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Struggle Street | Now streaming | New episodes Wednesdays on SBS

The landmark observational documentary returns to SBS to highlight issues of disadvantage in rural and regional Australia.

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STRUGGLE STREET

Life in regional Australia comes with its own set of challenges. Here’s how you can help those who need it.

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Exploring poverty

Many Australians are at risk of falling upon hard times. 

2 Sep 2019 - 8:40am

‘Struggle Street’ is back to shine a light on Australia's rural battlers

The landmark series premieres on Wednesday 9 October at 8.30pm with a focus on the Riverina region of New South Wales.
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How to make ends meet on a limited income

Here's what you need to know about managing costly living expenses on a low income.
7 Dec 2017

Overnight, Australians have changed the lives of this mother and daughter

After a huge outpouring of support from viewers who saw the story on SBS's Struggle Street, Michelle can now afford to take daughter Jessica to the US for crucial...
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I had it all, a good career and happy home. But then I hit struggle street

It can happen more quickly than you think – you hurt your back, lose your job and suddenly your career and savings disappear. This is the story of how one woman...
7 Dec 2017

Why smartphones and cars aren't luxury items: the truth about welfare

Here’s why you should think twice before you pass judgement on someone's right to own a smartphone or other ‘luxury’ item.
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Aged over 60 and female? Here’s why you might be at risk of poverty

Many older women living in Australia are at risk of poverty. SBS explains how life events like divorce and workplace inequities can compile to take a heavy toll...
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Life after the automotive industry

What does the future hold for 40,000 workers who lost their jobs with the end of Australia’s car manufacturing industry?
00:03:04
The Truth About Poverty
The experts help us bust the myth that 'poverty doesn't exist in Australia'
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Understanding disadvantage

Delve deeper into the key social issues affecting millions of Australians. 

15 Oct 2019 - 3:33pm

Meet the participants of season 3 of ‘Struggle Street’

Here are the people you’ll meet on season 3 of ‘Struggle Street’.
22 Nov 2017

Is Australia still the 'lucky country'?

While Australia’s collective wealth is at an all time high, almost 3 million Australians currently live below the poverty line. SBS explores whether Australia is...
24 Nov 2017

7 things you wanted to know about poverty but didn't want to ask

Many of the stereotypes about poverty in Australia don’t stand up to scrutiny. SBS Life busts seven popular myths about disadvantage.
2 Sep 2019

Misconceptions versus reality about work and life in regional Australia

Australia is a large continent with vast land and thin population. Approximately 70 per cent of the Australian population lives on the eastern coastline and...
22 Nov 2017

How you can help Australia’s most disadvantaged

Want to help people in need? Mission Australia's James Toomey explains why donations and volunteers are essential to delivering services to disadvantaged people...

Everyday lives

Personal stories of hardship.

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How do hard working Aussie families get stuck in a cycle of debt?

Payday lenders are one of the only sources of fast cash for many low-income households caught in a cycle of debt.
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The surprising link between mental illness and poverty

Mental illness is a major cause of poverty. Or is it?
22 Nov 2017

What does it mean to be a ‘poor millennial’?

Not all millennials fit the 'entitled brat' stereotype. In fact, many are struggling financially to keep their head above water.
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“I’m safe, but I’m struggling”: One refugee’s story of life after arrival

For refugees fleeing violence or unrest, Australia is their safe place. But do we offer everything they need?
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How childhood poverty affected me as an adult

Born into a loving but 'broke with a capital B household', Dilvin Yasa recounts the way her childhood has impacted her life as an adult and most importantly, as a...

Challenge stereotypes

Look beyond the typical representations of disadvantage. 

7 Dec 2017

Ice addiction: How accurate are the stereotypes you believe?

Stick thin, sunken eyes, blistered sores, violent rages; how accurate our perceptions of ice addicts? We get the facts from a drug expert.
7 Dec 2017

"I live on under $440 a week - and this is what it looks like"

How do people survive living on around $440 a week or just over $20,000 a year? One woman shares her story.
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I had it all, a good career and happy home. But then I hit struggle street

It can happen more quickly than you think – you hurt your back, lose your job and suddenly your career and savings disappear. This is the story of how one woman...
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Five famous people who grew up facing poverty and hardship

Poverty really can happen to anyone at any time, even people who grew up to be global celebrities.
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What's it like to experience (and overcome) poverty?

Poverty can happen to anyone. Here are just three stories of people who overcame disadvantaged circumstances.

Busting the myths

It's time to bust some popular myths about disadvantage.

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Busting methamphetamine myths: The truth about ice

Is it fair to accept - without question - the statement that 'if you try ice once, you’re hooked'?
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The truth about poverty

Many people believe that poverty doesn’t exist in Australia. The experts tell SBS otherwise and bust this myth with hard facts and real life experience.
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The truth about addiction

Myth: If you’re addicted to drugs you are a lost cause. Fact: If people battling an addiction get the right help, it’s very possible for them to make a full...
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How much do you know about the science of poverty?

Evidence suggests that our mental health is significantly shaped by the social, economic and physical environment in which we live.
7 Dec 2017

No safety net for thousands of Kiwis living in Australia

Among the country’s most disadvantaged residents are New Zealanders who don’t qualify for government-funded social housing, homelessness services and income...