In 2011, bank
mecusupported the development of a cutting edge magazine to help Australia’s richest make a difference to the lives of our nation’s poorest.
Launched by Simon McKeon, 2011 Australian of the Year, The Difference magazine is an annual report card on a set of indicators of disadvantage, poverty and exclusion in Australia, underpinned by the research of Access Economics. The Difference is creative and edgy in its approach but there is no sugar coating here.
“Sadly the research shows we are becoming less inclusive as a society,” says editor and social entrepreneur Nic Bolto.
‘We are going backwards on a number of indicators including public housing waiting lists, homelessness, child abuse and neglect, rates of re-imprisonment, suicide and credit default.”
“Clearly government alone cannot fix the problems — responsibility lies with us all,” he says.
“The Difference introduces you to the real people behind the statistics, and projects that will have an immediate impact on their lives.”
The projects are led by not for profits like Youth Projects and Maroondah Halfway House — organisations with reputation, capacity and a track record of success.
The magazine identifies ten key indicators of poverty and provides an investment pathway to support specific projects that will help make a difference to each indicator.
“Our goal is to bring the issues, the people and solutions together in one place providing a clear action plan for how you can help”, say Mr Bolto.
“Ultimately the indicators need to measurably change.
“We want readers to ask themselves “Are these stories and statistics acceptable in Australia in 2011?” If not, then “What am I personally going to do to change them?”
Editor Nic Bolto is also CEO of Ostara Australia and President of Chapter Seven, the magazine’s publisher.
Read more about The Difference at www.urthedifference.net.au and view our bankmecuTV featuring an interview with Simon McKeon here.