Given the improvements in the health of Australians in recent decades, not all sectors of populations have benefited equally. Inequality and poverty are major problems. Traditional hierarchical, top-down governance seems ineffective to address these complex problems. An innovative and more participatory community-based approach is called for to address these issues. Community-building approaches, characterized by wide-ranging community involvement, emphasizing strength and collaboration, can be a good vehicle and intervention strategy to address the poverty problem by empowering both the individual and the community. The relevance of the community-building approach to the poverty issue and Australian context is discussed.