Anti-Poverty Week is an opportunity to examine and reflect on what poverty looks like in Australia for children, people who are experiencing homelessness and housing stress, as well as those receiving income support. The week runs from Saturday 12 October to Sunday 18 October and will include the release of key reports from Foodbank, Anglicare Australia and Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).

The St Vincent de Paul Society National Council continues as a major sponsor of Anti-Poverty Week (APW) in 2025. The Society’s Canberra-Goulburn CEO Lucy Hohnen is an ACT co-chair with support from Social Justice & Policy Coordinator Kwadwo Owusu. And the Society’s Tasmania CEO Heather Kent is a co-chair in that state with support from Fundraising and Marketing Manager Karen Ahern.

‘During Anti-Poverty Week this year we continue to say poverty exists in Australia and we can all do something about it,’ said APW National Director Mark Jeffery. ‘Each state and territory is working to hold events that raise awareness about poverty and advocate to end it.

‘The St Vincent de Paul Society across Australia is actively involved in Anti-Poverty Week this year. More importantly, the Society is working to address poverty and provide support to the millions of Australians affected by it.

‘Anti-Poverty Week is a success each year only because of more than one hundred organisations throughout Australia that work to raise awareness and host events in every state and territory,’ Mark said.

Mark began as National Director of Anti-Poverty Week last year after organising activities in Queensland and working on the state facilitating group over many years. He has worked as a media and communications manager across the not-for-profit sector, including at Peak Care Queensland and QCOSS.

He has worked for many other not for profit and community groups to address poverty and disadvantage. His experience as a journalist and producer with the ABC, commercial media outlets and publications builds on his connections throughout Australia to lead Anti-Poverty Week.