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27/08/2009
Radio Rage

I want to recall my editorial "digital life" of a fortnight ago. I need a digital radio - no amount of money donated will cure poverty in Australia with attitudes like this...

On collecting the Paj from the mechanics last week, I was assaulted, by very loud music from the car radio, tuned to a station I do not listen to, triple J. triple J is a nationally-networked, government-funded radio station, a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, mainly aimed at youth, defined as those aged between 12 and 25.

Staying with this radio station on the journey home, I was dumbstruck by the following conversation between the two on-air announcers, Scott Dooley and Ben Elwood: "Haven’t you seen this, homeless people with mobile phones? No, who are the homeless calling? Who, they’ve got enough voices in their head to talk to, they don’t need to be ringing anyone."

What an appalling, immature, stereotypical view of homelessness. What outrageous philistines I thought. Did I hear right, where’s the digital rewind?

The cultural definition of homelessness used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to identify the homeless population includes:

  • Primary homelessness: people without conventional accommodation such as those who ’sleep out’, or use derelict buildings, cars, railway stations for shelter.
  • Secondary homelessness: people moving between various forms of temporary shelter including friends, (couch surfing), emergency accommodation, refuges, hostels and boarding houses.
  • Tertiary homelessness: people living in single rooms in private boarding houses without their own bathroom, kitchen facilities or security of tenure.

People in this situation are homeless because their accommodation does not have the characteristics accepted by society as being of minimum standard, which may also include people living in caravan parks. Moreover, some people may have mental health issues which results in homelessness but that is not the same as inferring that all those marginalised in society have mental health issues because they are homeless.

Therese Rein is the Australian Patron of the National Common Ground Network - a network of community organisations implementing innovative solutions to homelessness across Australia, involving partnerships with governments, business and philanthropy. I wonder what sort of pillow talk there would be between Therese and her hubby, our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, if they were ever to hear this broadcast on federally funded radio? Not amused I bet. For those familiar with "pod casting", the triple J program to which I refer was broadcast on Wednesday 19th August 2009 at approximately 5.15 pm otherwise, you can listen to the sound bite by clicking here.

The AFL recognised years ago that it had a problem with racial and religious vilification and since 1995 has been a community leader in disciplining its players and the wider football community about what and, more importantly, why racial and religious vilification can not be tolerated in contemporary Australian society.

Similarly, there are a number of associations representing the media and entertainment industry. Surely there must be some contractual or at least moral obligation on management to question content, given the recent community imbroglio created by the Chaser with their tasteless and cruel Make-A-Realistic-Wish about kids with cancer, and Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O’s live to air lie detector test of a 14 year old victim of rape.

I am not a wowser - far from it - but it's high time we re-examine our moral compass and consider what type of community we are fostering when media personalities are encouraged, and even if not, allowed, to belittle and ridicule people who are suffering, underprivileged or marginalised in society.

Get these bozos off the air - now!

So, for all our readers who are equally appalled and outraged by this, you might like to read our featured article below on national Anti-Poverty Week, which invites your participation in changing community attitudes towards poverty.

Gary Hatwell
Executive Chairman

Anti-Poverty Week

This year’s Anti-Poverty Week will be held during 11-17 October when individuals and communities around Australia will organise or take part in activities to strengthen public understanding about the causes and costs of poverty, and to encourage research and action to reduce poverty.

Anti-Poverty Week has been running now since 2002, growing steadily each year. Last year more than 350 activities were registered on the Anti-Poverty Week website - an increase of about 40% over the previous year. In 2002 there were just 4 activities registered!

Anti-Poverty Week is a terrific opportunity for organisations, communities, workplaces and individuals to be actively engaged in activities that very specifically focus national attention on the circumstances of people in our communities who struggle each day with all the various forms of disadvantage, not only financial poverty but also illness and social isolation.

Anti-Poverty Week is a very democratic institution. People can do things on whatever scale they choose and local activities are especially encouraged. For inspiration about the kinds of activities you might initiate or take part in, a summary of Anti-Poverty Week 2008 is provided below.

 The complete version of this Status enews article, including useful links, is available here
 
EHP of the week
Hawa

♦ Cleaning
♦ Meat processing
♦ Would like to secure a traineeship in disability support
Hawa
ID: 6-02100
Hawa has experience in cleaning and meat processing, however would like to secure a traineeship in disability support. Hawa has recently undertaken a senior first aid course and is willing to relocate for the right position. Hawa lives in Kilburn, has a car licence and her own transport.
View resume to employ Hawa today!
 

Employee Hot Prospects Lodge a vacancy online
Status Footy Tipping Competition

Gary and Rudy
Rudy Nath, left,
with Status’ Executive Chairman - Gary Hatwell

Round 21 - the penultimate round of the home and away season and the Crows continue their march into the finals series smashing the West Coast while the Power fight north of the border and return from El Alamein, with Choco cast as the besieged Rommel, bloodied and defeated once again.

With both the Cats and the Saints going down again this week, this years finals looks like being the most tightly contested in years. Realistically, five of the top six teams could win the premiership - Carlton can’t - but I’m smelling victory for the Crows. If they win against Carlton this week and finish fifth for a home final against Essendon, Hawthorn or, unbelievably, Port Adelaide, they’ll be delicious in the finals.

No perfect tippers this week, however we did have 7 who correctly forecast 7 winners but with an adjusted margin of just 3 points this weeks winner is Status’ very own Rudy Nath. So, after making more presentations to victorious tippers than any other member of the Status team over the last three years Rudy has finally cracked it for a win himself. Congratulations Rudy, and on behalf of all your colleagues, employers and friends we salute you and wish you great success in your tipping and work at Status in the years ahead - retirement is not an option.

And our annual footy tipping comp has also come down to the wire with Lillian Atkinson taking a one tip lead over 4 other tippers. However, 2 of these tippers have much better margins than Lillian, so one slip up could cost her victory on GF day this week. Good luck to all our tippers this week and thanks once again for being part of the fun this year. We will bring you the results of our last round winner and top 10 for the 2009 AFL Status footy tipping competition next week.

To everyone else, better luck next round and don’t forget to check out the leader board. There are currently more than 80 active tippers in our competition and after logging into the AFL website, you can view your position on the ladder by selecting the Status Employment Services competition.

You can join the competition at anytime during the year and will be allocated all of the away teams from previous rounds as your starting position on the leader board. If you would like to join but are having difficulty registering, please contact our footy tipping administrator, Dora Zalunardo, on 8377 0101, and she will arrange for someone to step you through the process.

To review Status’ footy tipping competition details please click here.
 
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