Through my studies and this course I have learned that there is not one reason, one outcome, or one solution for poverty. I had not considered the differences between transitional and intergenerational poverty, nor the notion of individual versus structural causes. These are the underlying concepts of how poverty can influence families, so are crucial in understanding the issue. I was also not aware of some of the causes of poverty. For example, limited family and social networks, family composition, and residential location. Although it seems obvious now, I had only thought of the commonly known reasons, such as unemployment, cost of living, and education. The interaction of income with family composition also adds to the complexity of poverty.
Another concept that seems obvious now is the importance of targeting children in interventions. Harper et al. (2003) state that children who begin their lives with sufficient resources are less likely to live in poverty as adults. Thus, a focus on children will reduce the likelihood of transmission of poverty to future generations. What is surprising is the disrespect some people have for those who are disadvantaged. I expected to find negative comments, but found some to be ignorant, inconsiderate, and seeming to follow a pack mentality. Interestingly enough, a Google search for “poverty” brought back mostly positive and sympathetic views, whilst “unemployment” or “welfare” generated more negativity and resentment. This demonstrated that certain words can elicit negative emotion so they must be used carefully for a controversial topic like poverty. There are several challenges that I foresee in my future in a community development/caseworker role. Poverty “feeds off itself”, so being poor makes it more difficult to remove oneself from the situation. |
The risk of poverty whilst on welfare is 36.5%, far higher than the 12.8% risk for all people, which shows that many welfare payments are below the poverty line (Australian Council of Social Service, 2012). Secondly is the ability to provide families with the tools they need to fit their individual cases. Family composition and the type and cause of poverty will be different for everyone, making the approach both varied and individualist. Finally, I believe it is a part of my role to educate people about families in poverty to try to increase knowledge and reduce stereotypes. Such information is not always welcomed.
There is always much to learn and it is an ongoing process. I have further university studies relating to families, children, Indigenous Australians, and the relationship between communication and power to complete. I attend various professional forums and workshops and will continue to do so. Most importantly, I will learn from clients I speak with, as their perspective is one I have not experienced myself.
I have always questioned my own assumptions, however, every time I learn more about a topic I wonder whether I have misread situations in the past. My numerous learnings from this course about families and poverty will allow me to provide a more comprehensive and understanding approach for clients. I will be able to better analyse family issues and provide services. |
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