The NSW Council of Social Services’ latest report, released on Tuesday, shows in the Murrumbidgee and Riverina area 16 per cent of children -  or 8679 in total - is living in poverty.

NCOSS chief executive officer Tracy McLeod Howe said the report was compiled after extensive consultations.

The NCOSS findings came as little surprise to Centacare Southwest chief executive Paul Jensen.

“We have to acknowledge things are getting tougher,” he said.

He warned there was a growing unequality in society, with increasing numbers of people struggling to make ends meet.

In the short term, Mr Jensen said the government could introduce additional assistance programs to help people pay their bills.

Ms McLeod Howe said the report also identified the “sobering lengths” vulnerable NSW people were going to in order to pay energy bills.

The report found 25 per cent of respondents were sometimes forced to go without medical treatment in order to pay bills.

“We spoke to some of the most vulnerable people and families in our community, who are living below the poverty line,” she said.

"Energy is an essential service that many of us take for granted.

“But many in our community, like those we heard from, are clearly struggling to afford its high and growing cost. More needs to be done to support them.”