Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family
In May 1987, on the eve of a general election, British Labour leader Neil Kinnock delivered a landmark speech that cut to the heart of social inequality.
He asked the crowd, “Why am I the first Kinnock in a thousand generations to get to university? … Was it because all our predecessors were ‘thick’? Did they lack talent…Were those people not university material?”
I wager Kinnock’s ancestors, who could “sing, and play, recite and write poetry … could work eight hours underground and then come up and play football”, were extremely capable and talented.
The issue wasn’t their ability, but a society – just like Australia today – that denies opportunities to some. Educational inequity isn’t about a lack of talent or effort. It has always been about disadvantage and the systemic barriers preventing people from reaching their full potential.
In 2024, although progress has been made, those barriers are as real as they were when Kinnock took the stage nearly 40 years ago. And arguably, overcoming them is sometimes even tougher.
A recent Productivity Commission report reveals Australia’s poverty levels are the highest since 2001. It shows poverty is becoming more entrenched, with those affected facing some of the highest barriers to economic mobility. And for the first time, young people are seeing stalling income growth compared to their parents.
At The Smith Family, we know education can transform lives. Research shows completing Year 12 leads to better social and economic outcomes, like higher income, job security, and improved physical and mental health.
But for young people who leave school early, especially if they’re not moving on to other forms of education, life offers a narrower set of opportunities. With nine out of ten new jobs expected to require post-secondary qualifications by the end of the decade, the stakes have never been higher.
Education is a powerful enabler, part of the solution to helping people overcome poverty. But an equitable education system must be paired with support to tackle the interconnected challenges people face like health, housing, and financial insecurity.
Every young person we support comes from a family with a low income. They can also have multiple other life challenges. About one-third – and a similar proportion of their parents and carers – are coping with a disability or health issue. More than half come from single-parent households, and three-quarters have a parent or carer who is out of work. Additionally, one in five are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
How can you focus at school when you go to bed hungry, and your lunchbox is empty? How do you do your best when your parents can’t afford the internet you need to finish your homework? These are the harsh realities faced by many young people we support.
Our country’s safety net is fraying and the promise of a good life – if you get an education, work hard, and contribute – no longer holds true for many. We need a more responsive approach focusing on the unique challenges each child faces, helping them not just catch up and keep up, but get ahead in today’s world.
The drivers of hardship and disadvantage are complex, but the right support at the right time can make a crucial difference. Yet, about one in seven Australians lives in poverty, and we are not on track to meet our UN Sustainable Development Goal commitment to halve poverty by 2030.
Part of the reason why may lie in the deep-rooted beliefs Kinnock highlighted – the notion that if we fail it’s because we lack talent, we didn’t try hard enough, a common mantra of social media’s keyboard warriors. In fact, a report from the Early Years Catalyst found Australians are, to some extent, willing to accept poverty as a reality, often viewing it as a choice.
None of us wants to be weighing up the cost of food versus the schoolbooks and other essentials for our children’s education. None of us wants our children to miss out.
Yet right now, 1.2 million young people in Australia are growing up in poverty, held back by circumstances largely beyond their control. Despite their parents’ resilience and dedication, obstacles can prevent them from making the most of their educational opportunities.
In our recent survey of over 1,100 people, more than a third said they struggled to afford essentials like uniforms and school supplies – items that help children feel like they belong. Nearly half found it difficult to afford the extracurricular activities that are part of a well-rounded education
Reducing poverty and disadvantage benefits everyone. It’s not just an investment in individual lives; it’s an investment in our future workforce, economy, and the well-being of our communities. As social, environmental, and technological changes rapidly reshape our world, the need for action is critical.
A giant step forward is within reach. The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement offers the opportunity to reduce educational inequity. It sets out reforms that are focused on today’s challenges and my hope is we can find a way across jurisdictions to also transition our education system to be future-ready. This work could start next year if education leaders can come to an agreement on funding. But so far, only the ACT, NT, Tasmania and WA have finalised their agreements.
Time is running out. I urge our leaders to find consensus fast.
Because today, as in Neil Kinnock’s day, it isn’t a lack of ability or hard work holding our young people back. The problem is unequal access to education and other important opportunities that will shape their lives.
