Research, Policy, and Communications - The Antipoverty Centre

Kristin O’Connell is an antipoverty activist and unpaid worker relying on the Disability Support Pension to live. She established the Antipoverty Centre in 2021 with other unemployed advocates who have direct experience of poverty and the welfare system. The Antipoverty Centre exists to counter problems with politicians, academics, think tanks, researchers and paid advocates speaking over and making harmful decisions on behalf of people they purport to represent. In her work with the Antipoverty Centre, Kristin provides direct support to people who rely on Centrelink payments, ensures welfare recipients’ voices are heard through the media, conducts research and develops policy proposals, organises grassroots activists, communicates government policy changes, responds to senate enquiries, fights back against job agency abuse of JobSeekers and counters harmful myths about unemployed people.

Relevant recent outputs: 

• O’Connell, K. 2023. ‘Treasurer Jim Chalmers' plan to tackle disadvantage is no answer to the poverty crisis’. Canberra Times, January 31.

• O’Connell, K. 2002. ‘Poor people don’t need more food banks, rebates and spin from politicians'. We need more income support.’ The Guardian, January 19.

• O’Connell, K. 2022. ‘International Women’s Day is blind to the greatest threat to women – Australia’s welfare system.’ The Guardian, March 8.