Living standards Under the CRC, every child has the right to a standard of living that is necessary for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development. Governments are required to provide material assistance and support programs, such as welfare and housing when necessary. In 2015–16, 17.3% of children under the age of 15 years (739,000—more than one in six) in Australia were living in households experiencing poverty.23 Australia currently lacks an agreed national definition of poverty and a poverty reduction plan.24 Homelessness continues to be an issue that affects children in Australia. Its causes are varied and complex and include domestic violence, a shortage of affordable housing, unemployment, mental illness, family breakdown, and drug and alcohol abuse.25 Children living in rural and remote areas experience disadvantage across a range of domains. For example: 17