The rising cost of food and food relief organisations - Hunger in Australia
Paula Goodyer
In supermarkets the price of vegetables has soared but at Foodbank WA they’re just 50 cents per kilo in regional areas. This is one way that Foodbank’s branches across the country bring food relief to around one million people each month. Besides being the largest provider of food to charities in Australia, it also sells affordable food directly to eligible consumers via its branches or mobile vans, and provides food for schools registered with Foodbank WA’s School Breakfast Programs.
What’s driving food insecurity in Australia?
“The combination of rising prices and the pandemic is increasing food insecurity - and it’s something dietitians need to be conscious of,” says Catherine Dumont, a public health nutritionist with Foodbank WA. “Food insecurity doesn’t just affect homeless people. Many parents are going without food so that their kids can eat. Costs of accommodation, food and electricity are all rising but people’s incomes are not. I work as a clinical dietitian as well as a public health nutritionist, and wearing both hats has made me more aware of food insecurity and food literacy.
“I’m more conscious of asking clients questions, not just about their health but also about their food budget, their food waste and how they plan meals. I’d recommend that dietitians know where clients who are struggling can access food, and which organisations can help. Some organisations provide food vouchers, others can assess the need for financial assistance or eligibility for an access card to Foodbank or other hunger relief organisations. Other places like schools offer breakfast programs. As dietitians, the best thing we can do is to be aware - aware of how we can educate people to access nutritious food, to help them develop better nutrition strategies like using more legumes to make a stew go further. As the saying goes: give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day; teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime. “
How does Foodbank WA nurture cooking skills and food literacy?
Foodbank WA provides free evidence-based nutrition education and cooking programs that include strategies for parents on making meal times more enjoyable, meal planning and label reading.
“We know from follow up questionnaires that these programs help change what goes in the supermarket trolley,” says Catherine Dumont. “We can safely say that they help people become more confident about cooking, are more likely to read labels and that their fruit and vegetable intake increases. “
How does Foodbank fit into the hunger relief sector in Australia?
Foodbank, the largest food relief organisation, collects donations from farmers, manufacturers, retail distribution centres and the general public and distributes food via its network of charity partners to those in need. OzHarvest and SecondBite collect end-of-the-day fresh and short life food surplus from stores, hotels, cafes and restaurants - food that needs eating quickly and is given directly to charities without being stored. Another organisation is FareShare which rescues food and receives food close to expiry to turn into nutritious meals to distribute to charities.
How could a dietitian go about working in the food rescue sector?
“I’d suggest improving your understanding of what food insecurity is and what it means for Australian people,” says Catherine Dumont. “I think that dietitians working in this sector need an interest in public health, food literacy and strong skills in building relationships with people from all walks of life. I’d encourage anyone interested in this area to read articles published in this field (see below) and even volunteer with Foodbank.”