Drouin has highest poverty in region

Poverty in the West Gippsland area is hovering around the state average.

A study by the University of Canberra and commissioned by the Victorian Council of Social Service found that 13.2 per cent of the State’s residents lived in poverty.

In regional areas the figure was 15.1 per cent while it dropped to 12.6 per cent in the metropolitan area.

Drouin, where the rate was 16 per cent, had the highest level of poverty among the West Gippsland centres identified.

At Warragul and Bunyip-Garfield the rate was 13 per cent and slightly higher – 14 per cent – at Trafalgar and Koo wee rup.

Latrobe Valley centres Morwell (19 per cent) and Moe-Newborough (17 per cent) were above state and regional averages while the figure at Traralgon was 13 per cent.

According to VCOSS poverty is defined as not having enough available income to afford life’s necessities.

It said this can result in an inability to pay for food, shelter, clothing and healthcare, excludes people from social activities and causes stress due to insecurity.

VCOSS said the study revealed children were among those that suffered most.

One in six of the state’s children – 198,600 or 18.7 per cent – were found to live in poverty.

Within the Aboriginal community the figure was 25.4 per cent.