Social inclusion indicators

A compendium of social inclusion indicators: How’s Australia faring?

Published by

Australian Social Inclusion Board (ASIB)

2009

What it’s about

ASIB created a set of indicators to measure dimensions of social exclusion. These indicators builds on work pioneered in Europe and can be used to measure specific regions or groups of people.

My takeaways

Understanding what hinders social inclusion can help identify people in our society experiencing exclusion and poor outcomes. The indicators ASIB developed to measure social exclusion include:

• poverty and low income

  • refers to the lack of resources needed to participate in activities and living conditions available to most people in society.

  • Example of measures: income inequality, housing affordability, risk of poverty rate

• Lack of access to the job market

  • this not only has implications for income, but also impacts on social interactions and networks.

  • Example of measures: participation in labour market, employment rates of people with disability, long-term unemployed

• Limited social supports and networks

  • ‘Network poverty’ can deprive someone of the opportunities to follow an interest, connect or access resources.

  • Examples of measures: rates of unpaid care work, ability to contact people in power

• The effect of the local neighbourhood

  • When poor conditions persist in an area, the social climate can influence inidividual levels of disadvantage and connection. People can become resigned to their limited life opportunities, have limited identification with their local area, or lack confidence to improve their collective situation.

  • Examples of measures: fear and actual experience of violence, community involvement in activities or events

• Exclusion from services

  • These include education, childcare, health and transport. It can further compound on other forms of exclusion

  • Examples of measures: young people not in education, rates of homelessness, access to internet

• Health and contextual indicators

  • Examples of measures: life expectancy, mental health, health expenditure per capita

Final thoughts

Social inclusion is the process of improving the ways people are able to take part in society. It is about creating conditions for equal opportunities for all, and no one is left out. This could be a great tool when trying to understand levels of social inclusion in an area you’re working in, or for groups in your region.

While this report was written in 2009, it’s still very relevant, although some measures could be updated to provide a more intersectional perspective