‘National emergency hiding in plain’: OzHarvest survey shows a spike in the number of people charities are having to turn away

A new national snapshot of food charities finds almost one third of people now seeking food relief, but strained organisations are increasingly having to turn away desperate families.

An Adelaide mum has shared the heartbreak of struggling to afford food for her son, saying without support from charities, she’d be “dumpster diving.”

Still, she is one of the lucky ones with many benevolent organisations reporting they are increasingly having to turn away desperate families.

A new survey finds there has been a more than 50 per cent increase in the number of Australians knocked back from food charities in the past year with 72 per cent saying they haven’t enough food to meet demand.

OzHarvest’s 2025 Community Needs Survey finds almost one-third (31 per cent) of people now seeking food relief are doing so for the first time. It’s estimated as many as 50,000 monthly are missing out on support.

Chats client Jessica with her 10-year-old son and Chats charity worker, Rose at the charities store in Port Adelaide. Picture: Emma Brasier

Founder of national food rescue organisation OzHarvest Ronni Kahn said the survey results revealed “a national emergency hiding in plain”.

“Every day we’re out in communities across Australia supporting 1,550 charities that are stretched beyond their limits … we have 1,200 charities on the waitlist to receive food,” she said.

“Food insecurity isn’t just about hunger, it’s about dignity, choices, health, and the impossible decisions people face every day just to survive.”

It’s a sad predicament Community Help and Togetherness (CHATS) chairwoman Rose Darling sees daily – six years ago her Port Adelaide-based charity, which works in partnership with OzHarvest was providing breakfast for 30 people, today it is stretched to capacity feeding 100.

“Sometimes I really cry; it’s a bit heartbreaking to be honest,” she said.

“A lot of families are doing it really tough … it’s like, do you pay your bills or do you feed your family?”

Oz Harvest Founder Ronni Kahn with produce. Pic RoyVphotography

In addition to providing a weekly breakfast her team of volunteers runs a small store in which people can access essential items free of charge with weekly meat packages also raffled.

“For a lot of people red meat is just outside of the family’s budget,” she said.

Jessica, 34, who asked her last name not be published, lives on a carer’s pension and says after rent, she has about $500 left a fortnight to pay bills and care for herself and her 10-year-old son who has special needs and requires costly medication.

“I don’t see how we would even be able to live without CHATS and the other charities, we would probably have to dumpster dive or something,” she said.

“I feel horrible having to go to charities just to get (my son) Easter eggs … or to be able to put something under the tree at Christmas; it is heartbreaking, it makes you feel kind of like, like a beggar.”

OzHarvest is advocating for the creation of a dedicated “Minister for Food … to co-ordinate food security, food waste and food system solutions”.

Originally published as ‘National emergency hiding in plain’: OzHarvest survey shows a spike in the number of people charities are having to turn away