Over 2,800km and 30 hours on NSW roads
Our journey with Brad Fittler & the 2026 NRL HOGS Tour

Foodbank NSW & ACT were lucky enough to join Brad Fittler and his team on the NRL HOGS National Tour for the first time in 2026.

In just one month, our team spent over 30 hours on the road and travelled more than 2,800km across NSW, providing free fresh fruit and water to families and young rugby league players.

Visiting Werrington, Gunnedah, Wagga Wagga, Batemans Bay and Goulburn, we proudly worked alongside stars including Greg Inglis, Yasmin Meakes, Dale Finucane and Jada Taylor to celebrate the profound connection between rugby league and the community.

Each stop gave us the chance to support local training clinics, fuel young athletes, and strengthen our connection with the regional groups we already serve.

Samantha Prescott, Chief Operating Officer of Foodbank NSW & ACT, highlighted the importance of our team being able to engage with the people we serve.

“We were excited to be part of the NRL HOGS National Tour supporting rural communities across NSW,” Mrs Prescott said.

“At Foodbank NSW & ACT, we know demand for food relief services in rural areas is high, which is why we distribute more than half of our food outside metro regions into far reaching corners of the state and territory.

Joining Brad and the rest of the NRL HOGS team gave us another chance to connect with those communities and provide fresh fruit and water to support select training clinics throughout the tour.

The NRL HOGS National Tour does fantastic work providing opportunities for young rugby league players and uniting people through the spirit of the game – and we’re thrilled we could be a part of it.”

Samantha Prescott

Chief of Operations

Having invited us on the tour, Brad Fittler showed his support for our mission to end hunger in our communities.

“Food is the absolute key to the future – the quality of food you eat and your access to food.

In understanding the enormity and the reality of some kids and parents lives, I wanted to find a way to have Foodbank NSW & ACT noticed more. So being part of the HOGS Tour was a good start!”

Brad Fittler

Australian rugby league commentator, TV presenter and former NRL player

With more than half of our food relief going to regional and remote areas, this tour offered invaluable time on the ground. These conversations and community moments help us better understand local needs so we can continue delivering essential support where it matters most.

A huge thank you to the NRL, Brad Fittler and every community member who welcomed us along the way.

Celebrating the women who strengthen our impact

Why International Women’s Day matters to Foodbank NSW & ACT.

International Women’s Day is a moment to recognise the women who give so much of themselves to ensure no one in NSW & the ACT goes hungry.

This year’s theme, Give to Gain, reflects a truth we see every day: when women are supported, included and empowered, our entire organisation becomes stronger, more resilient and more capable of serving our communities.

Foodbank NSW & ACT continues to grow as an organisation, where women choose to build their careers. Representation of women has increased from 54.1% in 2024 to 57.2% today, reflecting our commitment to inclusion, flexibility and creating pathways for women across all roles.

Women now make up 75% of our Executive Leadership Team, a milestone that reflects our commitment to ensuring leadership reflects the strength and talent across our organisation.

While women form the majority of our executive leadership, we recognise that strengthening representation at all levels remains an ongoing priority. Continued progress requires long‑term commitment, intentional development and sustained investment in leadership pathways for everyone at Foodbank NSW & ACT.

What ‘Give to Gain’ means to Foodbank NSW & ACT

Foodbank NSW & ACT’s work is built on giving so others can gain, and we rely on collaboration across teams, partners and communities. Our Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy, Lauren Kara-George, who leads an all-female team, highlights how working in food relief has shaped her own leadership and offers advice to emerging female leaders.

“I try to instil this mindset in the teams I lead by encouraging women to step forward, try new things, and back themselves, even if it feels a little outside of their comfort zone.

Working in food relief is deeply personal to me. I grew up in a single‑parent family on a council estate in the UK, where my mum worked three jobs and money was incredibly tight. That upbringing shapes how I lead today. I try to pass that mindset on to the women I lead by creating a culture where they feel supported, trusted and so very capable.”

Lauren Kara-George

Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy

Our International Women’s Day

To celebrate, we welcomed retired NSW Police Force Detective Superintendent, Deborah Wallace. Highlighting leadership, resilience and community impact, Deb shared inspiring stories from her remarkable career, many of which brought our staff and volunteers to tears.

Three quarters of struggling households in NSW & ACT experienced food insecurity for the first time last year – yet top income earners saw their wealth increase by $600,000 a day

Media Release

Everyday Australians are struggling to make ends meet, with the cost-of-living crisis the major cause of concern for households across NSW and the ACT.

Data from the 2025 Foodbank Hunger Report showed one in three households in NSW and the ACT experienced food insecurity in the past year. And an alarming 74 percent of those households going hungry were navigating food shortage for the first time ever.

Yet in the same year, according to new data released by Oxfam Australia, the nation’s highest income earners saw their wealth increase by almost $600,000 a day.

The anti-poverty charity this week published research which revealed Australia’s 48 billionaires hold more wealth than the almost 11 million lower income earners sitting on the other end of the scale combined.

The findings highlight the disparity in our current economic climate and emphasise the need for increased support for those experiencing hardship, at a time when housing affordability is directly impacting people’s ability to put food on the table.

Figures from the 2025 Foodbank Hunger Report also show the combination of unaffordable and unavailable housing is making it harder than ever for people to make ends meet.

The report highlights that 50 percent of renters and 28 percent of mortgage holders in NSW and the ACT are now food insecure. A significant number of households cited “changes in household or living arrangements”, such as moving house or rising rent, as a key reason for their food insecurity.

Samantha Prescott, Chief Operating Officer of Foodbank NSW & ACT, said the organisation is seeing more people forced to make impossible choices between paying for housing or putting food on the table.

“When rent goes up or interest rates increase, food is often one of the first things sacrificed. Over a third of Aussies are struggling to make ends meet, and just one in five households are living comfortably on their current income.

“Food insecurity doesn’t look one way – it can affect any of us at any time. We’re hearing from people who’ve never needed help before; middle-income earners, people with jobs earning $90,000 a year.

“This isn’t just about poverty. It’s about a system where even working Australians can no longer afford the basics. We believe everyone should have access to the food they need, but we can’t make that happen without the support of our communities and partners.

“Every dollar donated allows us to provide two meals to someone in need. We urge our communities to stand with us and help ensure no one goes hungry.” 

Samantha Prescott

COO of Foodbank NSW & ACT

As the cost-of-living crisis hits Australians harder than ever, Foodbank NSW & ACT is calling on the support of those who can help.

To support Foodbank NSW & ACT, visit the Donate Now page below.

If you or someone you know needs food assistance, please visit the Find Food Assistance page below and look for the ‘Find Food’ button.

Dan Elsom

Communications Manager

For all state media enquiries

M: 0439 425 176

E: daniel.elsom@foodbanknsw.org.au

Take action today

Donate Now

Every dollar provides two meals.

Find out more

Find Food Assistance

If you or someone you know needs help.

Find out more

Learn more about our impact

Read the full Foodbank Hunger Report 2025.

Find out more

You’re popping up for your regional neighbours

For people in regional communities, the cost-of-living crisis is hitting hard. But your generosity – and the support and hard work of our community partners – means Foodbank Pop-Ups are there to help them.

These fresh pop-up produce markets are a vital lifeline for struggling regional communities. And it’s your generous support that gets them on the road.

In the last few months, we’ve hosted Pop-Ups in places like Kurri Kurri and Tamworth to reach people in desperate need, providing the food they need to fill their cupboards and bellies.

We provided 6,170kgs of fresh produce at our Kurri Kurri Pop-up.

We provided 6,020kgs of fresh produce at our Tamworth Pop-up.

Thank you so much for helping to reach out to hungry people all over NSW and the ACT. Your kindness goes a long way!

DOUBLE THE NUMBER of hampers delivered, Thanks to you.

The cost of living is still soaring, putting more and more families in NSW and the ACT in urgent need of emergency food relief.

But you’re helping to meet this surge in demand.

Thanks to your kindness, a record number of hampers full of fresh food and pantry staples have been delivered to families in crisis.

September saw the launch of the very first Foodbank Giving Day. The call went out for donations to help send 10,000 hampers to households at breaking point across NSW and the ACT. More than ever.

Thanks to you, almost twice that number were delivered to families in need. So far, Over 19,300 hampers have been sent – each one containing enough food to feed a hungry family for a whole week!

For a mum finding it hard to feed her kids, like Selena, it means the world. She told us:

“The hamper made such a difference. People who donate probably don’t understand the pressure that it lifts. It might be something small to them, but to someone like me, it’s everything. It’s dignity. It’s relief. It’s survival.”

Your kindness is ending hunger – one family at a time. Thank you so much.

Thanks to you, Claire’s children had a magical Christmas

Your generosity makes life better for local families like Claire’s going through tough times.

Claire is a loving mum of three who has been hit hard by the rising cost of living. Since her husband had to stop working because of illness, she’s really struggled to put food on the table for her children.

The family has had to go without. And that’s been a terrible strain on Claire, especially at Christmas time when all she’s ever wanted is to give her children a happy time full of good food and good cheer. Claire told us, “No one should go hungry at Christmas.”

The good news is that, thanks to your wonderful generosity, Claire and her children didn’t have to go without this Christmas.

Because of your kindness, Claire received a Foodbank Christmas hamper. And that changed everything. She told us:

“When you get a Foodbank hamper, you’re so grateful for it. It helps to know that we’ll be able to have a fuller table spread. Everyone can have a nice family meal.”

What’s more, Claire isn’t the only one who was able to feed her family this Christmas.

Your generosity helped make sure that thousands more families like hers received a nutritious hamper.

Claire knows just how much that means to struggling parents like her. “It helps a lot of families out, and some that are even worse off than we are,” she said.

Your kindness this festive season didn’t just help mums like Claire put food on the table. It totally transformed Christmas.

Thank you so much for making it a happy Christmas for Claire and so many others. What a wonderful present to give!

Housing crisis fuels food insecurity

1 in 3 NSW & ACT households going hungry

Every night, families across NSW and the ACT face an impossible decision: pay for shelter or eat dinner. For many, hunger is becoming a regular part of life.

The hidden link between housing costs and hunger

The housing affordability crisis is no longer just a matter of shelter; it’s now a major driver of food insecurity across NSW and the ACT. According to the newly released Foodbank Hunger Report, a staggering 1 in 3 households in NSW and the ACT have gone hungry in the past year.

Despite targeted cost-of-living relief and early signs of economic recovery, the combination of skyrocketing rents, rising interest rates, and limited housing availability is forcing families to make impossible choices, often sacrificing food to keep a roof over their head.

1.1 million households facing food insecurity

The report reveals that:

1.1 million households in NSW and the ACT experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
682,000 households faced severe food insecurity – skipping meals, compromising nutrition, or going entire days without eating.

“Housing costs are pushing people to the brink,” said John Robertson, CEO of Foodbank NSW & ACT. “When rent goes up or interest rates increase, food is often one of the first things sacrificed. We’re seeing people make impossible choices between paying for housing or putting food on the table.”

John Robertson

CEO of Foodbank NSW & ACT

Hunger doesn’t discriminate: who’s most affected?

The impact of the housing and hunger crisis is widespread, but some groups are hit harder than others:

50% of renters and 28% of mortgage holders in NSW and the ACT are food insecure.
Single-parent families are among the most vulnerable.
Middle-income earners, including those earning up to $90,000 annually, are increasingly seeking food relief.
Households with people living with disabilities or health issues are disproportionately affected; two-thirds are food insecure, and half face severe hunger.

Stigma is stopping people from seeking help

Despite the growing need, many people are still reluctant to seek assistance:

45% feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask for food relief.
35% worry others are in greater need.

“There’s still a stigma around asking for help, and that’s heartbreaking,” said Robertson. “Food insecurity doesn’t look one way. It can affect any of us at any time.”

How you can help

As demand for food relief continues to rise, Foodbank NSW & ACT is facing a new challenge: record-low food donations. To meet the growing need, the organisation is now purchasing more food than ever before.

“Every dollar donated allows us to provide two meals to someone in need,” Robertson said. “We urge our communities and partners to stand with us and help ensure no one goes hungry.”