Impossible Choices: Decisions NSW communities shouldn’t have to make - NCOSS

NCOSS has released its annual Cost of Living in NSW report, Impossible Choices: Decisions NSW communities shouldn’t have to make investigating the impact of rising cost of living on people living in poverty and in low-income households across NSW. This year, the research shone an additional spotlight on the impact of these pressures on households with children.

Impossible Choices: Decisions NSW communities shouldn’t have to make explores experiences across housing, household expenses, employment, and income support. It also analyses these experiences by demographics and geographical locations, with some findings available at Statistical Area 4 level.

For the first time, it also includes longitudinal analysis from the past three years, enabling us to identify trends.

The research was undertaken by the Institute of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Technology, Sydney. Between March and April 2024, 1086 people participated in an online survey and 23 people shared their experiences in focus groups and interviews.

The findings from Impossible Choices: Decisions NSW communities shouldn’t have to make show little improvement in the capacity of low-income households to meet their basic needs, as they struggle to keep up with rising cost of living pressures. In some cases, it’s worsened.

These pressures are causing households to make greater sacrifices for themselves and their children. The ripple effects are causing more stress and tension within households, affecting relationships, mental health and wellbeing and child development outcomes.

Low-income households are in a state of perpetual crisis. Community services face rising community need, which is becoming more intense, urgent, and complex. The community needs key decision makers to take urgent action.

Read the full report here.

To supplement the report, NCOSS has prepared a Key Insights Report, summarising the key findings, data and recommendations to address the issues identified in the report. These recommendations were developed in consultation with NCOSS members and the NCOSS lived experience advocacy panel.

Looking for more? Raw data from our survey is also available.

If you'd like to see a snap shot of data in your region, here are some fact sheets: