25 Nov Child Poverty: Why Every Parent Should Be Concerned

Breaking the cycle of child poverty. A new report commissioned by the NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS) reveals a startling truth: child poverty in New South Wales costs the state $60 billion every year.

Beyond the numbers, it’s a crisis that impacts families, communities, and the future opportunities for our children.

How Child Poverty Affects Families

In NSW, one in six children—a total of 278,000 kids—lives below the poverty line. In some areas, like Sydney’s western and southwestern suburbs, this rises to nearly one in four. This means families are struggling to provide the basics: stable housing, nutritious food, and opportunities for early learning and play.

For these children, the effects of poverty ripple throughout their lives.

Research shows they are:

• Three times more likely to grow up in poverty as adults.
• More likely to experience poor physical and mental health.
• At greater risk of falling behind in school, struggling to find stable work, and encountering legal or housing issues later in life.

These realities affect not only the children living in poverty but the community as a whole.

The Real Costs of Poverty

The financial impact of child poverty extends beyond individual families.

The report calculates:

• $19 billion annually in lost educational opportunities as children in poverty fall behind in school.
• $5.3 billion each year in health-related costs, including long-term impacts like reduced life expectancy.
• $3 billion in child protection services tied directly to poverty-related neglect and abuse.
• Additional costs in homelessness, crime, and lost workforce participation.

How We Can Break the Cycle

Despite these sobering statistics, poverty is preventable. The report offers practical, achievable solutions that can change children’s lives.

These include:

• Boosting financial support for families through improved JobSeeker and Parenting Payments.
• Ensuring affordable and safe housing, with a minimum of 10% of all housing designated as social housing.
• Guaranteeing quality, affordable childcare, so every child has the chance to learn and grow, regardless of their parents’ income.
• Supporting families early with better access to integrated health, education, and social services.
• Empowering First Nations communities by involving them directly in designing and delivering family-centered services.

Why It Matters to You

As a parent or carer, you want to give your child the best possible start in life. But for too many families, systemic barriers make this a daily struggle. Tackling child poverty isn’t just a government issue—it’s a community one. If every child had the opportunity to thrive, we’d all benefit from healthier, happier communities.

Investing in solutions now doesn’t just save money in the long term; it changes lives. Every child deserves a safe home, a healthy start, and access to opportunities that help them reach their full potential. Together, we can ensure that no child is left behind.

To read the report, go to ncoss.org.au