New government economic advice has revealed that child poverty in Australia is not rare with almost one in two children (45 per cent) living in income poverty at some point during childhood.
The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee’s 2026 Report to Government confirmed figures released by the End Child Poverty campaign last year that one million children are living in poverty.
This reinforces the campaign’s urgent call for the Albanese government to introduce legislation to establish official child poverty measures, covering both monetary and multidimensional indicators with annual public reporting to understand and address the root causes.
The report also found that for 11 per cent of children, persistent poverty lasts more than five of their first ten years of life. Without action, child poverty will continue to drive long term harm to children’s health, education and wellbeing.
With approximately one million children (17 per cent) in Australia living in poverty, the report recommends child poverty be addressed as a national priority requiring coordinated government action.
Key facts on child and family poverty in Australia:
- An estimated 3.6 million Australians (13 per cent) are living in poverty.
- Poverty is not a rare or exceptional experience for families with children in Australia.
- Poverty is higher in regional areas and smaller states and territories – up to 18 per cent in regional areas compared with 13 per cent nationally.
- Poverty rates among Indigenous Australians living in very remote areas were as high as 57 per cent.
End Child Poverty chair, Tony Pietropiccolo AM, said the report highlights that child poverty is one of Australia’s most serious and persistent economic challenges.
“This report confirms what families, schools and community organisations see walking through their doors asking for help every day – one million children are being left behind in a wealthy country like Australia,” Mr Pietropiccolo said.
“Ending child poverty in Australia is a political decision addressed by policy choices, and we can fix this for our children. Growing up without enough food, stable housing or basic essentials leaves lifelong scars, and reducing child poverty is one of the smartest investments we can make.
“This isn’t a temporary problem or a post pandemic blip – it’s structural and long standing, and the data spans more than 20 years.”
Australia does not have an official definition or measure of child poverty and there is no national strategy or legislative framework focused on child poverty. There is also limited data collection on child poverty comparing communities across Australia which makes developing policies and service design difficult.
Backed by 180 organisations, the End Child Poverty campaign is calling on the Federal Government to legislate a child-centred definition of poverty, commit to measures that impact children, and systematically reduce child poverty by aligning policy, funding, and accountability mechanisms with the evidence.
The Act would consider not just the impacts of income but access to housing, education, health, and social inclusion on children.
Budget failure
The End Child Poverty campaign also says the 2026 Federal Budget has failed to meet the scale and urgency of child poverty with the cost-of-living measures “missing the mark” to reach children where they need it most.
In a statement, the campaign said while tax offsets, cheaper medications and funding to fix the weaponisation of the child support system are welcome, the Commonwealth has not stepped up to make child poverty a national priority and commit to a funded plan to fix it.
“Children should not be left waiting while governments settle for half-measures. In one of the wealthiest countries in the world, every child should have enough to eat, a safe place to live, and the support they need to thrive,” Mr Pietropiccolo said.
“Australia cannot claim to be serious about wellbeing, prevention, or opportunity while allowing hundreds of thousands of children to grow up in poverty.
“This Budget should have marked a turning point. Instead, it leaves the core issue of ensuring every child has the resources, stability, and dignity they need to thrive, unresolved.”
The End Child Poverty Campaign is auspiced by the Valuing Children Initiative, a program by Centrecare Inc.