When my kids were small, one of our favourite books was a picture book called “What to do about pollution?*” Each beautifully illustrated double page asked a question and posed an answer.

“What to do about pollution?
Stop it. Clean it up.”

“What to do about the hungry?
Feed them.”

“What to do about the sick?
Take care of them.”

‘What to do about the friendless?
Be a friend.”

“What to do about the sad
and broken hearted?
Draw them pictures.
Tell them stories.
Sing them songs.”

“What to do? Love.”

On one level, these are simplistic answers to complex questions.

You can’t pick up all pollution and put it in a rubbish bin – carbon pollution just doesn’t work that way.

People who are hungry most often are dealing with a raft of other, interrelated issues too, like homelessness or housing stress, inability to pay basic household bills, family violence, gambling or other addictions and unemployment.

But in the way of good children’s books, “What to do?” cuts through complexity and goes for the jugular. Its message is that need requires us to act, and to act with compassion and empathy. With love.

UnitingCare Australia is committed to act in response to need. While UnitingCare services on the ground provide services and supports to people, families and communities in response to need, UnitingCare Australia’s response is advocate for a better deal for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our communities.

On the ground and nationally across Australia we work together to respond to need at every level: at a person or household’s presenting point of need, and at the system or structural level.

If someone is hungry, things change quickly once they are fed.

Medium term change requires finding out why they were hungry (unemployment, family crisis, violence, housing stress, gambling addiction) and addressing those underlying issues.

Long term change requires systems to be transformed to ensure that people are able to get and keep jobs, find somewhere safe and secure to live, get help with gambling and other addictions, and so on.

Uniting for Change gives you tools to advocate directly to pollies about things that matter. Whether you work or volunteer in a UnitingCare service, are a member of the Uniting Church, or simply have a passion for a fair go for all Australians, Uniting for Change gives us the opportunity to bring our voices together and speak out loudly for a fair go for all.

Too many Australians struggle to live with dignity in the face of poverty and disadvantage. Too many of our kids go to school hungry. Too many in our communities are homeless. Too many families are bearing the heavy burden of gambling and other addictions. Too many ageing Australians can’t get the services and supports they need to age with dignity at home. There’s so much that needs to change so that every Australian can live a decent life.

Our voices united are strong.

Together, we can make the difference.

Uniting for Change. Bring it on.

By Lin Hatfield Dodds
National Director, UnitingCare Australia

_{*What to do about Pollution by Anne Shelby, Illustrated by Irene Trivas, Published by Orchard Book}