This report documents the patterns of declining economic mobility around Australia. It also provides a foundation for further research, exploring factors associated with the trends outlined.

The UK is a wealthy nation, but that wealth is very unevenly distributed. This has negative implications for both economic prosperity and justice. These issues are set to become more important as technological change, stagnating wages and rising house prices increase the income and gains that can be made from wealth.

The purpose of this research paper is to contribute to an informed discussion in Australia, by bringing together and taking stock of the latest and most complete evidence measuring the prevalence of, and trends in, inequality, economic mobility and disadvantage across Australian society.

This brief paper summarises Western Australia's results of nation-wide polling exploring Australians’ attitudes to work, education, health, community and the economy. The full results are contained in the report Community pulse 2018: the economic disconnect. This New South Wales summary is a companion paper to the main report.

This report is the first in a new five year partnership between the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to reduce poverty and inequality in Australia.