Tearfund Releases the Global Hope Report

New research shows less than half of Australians are hopeful about the future but “hope is not lost – the church can be a powerful force for good”.

New research has found that less than half of Australians are hopeful for their own future, and they’re even less hopeful about the future of the world, but belief in God, prayer and Christian community can help people’s hope in a suffering world.

• New report finds that only around 1 in 2 (48%) Australians are hopeful about their personal future, but just 1 in 4 are hopeful about the future of the world.

• Australians identified four interconnected global challenges as the most important facing the world today: war and conflict, the economy, poverty, and climate change.

• The majority – two thirds – of Australians are concerned about the climate crisis. Religion and prayer are linked with greater concern about climate change.

• 1 in 3 Australians who believe in a personal God are hopeful about the future of the world, compared with less than 1 in 5 of those surveyed who don’t know or do not believe in God.

• Christians who attend church at least once a month are much more likely to be hopeful about the future of the world: 40% of regular church attendees are hopeful, compared with 20% of non-attending Christians.

• Tearfund has launched the Global Hope Report Campaign to shine a spotlight on the concerns and hopes of Australians, and to resource Christians and churches in this key moment to be part of a movement of hope-fueled action to end poverty and shape a safer world for all.

A new report reveals that hope is low amongst Australians today. Less than half of Australians are hopeful for their own future, and their hope decreases as distance grows and people’s sense of powerlessness increases. People have more hope for their own personal future than they do for their local community or for Australia. Hope is lowest for the whole world.

The Global Hope Report has been published by Tearfund, a Christian agency working for a just and compassionate world, and presents the key findings of a national survey of over 1200 Australians’ perceptions of and hopes for the future, conducted by leading research agency NCLS Research.

The survey found that war and conflict, the economy, poverty, and climate change are the most pressing global issues for Australians.

The choices made by Australians now could shape the rest of the decade and beyond, impacting future generations and either moving us towards escalating catastrophes or moving towards greater peace and flourishing – for our communities, for Australia and for the world. On our current trajectory, over 600 million people will remain in extreme poverty in 2030.

Greg Hewson, Tearfund’s Australia Programs Director, who helped to develop the report, said: “Hope is not lost. The church, acting in line with God’s heart for justice, can be a powerful force for good. This is a pivotal moment for the church to be salt and light, drawing near to people and communities in their suffering, and, together, nurturing hope-filled action locally and globally for a fairer world.”

The report shows that where people’s hope is low, belief in God and prayer help. Christians who regularly attend church (at least once a month) are the most hopeful about the future of the world; 39% are hopeful compared with just 18% of those with no religion. Around a third of those who pray at least weekly are hopeful about the future of the world, compared to 16% of those who never pray/meditate.

Tearfund is committed to journeying with the church in responding to global issues which perpetuate poverty and injustice.

Greg Hewson said: “By coming closer to God and to each other, hope grows and transformation is possible. The church can play a key role in helping people to anchor themselves in God and take hold of their agency to act. There is hope in fellowship with each other, in standing together in each other’s suffering, serving our local communities and joining with the global church to speak and act for justice.”

As a practical response, Tearfund is inviting people through the Global Hope Report Campaign to take hope-fueled action through:

• Hope in prayer: the Tearfund prayer wall gives ideas for ways to pray, and the chance to share prayers, and be encouraged by the prayers of others.
• Hope in giving: Donations to Tearfund’s Hope for Afghanistan Appeal provide vital livelihood, health, and water and sanitation support for vulnerable people.
• Hope in speaking up: Add your voice to the Safer World for All campaign calling on our leaders to act now by increasing investment in Australian Aid, supporting a fairer global economy and contributing to a safer climate future.

ENDS

For further information or interview requests, contact Melody Murton, Head of Communications and Education on (03) 9264 7000 or [email protected]

Matthew Maury (Tearfund Chief Executive Officer), Greg Hewson (Tearfund Australia Programs Director) and Melody Murton (Tearfund Head of Communications and Education) are available for interview.

Notes to editors

• The public can access the full report and and more resources for churches and Christians, via tearfund.org.au/hope. A full version of the report is available by request by contacting Melody Murton, head of Communications and Education, at [email protected].
• This research was part of the 2024 Australian Community Survey (ACS) in April 2024, an in-depth study of religiousness and spirituality. ACS is an annual study conducted by NCLS Research. The survey was distributed by the Online Research Unit, which meets ISO standards for both market research and panel work. The research sample of 1212 people was drawn from a large online research panel, with quotas set for age, gender, location and education to reflect the adult Australian population.
• The work of Tearfund’s four partners in Afghanistan includes meeting humanitarian needs through:
  • income generation and support for livelihoods, and
  • supports including mental health, healthcare, food security, and water and sanitation.
• The Safer World for All campaign is a movement of Australian individuals, community groups and organisations – including Tearfund – calling on Australia’s leaders to act now to build a safer world for all by increasing investment in Australian Aid, supporting a fairer global economy and contributing to a safer climate future. https://www.tearfund.org.au/safer-world-for-all
• On our current trajectory, over 600 million people will remain in extreme poverty in 2030, according to the UN University World Institute for Development, 2023 https://www.wider.unu.edu/publication/will-economic-growth-be-sufficient-end-global-poverty

About Tearfund Australia

Tearfund works in partnership to end poverty, challenge inequality and build sustainable communities. Following Jesus, we go where the need is greatest, acting with courage to tackle injustice so that all may experience fullness of life. Our partnerships with local Christian agencies develop long-term holistic transformation for communities facing poverty and injustice around the world and in Australia. We do justice together as we inspire, connect and equip Australian Christians to live, act and pray for a more just and compassionate world. tearfund.org.au

About NCLS Research

NCLS Research is a world leader in research focused on connecting churches and their communities. Decades of rigorous and thoughtful research has examined wellbeing, spirituality and church health. The most well-known five-yearly project is called the National Church Life Survey, which has had millions of participants. Cooperating denominations are a network for sharing practical resources to help churches and communities.
http://ncls.org.au/