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Jacqueline Wilson pictured aged 16, in 1982, when she was a ward of the state. Wilson now has a PhD and does research in criminology and the state care system.

I was a ward of the state, now I have a PhD. My brother wasn’t so fortunate

One of my earliest memories is of my mother begging for a food voucher. The uniformed charity worker held such power over us, I thought the Salvation Army was in charge of Australia.

  • Jacqueline Wilson

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Alex Hughes (left) at work.

‘A heaviness in my heart’: This WA mum lives on $441 a week

After divorce and disability struck her household, Laura lives way below the WA poverty line. Here’s what she says is the hardest part for her and her kids.

  • Alex Hughes
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A more gratifying senior moment

After all, discounts are wasted on the young.

By the time Tyson spent his 18th birthday in a detention cell, he had been incarcerated up to nine times. “Have you got yourself a dream? You don’t get asked that in there. They ask you when your next court date is.”

Tyson was 11 when he was first locked up. It took seven years to turn things around

Nobody in youth detention asked Tyson about his dreams - they asked about his court dates. Now he wants the prime minister to fix the system.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos
Melbourne Zoo today (Wednesday, 7 November) has bid a tremendously sad farewell to iconic Mukulu, the oldest male Rothschild’s Giraffe in the Australasian Region.

Cook’s free Zoo tickets mean the die is well and truly cast for WA

After almost eight years in power, this government has got lazy, unimaginative, crass and ever-ready to use taxpayer dollars to grab happy headlines and votes.

  • Gary Adshead
WACOSS chief executive Louise Giolitto with a copy of the new report.

Fix WA cost of living now: Social services launch election pitch

The WA community services sector has come out swinging ahead of the state election saying the state has it in its power to act now on people’s suffering.

  • Emma Young
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Senator Dean Smith / mortgage payments WA

Up to your eyeballs in debt? Join the club as WA mortgages break record

The average figure West Australians are taking out for mortgages has broken the record, jumping more than $30,000 in just three months.

  • Michael Genovese
Disability Minister Lizzie Blandthorn, left, with Premier Jacinta Allan in March this year.

Sixth government backflip in six months, this time on disability commissioner

The Allan government has quietly shelved a plan to axe the state’s disability commissioner on July 1, its sixth major policy walk-back in six months. 

  • Broede Carmody
Odette Zavos has been coming to St Mary’s House of Welcome for years to access support services and participate in art classes.

‘I feel loved’: St Mary’s House of Welcome brings Christmas to Melburnians sleeping rough

Every Christmas Day, this Fitzroy organisation provides people experiencing homelessness with everything from a three-course lunch to presents to hot showers.

  • Jewel Topsfield
Lily Fetter received the benefits for her children.

‘Middle incomes miss out’: Why fewer families are eligible for tax benefit

The government’s largest family assistance scheme which was originally designed to help low and middle-income families now only reaches fewer than half of Australian children. 

  • Mary Ward

Original URL: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/topic/social-services-jp9