Over 18 million meals were provided to households across NSW and the ACT in the last year – but 1 in 3 still struggled to put food on the table

Media Release

Foodbank NSW & ACT are working hard to tackle food insecurity head on, distributing more than 12.5 million kilograms of food and essential items in the last 12 months to households doing it tough. But sadly, it’s only just scratching the surface.

The state and territory’s largest and most trusted food relief organisation is today reflecting on the NSW and ACT findings of the 2026 Foodbank Hunger Report, which has revealed the rate of food insecurity has sadly not improved.

And that’s despite a huge, coordinated effort from Foodbank NSW & ACT, who in the same timeframe travelled over 4.5 million kilometres to distribute more than 18 million meals to its network of 700 Community Partner organisations right across state and territory.

The Foodbank Hunger Report highlights the alarming impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on Australians, with young people, regional residents and households with children among the hardest hit.

The results showed almost half (45%) of households aged 18-34 in NSW and the ACT experienced food insecurity in the past year, while 42% of households with children also struggled to put food on the table, showing no change in the last 12 months.

Regional and remote communities felt the impact of rising costs, with severe food insecurity impacting 22% of households in regional NSW, compared to 16% in metro areas.

And findings showed a sustained increase in the proportion of middle-income households (earning $33,800 – $90,999 p.a.) in NSW and the ACT who experienced food insecurity, now 36%, compared to 32% only four years ago.

CEO of Foodbank NSW & ACT, Samantha Prescott, said the organisation is seeing a shift in the face of food insecurity.

“Despite our best efforts, our communities are still doing it tough,” Samantha said.

“The impact of the cost-of-living crisis is evident now more than ever. With interest rates continuing to rise, rent going up and fuel prices increasingly unstable, food is too often the first thing cut from weekly budgets.

“We’re seeing the face of food insecurity changing, with more middle-income earners, young people and double-income households regularly impacted.

“For some people, the prospect of living with food insecurity is just an interest rate rise away – and that’s a reality we can’t accept as the norm in Australia today.

“We’re committed to ending hunger in our communities – but we can’t do it on our own. It takes a huge, collaborative effort to shift the dial on food insecurity, and we need the support of our communities now more than ever.”