Food insecurity is peaking in Australia as Foodbank’s Hunger Report reveals one in six Australian adults have not had enough food and 1.2 million children have gone hungry.
Foodbank Australia CEO Brianna Casey said the findings are serious and more insight is needed. Food insecurity is currently at its peak in the nation, Casey said.
One in six Australian adults are food insecure, experiencing irregular eating patterns and often reducing their intake.
The tenth annual Hunger Report found more than half of the Australians experiencing food insecurity are going a full day without eating anything every week.
COVID-19 pandemic compounding the crisis, Foodbank said. More than 38 per cent of people in 2020 who were food insecure were in the situation for the first time ever.
Casey said: “This is especially disheartening in light of the gains made last year when the Federal Government’s Coronavirus Supplement was able to reduce poverty for so many.”
“The global pandemic has put a spotlight on the crisis that for too long has gone under society’s radar,” Casey said.
The report also revealed approximately 43 per cent of parents disclosed their children do not eat for a full day on a weekly basis. This problem is also exacerbated through two in five (46 per cent) food insecure Australians seeking food relief are not supplied enough to meet their household needs.
With one in six being recognised as severely food insecure, Foodbank said up to 33 per cent of Australians cut back on the size of their meals daily to make it last longer.
“Although Foodbank is now providing food relief to a record one million people a month, we know many people experiencing hardship feel there are others worse off and don’t ask for help.
“This is heart-breaking to know, and if there is one thing I can stress, it’s that there is no shame in asking for help, in fact it’s exactly what we are here for. Life happens to us all and we are here for everyone,” she said.
With unexpected bills or large expenses being the driving reason for the inability to source enough food, the report highlighted food insecurity is affecting more people with (64 per cent) jobs than those who are unemployed.
The complete report can be accessed on Foodbank’s website.
