Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Social Alternatives on Poverty

Guest Editor: Professor Philip Mendes (Department of Social Work, Monash University)

Publication Date: December 31, 2025

After almost 18 months of community consultations including 253 written submissions and nine public hearings, the Senate Community Affairs References Committee inquiry into ‘the extent and nature of poverty in Australia’ presented its final report in February 2024. That report included 14 specific recommendations for policy and service reform pertaining to the social security system, and intersecting employment, housing, health and education systems, and the particular needs of First Nation communities.

• • • • We welcome articles which reflect on the process, findings and recommendations of the Poverty inquiry, and their implications for advancing policy and program reform in Australia. We also welcome articles from Australia and beyond which critically reflect on theories, policies, programs and advocacy campaigns such as the annual Anti-Poverty Week that may advance more effective approaches to the struggle against poverty.
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  • Articles can be 3000-7000 words long, and should be submitted to the General Articles Editors by 8th August 2025. We welcome contributions from researchers within and outside academia, policy makers, practitioners, human services students, people with lived experience of poverty, and First Nations communities.

    Timelines:

    • Short proposal/abstract submitted by 13^th June 2025
    • Articles submitted 15th August 2025
    • Publication of Special issue December 2025

Send proposal titles or abstracts for articles or commentary to Philip Mendes, Professor, Social Work Monash University. [email protected]

Social Alternatives publishes thematically linked academic articles. If you have an idea or proposal for a thematic issue please contact [email protected]