Part IV: Summary
The conclusion summarises the main issues identified in the chapters of the report.
It also highlights some key findings:
- That measuring wellbeing is complex, and that traditional income poverty measures are at best of very limited value.
- Understanding disadvantage needs to recognise a much broader set of issues, the importance of lifecycle and the extent to which adverse outcomes are often the product of multiple disadvantage, not simply income.
- The living standards of Australians have improved, in large part driven by the strong economic growth the nation has recorded.
- Demographic and other changes are exerting significant pressure and present key challenges.
- Central to these are continuing reforms to the structure of income support and promoting participation to reward those who make an effort to gain employment, and provide effective and secure support to those who cannot support themselves.