Which children are most at risk?
01
Children in low-income families
02
Children in single-parent households
03
Children in larger families (three or more children)
04
Rural and remote children
05
Girls living in poverty
06
Children experiencing layered poverty (home + neighbourhood)
Family income strongly predicts educational exclusion. Limited financial buffers mean education-related costs can block participation and completion, even when students are academically capable.
Single incomes, limited work flexibility, and greater exposure to financial shocks increase instability and stress, making consistent schooling harder to maintain.
Household needs grow faster than income. Time, money, and attention are spread more thinly, increasing educational vulnerability.
Geographic isolation increases transport costs, reduces access to services, and limits learning resources. Rural schools are more likely to experience staff shortages and under-resourcing, which affects continuity and confidence.
Poverty often interacts with gendered expectations. Girls may take on additional caregiving or domestic responsibilities, reducing time and energy for sustained engagement in learning—especially in rural contexts.
Disadvantage across both home and community removes protective buffers. Limited access to services, safe spaces, and enrichment compounds developmental and educational risk.