Cost-of-Living Crisis Sees Record-Low Sense of Belonging in Australia, 41 Percent Feel Poor

Over 40 percent of Australians now describe themselves as poor, marking a record-low sense of belonging in the nation. About 12 percent say they sometimes go without food and 22 percent cannot afford medical care, according to a survey of 7,500 people by the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute. Unaffordability saw social cohesion in Australia plummet to its lowest level in 16 years. Australian National University Lead researcher James O’Donnell said it was unsurprising that feelings of worth and belonging decreased to their lowest point as financial struggles increased. “People who are struggling financially are much less likely to feel a great sense of worth and belonging in Australia and much more likely to feel pessimistic about the future,” he said. ...