Australian Government principles to guide social inclusion

The Australian Government Social Inclusion website explores the concept of social inclusion and outlines the principles of social inclusion endorsed by the Government.

This site provides information about the Government’s social inclusion agenda, including the latest news, Government announcements relevant to social inclusion, and information about the Australian Social Inclusion Board.

To progress this broad agenda, the government has established a Social Inclusion Unit in December 2007 in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Australian Social Inclusion Board in May 2008. The Social Inclusion Board acts as the main advisory body to the Government on ways to acheive the best outcomes for the most disadvantaged in the community.

The Australian Government has also identified early priorities for social inclusion:

• addressing the incidence and needs of jobless families with children
• delivering effective support to children at greatest risk of long term disadvantage
• focusing on particular locations, neighbourhoods and communities to ensure programs and services are getting to the right places
• addressing the incidence of homelessness
• employment for people living with a disability or mental illness
• closing the gap for Indigenous Australians.

Social Inclusion Principles, developed with advice from the Australian Social Inclusion Board and adopted by Government, are the principles which guide individuals, business and community organisations, and government on how to take a socially inclusive approach to their activities.

Visit the Social Inclusion website to explore the resources available and see what work is currently underway in this area.