Tackling child poverty priority families overview
An overview of evidence on the six priority family types identified as being at higher risk of child poverty. Slide deck can be found in the supporting documents.
How to use the priority families concept
Policies should focus on supporting low-income families, including those families below the poverty line and also those at risk of falling into poverty.
The priority family concept is intended as a tool to ensure policies are impactful and responsive to the needs of families at greater risk of poverty.
Families often experience multiple disadvantage and belong to more than one priority or marginalised group. This can make it harder to get out of poverty and overcome adversity. Therefore it is important to consider the intersectionality of characteristics.
We also know that child’s poverty and women’s poverty are intrinsically linked. There is a gendered dimension to child poverty and the tackling child poverty agenda is closely interwoven with the policy action to tackle gender inequalities.
Other factors can create additional challenges for families living in low-income households. This can include the geography, with those living on low-incomes in rural areas often facing additional barriers.
Read more about how to use the priority family type concept.