Almost one million Australian children are living in poverty, as advocates blame housing stress and a lack of income support for the burgeoning crisis.

Data released on Monday found the child poverty rate had spiked 33 per cent in four years, with a campaign for urgent legislation that would better define and measure its impact taking shape.

End Child Poverty has called for a "child-centred" definition of poverty that does not solely focus on income, but also takes into account access to housing, education, health and social inclusion.

The data, from Curtin Economics Centre and the Valuing Children Initiative, was based on information provided by the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey.

It projected the level of poverty experienced, given spikes in rent and the co

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