Vinnies and Jesuits agree … Vinnies has thrown its support behind a landmark report which looked at structural issues behind poverty in Australia the entrenched disadvantage that is affecting a number of communities around the country.

Dropping off the Edge 2015 produced by Jesuit Social Services and Catholic Social Services Australia, maps disadvantage across the country based on 22 social indicators including long-term unemployment, criminal convictions and domestic violence.

Vinnies recommends this report as essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the structural issues behind poverty.

Structural issues include high levels of unemployment, low income support and insufficient funding for housing and schools. These are followed closely by housing stress, domestic violence and prison admissions, which the report details along with a state-by-state breakdown of disadvantage. Download a copy of the report and a summary.  See Jesuit Social Services and Catholic Social Services Australia for more information.