In the heart of the ‘lucky country’ some Australian families and individuals are living on the fringes, facing the daily hardships of unemployment, drug addiction and illness; struggling just to get by. New three-part, fly on the wall observational documentary series Struggle Street gives a voice to those doing it tough right on the doorstep of Australia’s most affluent cities. Filmed in the public housing estates of Sydney’s western suburbs, residents invited cameras in for exclusive, uncensored access to their lives over a six month period. The result is an eye-opening glimpse at real life in under-resourced Australian communities - raw, honest and unfiltered. In the first episode, three very different stories of individuals and families struggling to get by. From a large blended family to a single parent household, and a homeless man living rough in the suburban bush - we'll see stories of challenge, hardship and triumph against overwhelming odds.
This three-part, fly on the wall observational documentary series Struggle Street gives a voice to those doing it tough right on the doorstep of Australia's most affluent cities. This episode, Peta and Ashley's family dramas come to a head, when son Corey's drug use leads to an explosive confrontation outside the family home. Nearby, long-time heroin addict Bob is facing his own demons. Not only is he fighting off possible eviction - his pregnant girlfriend has disappeared with all the money he has. But despite all this, the ties that bind this community remain strong, as former teenage troublemaker Chris rallies the neighbourhood to save the job of the local church pastor.
In the final installment of this three-part series, parents Ashley and Peta look to the future, after ice-addict Corey’s dramatic exit from the family home. Peta is turning her attention to community work, and has big plans for the upcoming local Christmas Fair. Twenty-three year old son Tristan is forging a new role as a disability spokesperson, and all eyes are on youngest son Zac to carry the hopes of the family forward. But the good news is tinged with sadness, after Ashley receives a worrying medical diagnosis. For twins Michelle and Cheryl, could a family surprise mean they can put years of conflict behind them? And in bushland adjacent to Mt Druitt, homeless man William is re-assessing his future.
The new series of Struggle Street offers a raw and unflinching portrayal of struggle and hardship in Australia. In episode one, we meet Australians from diverse backgrounds facing a range of challenges, from unemployment to addiction and a lack of housing. Single mother Norma is facing homelessness and Kiwi shelter residents Jarrod and Sharon battle to overcome addiction.
After 22 years, factory worker Nick faces an uncertain future following the closure of the Ford plant and single mother Tamara finds herself the victim of a vocational training loan scam. Meanwhile, neighbour Allan is struggling after racking up over $30,000 in payday loans and police are sent in to remove Norma and her family from their home.
Michael finds himself at war with his brother as they try to deal with their mother's will and Allan is trying to get his new landscaping business up and running - but it's one step forward and two steps back as he battles bureaucracy and his creditors chasing unpaid loans. In Brisbane's south-west, Jarrod and Sharon are at breaking point as they battle to stay clean from drugs and keep their family together.
At 55 years of age, Sue's been told she has four weeks to leave her home. With little money, and a growing public housing waiting list, she faces the very real prospect of homelessness. Kiwi parents Jarrod and Sharon agree to part ways in an attempt to clean up their lives, as welfare authorities are called. Meanwhile, things are looking up for Michael. He's about to get a new set of teeth - but will his renewed confidence be enough to get him back on his feet and into work?
Jarrod and his two eldest children find themselves on the streets and struggle to get emergency assistance. Nearby, Sue is battling housing authorities as she attempts to find alternative accommodation, and mother and daughter Michelle and Jess are coming to terms with life on the poverty line. Michelle has had to leave her job to care for daughter Jess, who suffers a rare genetic disorder - and it seems their financial plight means even a wheelchair is out of their reach.
In the final episode of Struggle Street, Michael has a financial windfall and decides to indulge his passion. Indigenous couple Josh and Monica have been sleeping rough after Josh was released from jail and struggle to find anyone who'll rent them a home. Meanwhile, Jess finds a welcome escape in art. Her painting of a pet canary has just been entered into a local art show - so can a small victory mean big changes for her and mother Michelle?
Hosted by Janice Petersen, experts will dissect the issues, discuss the problems and seek solutions around the major themes raised in Struggle Street; from mental health, to drug issues, entrenched disadvantage, welfare, housing and the experience of those from CALD backgrounds. We also hear first-hand from invited audience members and politicians from all sides to hear what's been done, and what more can be done, to alleviate the challenges for struggling Australians.
We meet individuals and families from different parts of the New South Wales Riverina area who are facing a range of challenges - from homelessness, to drought, and a crime wave that’s swept through parts of Wagga Wagga. Mason and Katherine live in the Wagga suburb of Tolland with their two-year-old daughter Suzianna. After returning to their house after a night away with friends they find their house has been ransacked and valuables stolen. Will they be able to find trust in the community again or will they seek a better life elsewhere for their daughter?
Wagga residents Katherine and Mason are recovering from the break-in that left their Housing Commission home trashed. Determined to make their home a safe haven, they’ve opened their doors to other young Wagga residents facing struggles of their own.
Peta and Ricky live in a small town in the Riverina and are parents to five-year-old twins Cody and Bree. Cody also has Dent’s Disease, a chronic kidney condition that also affects his speech and physical development. Cody’s condition requires constant medical attention - including regular specialist visits as far away as Sydney and Melbourne. For parents Peta and Ricky, the lack of specialist healthcare in the country - and the cost - is an endless struggle.
In this emotional final episode, there are celebrations for twins Cody and Bree's fifth birthday, and their first day at school. But it's a bittersweet moment for dad Ricky. He's missed yet another family milestone as he's away on the road trying to make enough money to meet Cody's medical bills.
