WA HAS NO PLACE

Western Australia

FOR POVERTY

Western Australia

Every West Aussie deserves a good life — one with security, belonging and real opportunity. But poverty puts that out of reach for too many people

No Place for Poverty works with communities to shift understanding and create the change needed for a good life free from poverty.

1 in 7 people in WA live in poverty. This affects families, children and communities across the state.

Source - Child Poverty in Australia 2025

Real Stories

These are some of the stories of real people experiencing poverty in ways that are overlooked, but not uncommon, in WA.

Len

Older man, Experienced homelessness.

An unexpected injury at age 58 derailed everything for Len. After working his whole life and once comfortably covering his bills and rent, he suddenly found himself unable to work and reliant on government income benefits. As debts grew, depression set in, and he eventually packed a small bag and left his home, becoming homeless. Seeing no other way out at the time, Len’s experience shows how quickly anyone’s life can unravel, and with a bit of assistance, individuals can regain stability and rebuild.

Did you know that the accessibility of housing is at its lowest rate in 75 years?

Laura

Single Parent, Carer.

Despite having a promising career as a principal in remote WA, following a separation from her partner, Laura needed to stop work to undertake full-time care for her severely disabled daughter, and three other children. Living on carer support payment for Laura and her four children means living below the poverty line. Day to day, that includes skipping meals, old school uniforms, living in regional WA due to Perth’s high housing costs, and not being able to provide her children with the life she always dreamed of giving them.

Did you know that single parent families are up to 35% more at risk of experiencing poverty than couples?

Sharlene

Aboriginal Woman, Working Poor.

A visit to Jacaranda Community Centre in 2021 to seek school support for her granddaughter led to a scholarship and job offer. Two years later, Sharlene became the first Noongar financial counsellor in WA. Now in full-time employment, she can support her granddaughter with the essentials, as well as provide necessary support and care to her disabled mother, and extended family members. Despite full-time employment, rising living costs and the essential support she provides her family, Sharlene is unable to get ahead or save for a home, leaving her still facing poverty despite her achievements.

Did you know that 4 in 10 people in poverty are living in wage earning households?

Alison

Older Woman, Housing Vulnerability.

For Alison, the threat of becoming homeless at the age of 66 feels all too real. After a lifetime of working and owning successful businesses, her life was flipped upside down after a cancer diagnosis and divorce. No longer able to work due to treatment and surgeries, Alison then also became the primary carer for several of her grandchildren. She lives in constant anxiety about housing security and explains how even small increases in rent strain her limited disability pension. 

Did you know that a disproportionate number of people in poverty suffer from disabilities?

Damien

Aboriginal Man, Intergenerational Poverty.

For Damien, life has been shaped by a cycle of poverty that started in childhood and has impacted his family for generations. After leaving home at 16 and experiencing homelessness, he fell into crime. Attempts to rebuild his life have been complicated by unresolved trauma and the challenges of affording basic needs, even while working. Despite the desire to change, JobSeeker payments help Damien cover basic housing and food, but they aren’t enough to help him truly advance, trapping him in the same cycle of poverty he grew up in.

Did you know children who grow up in poverty are over 3x more likely to experience poverty in adulthood compared to those from wealthier backgrounds?

Kim

Youth, Experienced Child Poverty and Homelessness.

After her mother’s sudden death at age 7, Kim and her father were thrust into poverty. Her father, previously a small business owner, struggled with depression and relied on income support as his health worsened. Kim grew up with the responsibility of preparing for more loss, and when her father passed, she became homeless at age 20. Moving into youth housing, she survived on a youth allowance, often skipping meals to make ends meet. Despite this, Kim pushed to complete her university degree, grappling with feelings of hopelessness and depression. 

Did you know most young Australian university students are ineligible for income support, and those who qualify must make do on benefits at least 45% below the poverty line?

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Why we need to act

No Place for Poverty exists to make change. We work with communities to show what a good life truly requires and help people take steps that make a real difference. Together, we can remove barriers and create a good life for everyone in WA.

Together, we can end poverty

In other words, reducing poverty leads to better lives and communities for everyone.

It’s not in our hearts

Most of us want to do the right thing and be part of a caring community. Poverty goes against that. Together, we can make sure fairness and compassion guide how we live and act.

It’s not in our economy

Our shared economic resources could eliminate poverty in WA. We make policy choices at a state and federal level that keep our fellow West Aussies in poverty. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

It’s not in our potential

In other words, reducing poverty leads to better lives and communities for everyone — without adding costs, just unlocking potential.

On every level, it makes sense for us to end poverty in WA.

Learn more here.