Australia

An initiative of The Big Issue Australia, Community Street Soccer operates in 21 locations throughout the country, covering all states and territories.

Street Soccer promotes social inclusion, personal change and positive health outcomes for players.

The program provides a safe and welcoming environment, with staff providing players with links to support services within the community.

Poverty in Australia, 2018 found that there are over 3 million people (13.2%) living below the poverty line – including 739,000 children (17.3%).

According to the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI, 2016), homeless figures went from 102,439 in 2011 to 116,427 in 2016 – an increase of 13.7%

This included 17,845 children under 10, with 402 children sleeping rough (Homelessness Australia, 2017).

The biggest increase in homelessness was seen in the 25-34 age group, with an additional 5,813 people affected. This represents a 31.6% increase.

Younger Australians – aged 18 and younger – experiencing homelessness represent 22.2% of all those who are homeless, the figure being 25,827 as of 2016.

The biggest percentage increase was among the elderly. There was a 37.9% increase for those aged 65–74, which equates to 1,554 more people being homeless (AHURI, 2018).