Lisa’s story

“I think that Foodbank is the difference between eating and not eating”

“Some weeks, I don’t have money for food, and this is where I come because I can’t afford the supermarkets. Sometimes you can’t get absolutely all of your shopping there, but it can make a big difference to supplement what you do have to buy at the supermarket. Some weeks, without Foodbank, I wouldn’t be eating at all.”

Having only moved to Western Australia a few years ago, Lisa was excited to start a new chapter of her life. Her kids are grown up and while all of her family live in NSW, Perth offered the sea-change she was after.

Everything was working out well for Lisa, she loved the weather and laid-back Perth lifestyle, and she was enjoying her job. Then out of the blue Lisa became unwell in January of 2024.

It quickly became evident that she would be unable to work at all and Lisa’s work leave evaporated. Her full-time job that was her safety net, was gone in an instant. She hasn’t been able to work since. A terrifying concept – considering the cost-of-living crisis which has been swirling around for years now, and the never-ending bills which land in our inboxes and mailboxes like clockwork, only to be more expensive than the last.

Lisa didn’t know where to turn. Centrelink was her first port of call, and from there she learned that she could speak with a financial councillor for some guidance around how to plan for her future. Having worked her whole adult life, she began to navigate the welfare system which was a huge learning curve. It was her financial counsellor who told her about Foodbank. Initially, Lisa had to overcome her pride to reach out for help, but she is so glad she did admit that it’s made a huge difference to her budget and has eased her stress levels.

“It’s really taken a load off, especially when the bills come in. Also for me, trying to find healthy food and eating properly, which is so important when you are going through health problems, and to actually have access to veggies and fruit is a lifesaver. With my condition, I have moments where I can’t cook, I’m totally unfunctional. So for those moments I have Foodbank’s pre-packaged meals in the freezer ready to go, all I have to do is heat it up.”

At the moment, it seems that Lisa will be off work for another 12 months while she navigates her health issues. She is extremely grateful to the assistance she has received encourages anyone who is on the brink of financial stress to reach out and ask for help. The financial counsellors Lisa was in contact with have access to a wide range of integrated and person-centred services designed to reduce the impact of financial hardship.

Of her journey through this hard period of her life, Lisa says, “It’s something that no one can see around the corner, no one can see what’s coming, and anyone could find themselves in a position where they might need to reach out for help, most definitely anyone. I never thought this would happen to me. It’s scary to think that something like this can happen so quickly, which can throw people off on a different path in life.”

Happy that her kids are grown up and won’t be affected by her inability to work, Lisa says she doesn’t know how the average family is making ends meet.

“I think that Foodbank is the difference between eating and not eating. Some weeks, I don’t have money for food, and this is where I come because I can’t afford the supermarkets. Sometimes you can’t get absolutely all of your shopping there, but it can make a big difference to supplement what you do have to buy at the supermarket. Some weeks, without Foodbank, I wouldn’t be eating at all.”