The very first thing we do is reduce stress and anxiety by providing immediate access to food. When people have their basic need for food met, they can focus on other areas of their life, such as finding employment, securing stable housing, or seeking mental health support, rather than being consumed by the stress of survival.

We also ensure we operate within community settings where individuals are treated with dignity and respect. This sense of being supported and valued can improve self-esteem and reduce feelings of isolation and shame, which often accompany food insecurity. We prioritise dignity and offer a welcoming and stigma-free environment—where our customers feel less ashamed about needing assistance. 

Another way we can support people to improve their mental health is through the provision of healthy choices for people needing food relief. Research shows a diet higher in a wide range of fruits, vegetables, legumes, wholegrains and fish help reduce the risk of and improve depressive symptoms. 

Recognising that a healthy, balanced diet is becoming increasingly unaffordable for Western Australian’s, we have transitioned to providing free fruit and vegetables to our registered customers over the past twelve months, we have provided 1,273,375 kgs of fruit to our charity partners, schools and directly to households. This equates to 37% of our overall food distribution total.

We also collaborate with other organisations, offering assistance beyond food. Due to the big increase in the demand for our services, we now have a Financial Support Worker from the Financial Wellbeing Collective at the Perth Airport site to assist customers with their needs onsite, five days a week. 

Whether in person, or over the phone, when individuals reach out for food assistance, the Financial Support Worker who assesses the individuals needs can also refer them to supportive services they require such as housing support, job training, financial counselling, and healthcare services.

By relieving the burden of food costs, we can help individuals redirect their limited financial resources toward other critical areas, such as healthcare, therapy, or even stress-reducing activities.

Mental Health Week reminds everyone that mental health is just as important as physical health and encourages proactive care for a healthier, happier life.

We are working hard to make food one less thing people need to worry about. 

Reducing food waste isn’t just about doing the right thing for the environment – though that’s a big part of it. It’s also about making smart decisions and contributing to a stronger, more resilient community in Western Australia. By being more mindful of how we buy, store and consume foods, we can save money, help those in need, and build a better future for everyone.

Let’s talk dollars and cents. The cost of food isn’t just what you see at the checkout; it’s also in the waste that ends up in your bin. Every time you throw away food, you’re essentially throwing away money. Food waste can cost an average family of four in Australia $2,500 per year.  

We have the answer. Foodbank WA’s nom! programs which teach evidence-based nutrition education and cooking. 

We have always covered food waste and how best to avoid it in our nom! workshops but have recently had an increase in interest from local governments in running food waste and sustainability one-off sessions. We hear your call and are here to answer it!  

Our sessions cover food waste and sustainability for families, youth and adults. The sessions, through various hands-on activities and cooking, will include:

• Implementing strategies to reduce personal food waste such as meal planning, writing a shopping list, growing their own vegetables and herbs or limiting the use of ultra-processed foods by adopting a healthier eating lifestyle.
• Learn to re-use, recycle and recover different products (i.e. use of own shopping bags and avoiding plastic bags, composting at home, using FOGO when possible)
• Tips and tricks – Our cooking activities show participants how to use the whole vegetable (i.e. use the entire spring onion and plant the base with roots in soil. This will grow into a new spring onion).

Australia produces enough food to feed our population three times over, yet we still have too many people going without food. Our nom! programs show us how as individuals we can do our part. By planning meals more carefully, shopping with a list, and getting creative with leftovers, you can significantly reduce the amount of food you waste. This translates directly into savings.

So next time you think about throwing away those leftovers, think twice, you might just be throwing away more than you realise.