In a powerful call to action, the CEO of Tasmanian charity Tassie Mums has launched a campaign to have child poverty outlawed in Australia. This bold move comes as the organisation secures a vital $20,000 grant to support its work, which includes providing essential school supplies to children facing homelessness.
A National Crisis Demands Legislative Action
Clair Harris, CEO of Tassie Mums, is spearheading the push for a legislated end to child poverty, warning that Australia is on track to see one million children living in poverty this year. "It's not great," Ms Harris stated bluntly. She argues that while there have "traditionally been no votes in children," the time has come for a comprehensive national plan.
"Investing in children is investing in our future. It is going to benefit everybody," Ms Harris said. "It's a no-brainer to me." Her campaign seeks to shift the political focus towards creating an overarching strategy to address this growing crisis, framing it as a critical investment for the nation's prosperity.
Critical Funding Fuels Grassroots Support
The not-for-profit group's mission received a significant boost through a $20,000 CommBank Community Grant. Tassie Mums, which operates without government funding, relies entirely on donations and grants to provide material aid to babies and children in need across Tasmania.
"Without funding like this being generously provided by CommBank, we would struggle to meet that need," Ms Harris acknowledged. "We know there is a real and urgent need out there and we are grateful for Commonwealth Bank's support."
The organisation's model involves collecting new and preloved items through donation drop points and working with a network of over 100 welfare agencies. In the last financial year, they supported 2,785 Tasmanian children with essential items valued at approximately $1 million.
Stationery Packs for Children Without a Home
The new funding will directly support the charity's activity packs—compact A4-sized pencil cases filled with basic stationery. These packs are designed for children who have no access to papers, pencils, or other learning tools at home, often due to severe housing insecurity.
"A lot of the children we are helping are facing homelessness, so that might be living in a caravan, overcrowded housing, living in a car, a shelter – and they don't have access to these stationery basics once they get home, whatever their home might be at the end of the day," Ms Harris explained.
Nathan Barker, Executive Manager of Community Investment at CommBank, praised the charity's work. "Tassie Mums is doing amazing work to make a real difference and our grants are designed to make sure that impact extends further," he said. "We are really proud here at CommBank to play a part and make sure these vital services are able to receive continued support."
The CommBank Community Grants program, delivered through the bank's Staff Foundation, awarded 180 grants of $20,000 each this year. The program allows bank staff to nominate community organisations that are meaningful to them, ensuring funding reaches a diverse range of grassroots initiatives making a tangible difference nationwide.
