Heart, stroke and vascular diseases, diabetes and arthritis and diabetes by labour force status group

Those not in the labour force, aged either above or below 65, report higher levels of heart, stroke and vascular diseases, diabetes and arthritis than those working part or full time.

Heart, stroke and vascular diseases, diabetes and arthritis by income group

Those in lower income groups report higher levels of heart, stroke and vascular diseases, diabetes and arthritis than those in higher income groups.  

Good self-assessed health by weekly equivalised household income

This graphs shows that those in the higher income groups report higher levels of good health than those in the lower income groups.

Poverty and inequality primary and secondary education resources

Education resources, in partnership with Anti-Poverty Week Australia, prepared by Cool Australia. View them at: https://cool.org/poverty-and-inequality-education-resources  

Report lays bare Australia’s stark health income gap as COVID widens it further

As major inequities in the vaccine roll out emerge, ACOSS and UNSW Sydney have today released a report showing the relationship between income and health. Australian Council of Social Service CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said: “The pandemic has exposed the stark inequities that impact our health across the country. People on the lowest incomes, and with insecure work and housing have been at greatest risk throughout the COVID crisis. Now, they are the same people who are at risk of missing out in the vaccine roll out. “Our report shows that health inequities are built into our society. Our report shows that people on low incomes have the highest levels of psychological distress, and we know that the pandemic is increasing that distress. “People on lower incomes are also at greater risk of chronic illnesses, which can also make them more at risk to the impacts of the pandemic.” Professor Evelyne de Leeuw, Director of Centre for Health Equity Training, Research & Evaluation, said:  "It's…

Premature deaths - male and female, by socioeconomic status

Changes in employment, hours and wages by percentage from March to June 2020

The spread of COVID-19 and the government-ordered lockdowns to contain it had a sudden and profound impact on employment and earnings in Australia.  This graph shows that, in just the three months from March to May 2020, paid hours worked declined by 10% and employment fell by 6%, whilst wages paid were reduced by 8.3%. In June, there was a modest recovery in paid working hours and wages as lockdowns easied, but unemployment and underemployment continued to rise. The unemployment rate stood at 7.4% in June 2020.

Income calculator: How does your income compare?

New report shows who is most impacted by inequality in Australia

A new report by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney shows that, pre-COVID, single people on JobSeeker, even those with some paid work, and single parents on JobSeeker, have been struggling on the lowest rung of the household income scale. Over half are in the lowest 10% of incomes nationally. Half of people on age pensions are in the lowest 20% of incomes nationally, though widespread home ownership among this group provides a significant degree of protection from poverty. The 10% of older people who rent their homes are in a much more financially distressed position. The report – Inequality in Australia 2020: Part 2, Who is Affected and Why – sets a base-line of data against which to assess the impact that COVID-19 is having on inequality in Australia. It reveals where different groups fit in the income and wealth scales, and the direct causes of inequality from the latest data available, 2017-18. Professor Carla Treloar, Director of the Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, said: “Even…

Inequality in Australia 2020, Part 2: Who is affected and why

Read the report: Inequality in Australia 2020, Part 2: Who is affected and why Where do you stand in Australia's income distribution? Find out now with our income calculator!