in Victoria and NSW were over-represented in the figures for early school leaving, unemployment, crime, low income, low labour market skills and child maltreatment. Unlike its predecessor, the new report examines the mediating role of social cohesion in assisting communities to overcome disadvantage and its attendant consequences.
The report explores the concept of community resilience—a sense of mutual responsibility and commitment that encourages communities to work together to overcome the problems that stem from social disadvantage. The report identifies those communities that function better, those that have a sense of control over their destiny and strong community leadership.
‘Now that we have the benchmarks from 1999, it’s very clear that disadvantage is remarkably durable. It hasn’t changed to any large extent at all since 1999 and the situation is as it was even 25 years ago. So it’s not going to go away without special effort’, says Vinson.
‘In areas where there is a measurable degree of social cohesion then there is the possibility of the harmful consequences of conditions like unemployment, incomplete education, low work skills, and low income being held in check by communities working together.’
Jesuit Social Services’ Policy Director Fr Peter Norden, says that politically, parties are keen to match each other regarding important social issues as we move towards a Federal election later this year. As one party makes promises, the other is ready to pounce. ‘A bipartisan approach is needed to