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Who pays the price for a society divided? – Rosalie Rendu Forum 2023
In the past year alone, the number of people reaching out to the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW for the first time has risen from one in four to one in three.
This stark surge in calls for assistance has been felt by people already doing it tough and others who have never needed to seek the support of charities prior to the current moment.
With interest rates hitting levels not seen for decades and inflation doing likewise, the increasing cost of living has been felt by everyone – however those with the least are being the hardest hit and have the least capacity to weather the blows.
As many people consider this crisis purely in economic terms, the 2023 Rosalie Rendu Forum sought to look further at the impact of the rising cost of living and its consequences on vulnerable members of the community – and on society as a whole – with the theme “Cost of Living: who pays the price for a society divided?”.
Taking place during Anti-Poverty Week, the annual event, named in recognition of Sister Rosalie Rendu, saw an acclaimed group of women come together at the University of Notre Dame’s Broadway Campus for the first in-person Rosalie Rendu Forum since 2019.
Following a Welcome to Country from Yvonne Weldon, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, in recognition of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, and introduction from Yolanda Saiz (CEO St Vincent de Paul Society NSW), host Ashvini Ambihaipahar (Regional Director St Vincent de Paul Society NSW) spoke on the theme before introducing a panel of five expert speakers.
Sister Carmel Hanson RSJ; Joanna Quilty (CEO NSW Council for Social Service); Dr Lisa Buxton (EO Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Sydney); Yumi Lee (CEO NSW Older Women’s Network); and Verity Firth (UTS Pro Vice-Chancellor for Social Justice and Inclusion) comprised the esteemed panel.
Sister Hanson delivered a spiritual reflection on the history of Sister Rosalie Rendu, who played an integral role in teaching Frederic Ozanam, who would go on to establish the Society of St Vincent de Paul, during the 18th century, “behind every great man is a greater woman.”
Issues raised during the course of the 90-minute discussion included the changing demographics of economic hardship, the ongoing disadvantage and poorer outcomes faced by First Nations, rates of older women experiencing homelessness, and the understanding of collective action as a means of addressing inequality.
“We still have parts of Sydney and regional NSW where there are poverty rates for kids up around 40%. That is a shocking and astounding figure when we know that the lifetime impacts of growing up in poverty are real and that the life chances of these kids are going to be seriously curtailed because of that experience.”
“There is a need to move away from the continual deficit model of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander funding but also the approaches to our education, housing, health and wellbeing. [We need] to recognise Aboriginal ways of knowing and being, and develop place-based, strength-based approaches that encourage a strong sense of cultural identity and a sense of belonging.”
“The demonisation of the poor continues to this day in how we talk about poverty. The homeless are homeless, let’s be clear about it, because there are not enough safe, accessible, affordable homes built to accommodate all of us in all our income brackets. The poor are also poor because the income support system is not fit for purpose and purposely keeps payment below the poverty line.”
“In our society a lack of money means a lack of power; and the life experience of those facing disadvantage is often one that constantly reiterates to them that they do not have the agency to create change. Inequality forces disengagement and disengagement leads to social isolation. Social isolation worsens education outcomes and so the cycle continues.”
St Vincent de Paul Society NSW would like to thank Sr Hanson, Ms Quilty, Dr Buxton, Ms Lee, Ms Firth, Ms Ambihaipahar and the University of Notre Dame for their involvement in another tremendous Rosalie Rendu Forum.
To view the 2023 Rosalie Rendu Forum, contact social.justice@vinnies.org.au to access a recording of the event.
The St Vincent de Paul Society is here to support people experiencing hardship and disadvantage during the current cost of living crisis. Contact 13 18 12 for assistance or visit www.vinnies.org.au/nsw/find-help.
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