About Us

Anti-Poverty Network SA is an alliance of people affected by or concerned about poverty and unemployment, and a voice for South Australians on low incomes.

We are run by, and advocate for, job-seekers, low-income workers, sole parents, aged and disability pensioners, carers, students, community workers, and more.

Welfare Is A Right, Not A Privilege

All people receiving income support deserve dignity, respect, and the opportunity to thrive, without being punished by humiliating welfare policies, like Mutual Obligations, Work For The Dole, and Cashless Welfare. The requirements to receive welfare are completely unreasonable, and cutting recipients’ incomes can plunge them into severe hardship. A system that does this to its people is unjust.

Read more about our Welfare & Poverty Campaign.

Poverty Is A Political Choice, Not An Inevitability

The COVID-19 relief payments, and temporary increases to JobSeeker and Youth Allowance, proved that poverty is a political choice; the government can increase welfare payments, and lift people out of poverty, and they consistently choose not to.

We believe all payments should be raised to the Henderson poverty line (roughly $88 a day/$611 a week) for all welfare recipients, and that those excluded from being able to receive support at all (migrant workers, international students and refugees) are entitled to this as well. No one in a country this rich should have to live in poverty.

Read more about our Welfare & Poverty Campaign.

Affordable, Healthy, Secure Housing For All

We need a housing system that puts people’s needs first, that means:

• A massive expansion of the public housing sector, including reversing the sale of 20,000 public homes from the last 2 decades
• Rent controls – including an urgent, emergency rent-freeze
• An end to no-cause evictions/lease terminations
• Stronger protections for renters, including better standards in heating/cooling, energy-efficiency, and housing maintenance

Read more about our Housing & Renting Campaign.

Activism

We run forums, rallies, conferences, stalls, and other campaigns activities. We train and mentor those on low incomes, as well as allies, on how to get active in the community, to build pressure and support, on issues relating to housing, poverty, social security, and workers’ rights.

We use our collective lived experience and wisdom to engage with the media, politicians, and the wider public, to fight for a fairer world.

Community

We are a community formed around solidarity, which gives emotional and practical support to those affected by poverty, unemployment, or dealing with stressful government bureaucracy. We provide resources and information about welfare and housing rights, and connect with other activist and community groups.

We also hold free lunches and dinners for members and supporters!