41% increase: SecondBite reveals huge spike in food relief demand across Australia

Australia’s affordability crisis has eroded access to a basic need and a common demographic is becoming more vulnerable.

As Christmas approaches, a concerning statistic from food rescue and relief organisation SecondBite shows that demands for food relief have hit a new high as Australia’s food insecurity crisis worsens under cost of living pressures.

According to SecondBite’s annual survey, food relief efforts by charity partners have increased to service 65 per cent more people than in 2022, while the overall demand has increased by 41 per cent.

It follows the Foodbank Annual Hunger report which revealed that 3.4 million households in Australia have run out of food in the last year and 48 per cent of low-income households are “It’s really tough for people right now. You can’t miss your rent or an insurance repayment, but you can miss a meal, and unfortunately that’s what’s happening more often,” chief executive at SecondBite Daniel Moorfield told news.com.au.

SecondBite’s data showed that the food insecurity crisis in Australia is swelling amind an affordability crisis. Picture: Supplied

Chief executive at Geelong Food Share, one of SecondBite’s charity partners, Andrew Shauble said that the demographic of who is seeking food relief is also changing.

“We’re seeing a lot more people who are employed or who have dual income families but are still not able to make ends meet, given the increases in rent increases, in mortgage increases, costs of living, right across the board. So that’s been one of the real challenges,” he said.

Geelong Food Share delivers food to local agencies and also runs two voucher-based social supermarkets in the region.

Andrew Schauble (right) with one of the Geelong Food Share suppliers. Picture: Supplied

Mariam* is a mother of two who immigrated from Iran 10 years ago and is the breadwinner of her household. Escalating cost of living pressures over the last year led her to the Salvation Army call centre, who arranged for her to receive vouchers for Geelong Food Share’s social supermarket.

Mariam told news.com.au this assistance has helped to support her family by providing financial relief in what would otherwise be a dire situation.

Mr Shauble added that there is often a stigma in many communities around seeking assistance for this issue, and that while more people are contacting agencies for food assistance and connection, there is also an increase in the complexity for the individuals who are seeking this type of relief.

“Things like financial literacy, mental health, domestic violence and other challenges are increasingly being reported by our support agencies. In the last year, there has been much more variance in terms of the types of people that are needing support,” he said.

Originally published as 41% increase: SecondBite reveals huge spike in food relief demand across Australia