Often the world of poverty and disadvantage seems far away, but it is very close it's in your neighbourhood.
In fact, recent statistics have found that more than 2.5 million people - and one in six children are struggling to fulfil their daily basic needs.
The Brotherhood of St Laurence works to help families experiencing poverty and disadvantage back from the brink of disaster like Rachel.
Rachel, a newly single parent, has felt the pinch since the shock passing of her husband and now finds herself another rising statistic of Australian poverty, with 25 per cent of those below the poverty line being single parent households.
Rachelwas happily married and a mother to five-year-old Zoe and baby Scarlett when her husband Steve was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.
'Steve lost his battle two years later in 2011, when Zoe had just started Year 1', she recalls. 'It was imperative that I try and keep life as normal as possible for me and for my girls. Steve was only 44 and he had always looked after us. I'd gone back to work part-time, but he always looked after finances and banking."
'All of a sudden, I had no one to rely on. Not only did I lose him, but I lost his income. What do I do? I still had two very young children at home. It was so important that we had stability. I would keep up appearances for their sake, but cry every night after they had gone to bed. I was so frightened of the future.'
The latest research indicates that almost 30 per cent of households living in poverty are those where people receive part-time earnings only, or are raising children on a low wage.
By chance, Rachel read of the Brotherhood's financial education program in a school newsletter and decided to enrol.
'I immediately thought that I needed to find out more about it', she says. 'There were so many added financial responsibilities that I needed to take care of now, as I no longer had Andrew to do this for me. My case worker, Lisa, assisted me and pointed me in the right direction regarding financial decisions and advice. I learned about how to invest money and how to find the best interest rate for my mortgage.
'The program opened my eyes, and I could see that it truly helped so many people who haven't been so fortunate in life. I can honestly say it empowered me. I felt as through, through Lisa's assistance, I was given confidence to make the right financial decisions and to always look at the big picture when it came to expenditure and record keeping. I think Steve would be very proud of everything that I have managed to accomplish for our little family'.
With the support of generous donors, the Brotherhood offers people another road, a new path. This Christmas, you can help people who are struggling against significant odds to build a good life for themselves and their families. Please donate to www.give.bsl.org.au or call 1300 DONATE (1300 366 283).
Watch the Brotherhood of St Laurence Christmas Appeal 2014 below: