Millions of households struggling to put food on the table

Monday 17th October 2022 Adelaide: On any given day, over half a million households in Australia are struggling to put food on the table, and disturbingly, those with children are being hardest hit.

Released today, the Foodbank Hunger Report 2022 reveals alarming details surrounding the food insecurity crisis the country is facing.
More than 2 million households in Australia have run out of food in the last year due to limited finances, sometimes skipping meals or going whole days without eating. The report shows that more than 52% of Australian households with children having experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months. This has meant that 1.3 million children have gone hungry during that time.

Unsurprisingly, the rising cost of living is the most common reason why so many are struggling to meet their household food needs, with the cost of food and groceries confirmed as the top cause followed closely by energy and housing costs.

Assumptions that this is affecting only those who are unemployed or homeless are incorrect with the research showing that over half of food insecure households had someone in paid work and a third of households with mortgages have experienced food insecurity.

HUNGER IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Unfortunately, South Australia is once again experiencing a significant increase in the levels of food insecurity, with more than 130,000 South Australian households having experienced severe levels of food insecurity in the last 12 months.

Foodbank SA CEO Greg Pattinson said the last year has been hard for South Australian households, particularly those with children, with the Foodbank Hunger Report further highlighting the troubling reality of child hunger in South Australia.

“It’s hard to read the research and figures, particularly in relation to food insecure children in the state, which revealed that over 78,000 children in South Australia have lived in severely food insecure households in the past year.”

“When we look at the definition of severely food insecure, that is skipping meals or going whole days without eating. Stop and think about that shocking statistic! More than 78,000 children are living in households that have not had enough food to put a meal on the table. These are South Aussie kids that are going hungry.”

“We know how important it is for people to have access to good food, however, the rising costs of living, groceries, fuel, rent and mortgages are putting additional pressure on already struggling households, particularly families” said Mr Pattinson.

The report signals that the problem is only set to get worse with half of all households experiencing difficulty saying that being unable to afford food is happening more often.

“Foodbank SA is determined to continue to support South Australians in need, including through our breakfast and lunch programs in schools. We are now distributing the equivalent of 20,000 plus meals per day, right across the state, but we need to do more.”

According to Foodbank SA, additional food to the equivalent of 5,000 to 7,500 meals per day is needed to meet the current levels of demand here in South Australia.

This Anti-Poverty Week, Foodbank SA is asking for the support of the SA Government, SA businesses and individuals to help them in their mission to feed South Australians in need every day.

KEY STATISTICS

• On any given day, over half a million households in Australia are struggling to meet their food needs.
• The term food insecurity covers a range of experiences – from being uncertain about getting enough food and compromising on nutrition right through to disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.
• More than 2 million households in Australia (21%) have experienced severe food insecurity in the last 12 months, which means they actually ran out of food because of financial limitations sometimes skipping meals or going whole days without eating.
• Households with children are being hit harder than others (52% of Australian households with children have experienced food insecurity in the past year) and single parent households are the worst of all (37% severely food insecure).
• The challenge of having adequate and nutritious food is only increasing, with over 50% of food insecure households reporting that being unable to afford food is happening more often this year than last.
• The rising cost of living is the most common explanation for why people are failing to meet their household food requirements (64% of food insecure households). Unpacking this, the cost of food and groceries is the top cause (49%), followed closely by energy (42%) and housing (33%) costs.
• Over half of food insecure households (54%) had someone in paid work.
• Nearly a third of households with mortgages (30%) have experienced food insecurity in the last year. The situation is even worse in regional areas (36% vs 27% in metro areas).
• On a typical day, 306,000 households are receiving assistance from food relief organisations.

In South Australia:

• Over 78,000 children in South Australia lived in severely food insecure households in the past year.
• Over 130,000 households in South Australia were hungry in the last 12 months due to lack of funds, sometimes skipping meals or going whole days without eating.
• Nearly half of food insecure households in South Australia (46%) had someone in paid work.
• 29% of households in South Australia with mortgages have experienced food insecurity in the last year
• The rising cost of living is the most common reason that people in Australia are struggling to put food on the table.

METHODOLOGY

This report presents key findings from the Foodbank Hunger Survey, which was conducted between 11 and 28 July 2022, through an online questionnaire of 4,024 people in Australia aged 18 years or older. The sample was nationally representative by age, gender and location (capital city / rest of state) in each major state, with stratified quotas to ensure all major states have a robust minimum sample size of n=600 or above. The data was weighted to nationally representative proportion of age, gender, state and location (capital city/ rest of state).

The full report can be found at www.foodbank.org.au.

For National media enquiries: 

Rebecca Collins, National Marketing & Communication Manager
M: 0409 786 132
P: 02 9887 4144
E: rebecca@foodbank.org.au

For South Australian media enquiries:

Greg Pattinson, CEO, Foodbank SA
M: 0418 842 927
P: 08 8351 1136
E: gregp@foodbanksa.org.au

Mobile Food Hub hits the road to reduce hunger in regional SA

A grocery store on wheels providing free and discounted food is supporting regional SA to help families in need.

The roving Mobile Food Hub, supported by the state’s largest mobility organisation RAA, will be the first of its kind to operate in regional South Australia.

Customers are referred to the hub by local charities, schools and community groups.

They shop as they would in a normal grocery store, passing through a checkout counter at the rear of the medium sized truck. Bread, fruit and vegetables are free, and charities also provide the customers with vouchers to purchase a range of other heavily discounted food items.

Foodbank SA CEO Greg Pattinson said the food is sourced from Foodbank’s warehouses or donations from retailers, farmers and the food industry.

“Foodbank has long needed to have a food hub presence in the Riverland and other regions of South Australia. However, the distance between towns means it wasn’t feasible for families to have to travel to access food relief from a single Food Hub.

We know that families living in regional South Australia are 33% more likely to experience food insecurity than those living in metro SA. We know there are families in towns from Berri, Renmark, Loxton and Waikerie that are going without.

“The Mobile Food Hub for the Riverland will be a source of food relief for thousands of families who are experiencing hunger in regions.

“We cannot thank RAA enough for supporting this Mobile Food Hub, that will really hep us feed those in need.”

RAA is supporting Foodbank to purchase, custom fit, stock and resource its second Mobile Food Hub which carries 2 tonnes of stock.

Under the strategic direction of Foodbank, and in collaboration with welfare agencies, at-risk areas in SA will be identified and visited over the next two years at least.

RAA spokesperson Sally Warner said the Mobile Food Hub will help South Australians from diverse backgrounds and services, including those still recovering from the effects of floods, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This service will assist people and families in need of food relief, who currently have little or no access to welfare services,’’ she said.

“RAA has served the community since 1903 and this is an extension of our commitment to helping South Australians dealing with adversity.”

Visit www.foodbank.org.au/RAA

For further information contact:

Foodbank SA Media: Sarah Davies 0432 511 091 or sarahd@foodbanksa.org.au

About Foodbank

Foodbank is the largest food relief organisation in South Australia. Our mission is to end hunger. At Foodbank SA, we provide food relief to over 126,000 struggling South Australians every month. One third of those are children. Foodbank SA sources food from wholesalers, manufacturers, supermarkets and growers, saving more than 2.5 million kilograms of food from landfill each year. In the last 12 months, we have sourced enough food to put more than 6 million meals on the table of those doing it tough in this state.

In South Australia, Foodbank is the pantry for the charity sector, providing more than 70% of the food relief requirements. We work with more than 495 charity organisations and supports more than 500 school programs to distribute food relief across the state. We do this through our warehouses in Edwardstown, Whyalla, Berri, Mount Gambier and our operations in the SA Produce Market. Foodbank SA also distributes food direct to those in need through our Foodbank Food Hubs operating in Edwardstown, Bowden, Christies Beach, Elizabeth, Mount Gambier, Whyalla and support community food hubs in Port Pirie and Adelaide.

About RAA

RAA has come a long way since being founded by a small group of motoring pioneers in 1903. Today, more than 750,000 members choose RAA to deliver them peace of mind, through a trusted range of motor, home and travel products and services.

Members are at the heart of everything RAA does, so it’s always looking for new ways to better their lives and make it easy to focus on what really matters. As one of the state’s largest and oldest organisations, RAA is proud to help keep its members – and SA – moving in the right direction.

FOODBANK SA PRIMARY FOOD RELIEF CHARITY FOR SA BUSH FIRES

Foodbank SA has been appointed as the primary organisation to support food relief efforts for recent bush fires in South Australia. Foodbank SA have been authorised to coordinate all activities related to food relief requirements including the receiving of food donations and distribution of food relief to those areas impacted by the devastating bush fires across the state. These zones include Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills region.

Foodbank SA CEO Greg Pattinson said Foodbank would co-ordinate the food relief effort for the bush fires, and urged South Australians not to drop off food at the Emergency Relief Centres or any other locations but to take it to Foodbank allocated locations across the state.

“Foodbank’s role is to get the right type and amount of food, to the right people at the right time. We have seen amazing support and call outs by well-meaning members of the community but we need to ensure there is a coordinated approach. I can’t stress enough that a managed approach via Foodbank will streamline delivery to the centres on the ground, reduce wasted effort and ensure those in need are truly supported.” Mr Pattinson said.

“For many South Australians, they are wanting to know how they can support those impacted. If the community are wanting to donate food, toiletries and other essentials, they can deliver these donations to Foodbank SA, 377 Cross Road Edwardstown or one of our several Food Hubs across the state.

These include:

Details here:

Foodbank SA Warehouse, 377 Cross Road Edwardstown. Open between 9am to 4pm (excluding weekends and public holidays).

Foodbank Food Hub Bowden, 77 Gibson Street, Bowden. Open between 9am to 4pm (excluding weekends and public holidays).

Foodbank Food Hub Elizabeth, 91-93 Elizabeth Way, Elizabeth. Open between 9:30am to 2:30pm (excluding weekends and public holidays).

Foodbank Food Hub Christies Beach, 59-61 Beach Road, Christies Beach. Open between (9am to 4pm) (excluding weekends and public holidays).

Foodbank volunteers have been working behind the scenes preparing food relief and a dedicated volunteer team are already in place sorting and distributing food relief requirements.

State Manager Emergency Functional Relief Support Group Paul Reardon said it was important for people to drop food donations at the right place.

​“We know the South Australian community is extremely generous when it comes to helping communities affected by bushfires,” Mr Reardon said.

“It is important that those well-meaning in the community do not head into fire zones, or to Emergency Relief Centres to make a donation. It is recommended that these food donations are made at Foodbank to allow a managed food relief effort.  Foodbank can then store and coordinate the distribution as and when needed on the ground.”

Learn more

Hunger hits women the most as SA hits record need 

13 October 2019

• In SA, there has been a 15% increase of those requiring food relief from the previous year
• Foodbank SA currently supports more than 126,000 people with Food Relief each month, through agency relationships, Food Hubs and School Programs
• In SA around 134,620 individuals are seeking food relief each month including via school relief programs – with more than 7876 people unable to be provided with food each month
• Women are 50% more likely to experience food insecurity than men.

A new Foodbank survey has found that more South Australians that ever are seeking food relief – with a staggering 134,620 people asking for help each month – up 15% from last year.

The report, released today by Foodbank SA, highlights that the demand continues to grow, with women bearing the brunt of food insecurity.

The Foodbank Hunger Report, now in its seventh year, surveys 2,000 charities and 1,000 individuals experiencing food insecurity from around the country.

In South Australia, the need continues to grow with more than 126,000 people seeking food relief each month – increase from last year’s 117,260. These are provided through a range of services such as agency support, Food Hubs and school programs.

Foodbank currently runs five Food Hubs across SA, as well as a Mobile Food Van which is used to take food to communities that are remote or not close to an existing Food Hub.

Foodbank SA chief executive Greg Pattinson said it was a very sad fact that the demand still could not be met.

“The fact that we can’t get enough food to enough people is still a significant issue,” he said.

“Despite our best efforts, we still can’t get to the parts of the state that really need our help, either due to the high cost of transport, logistics or that we just can’t get enough food to take to them.”

Mr Pattinson called on the State Government to do more to fix the problem.

“There shouldn’t be more than 7000 South Australians every month worrying about where they are going to get their next meal,” he said.

“We need significantly more funding support from the SA Government if we are to get closer to bridging this gap.”

Media Enquiries: .

Sarah Davies, 0432 511 091 
Jenny Turner, 0412 155 245