About Anti-Poverty Week
Anti-Poverty Week is a week where all Australians are encouraged to organise or take part in an activity aiming to highlight or overcome issues of party and hardship here in Australia or overseas. It was established in Australia as an expansion of the UN's annual International Anti-Poverty Day on October 17. In 2012, Anti-Poverty Week will be held from the 14th to 20th October 2012.
Some activities are organised by welfare and health organisations, religious groups, community organisations, schools and youth groups. Many other types of organisation also arrange activities, including government departments, local councils, business organisations, universities and sporting and cultural groups. You can read a summary of Anti Poverty Week in 2011 here.
Facilitating Groups
Anti-Poverty Week is overseen by Facilitating Groups at the national and state/territory level. They include representatives from major organisations and social welfare services which are actively involved in efforts to reduce poverty and hardship in Australia and overseas. The current Co-Chairs of the Facilitating Groups are shown below. The National Coordinator is Jill Lang and the National Liaison Officer is Katherine McCallum.
National and State Co-Chairs
The national and state co-chairs are:
| National | Australian Capital Territory | New South Wales |
|
Lynn Arnold Julian Disney |
Peter Sandeman Rebecca Vassarotti |
Graham West Gary Moore |
| Northern Territory | Queensland | South Australia |
| Vicki O'Halloran Chief Executive Officer Somerville Community Services |
Penny Gillespie Michael Tizard |
Ross Womersley Hilary Winchester |
| Victoria | Tasmania | Western Australia |
|
Paul McDonald Gerry Naughton |
Noel Mundy Rhonda McLaughlin |
Chris McGowan Greg Ryan |
Our sponsors
The Principal National Sponsors for 2012 are:
| Anglicare Australia | |
| Anglicare Australia is a nationwide network of locally based Anglican organisations serving the needs of their communities. From Groote Eylandt, NT to Kingston, Tasmania, from Bondi to Bunbury, Anglicare member agencies are committed to caring for people in need and seeking social justice for all. |  |
| Australian Red Cross | |
| We help tens of millions of people around the world each year and care for local communities in Australia and Asia Pacific. With more than 100 million volunteers worldwide and 60,000 members and volunteers in Australia we can reach people and places like nobody else. Relief in times of crisis, care when it's needed most and commitment when others turn away. Red Cross is there for people in need, no matter who you are, no matter where you live. |  |
| Jobs Australia | |
| Jobs Australia is a national network of non-profit organisations assisting unemployed people to get and keep jobs. The network helps members to make the most effective use of their resources and promotes the needs of unemployed people for the services and support that will help them to participate fully in society. Jobs Australia is the largest network of employment and related service providers in Australia and is funded and owned by its members. |  |
| Mission Australia | |
| Mission Australia is a Christian community service organisation that has been transforming the lives of Australians in need for more than 150 years. Our 550 community and employment services assisted more than 300,000 Australians by providing a hand up, a way forward and hope for the future. We work towards creating a fairer Australia by advocating for people in need and helping them to get back on their feet. We strengthen families, empower youth, strive to solve homelessness and provide employment solutions. |  |
| University of New South Wales | |
| Anti-Poverty Week was founded by the Social Justice Project in the Law Faculty of the University of New South Wales and the National Office has been based there since 2004. The Law Faculty generously provides a work space and use of office equipment. |  |
The following organisations also sponsor Anti-Poverty Week:
| Key National Sponsors | |
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