People in poverty: a Melbourne survey, 1966

The principal aim of this study was to measure the extent and nature of poverty due to inadequate income, and the relationship between the income of a family and its normal needs. The study surveyed persons from income units in the Melbourne metropolitan area, from a sample stratified to increase the probability of selecting families in poverty. The questionnaire covered the following areas: the number of persons in the household and the type of accommodation; the sharing of facilities with other households; occupancy status; amount of rent or mortgage instalments; household composition; the identity of the income unit head; and the number of dependent children, their age and sex. For the head of the income unit, information was collected on age, marital status, birthplace, year of arrival in Australia, employment of self and wife, work status, qualifications and amount of time off work and reasons in the last year. Income questions covered general income level of the income unit; standard and overtime earnings of the income unit head; and income for both the income unit head and wife from pensions, superannuation, scholarships, and professional boarders; any income earned by school pupils and infants in the income unit; child endowment; dividends and income from property; any other sources of income, including that from family boarders. Information was also collected on pensioner status; membership of hospital or medical benefits organisations; retirement provisions; and amount of superannuation or insurance paid each week.