An unthinkable reality’: Millions of Australians forced to seek help as food crisis worsens

More than three million Australians have faced food hardship for the first time in the past six months due to relentless cost-of-living pressures.

A new survey by food rescue charity SecondBite has revealed the alarming reality across the nation, with families skipping meals, reducing portion sizes and forced to choose between buying groceries or paying the bills.

Of those surveyed, 53 per cent say they have cut back on social gatherings and family celebrations due to food costs, 19 per cent are actively reducing their daily food portion sizes, and 41 per cent have been forced to choose between buying groceries and paying essential bills.

What’s driving the crisis?

It isn’t just one expense crippling Australian budgets, it’s the compound effect of basic survival costs rocketing,

According to SecondBite’s data, the top financial triggers pushing families to the brink include electricity and gas bills, fuel and transport costs, and rent and mortgage hikes.

Behind the statistics are real stories of everyday Australians struggling in silence

For the past two-and-a-half years, Cathy has been both a volunteer and a recipient at Rainbow Community Services in Western Australia. What started as an act of giving back quickly turned into a lifeline.

“When I started volunteering, they asked if I would also like food. I felt a bit embarrassed at first, but it does really help when you’re on a pension,” Cathy told nine.com.au.

The food hampers which are packed with fresh produce, pantry staples and toiletries don’t just help feed Cathy and her visiting grandchildren, they also free up vital funds for medical care and heating.

“It’s been freezing this winter, and now I can put my heater on without having to think, ‘Can I afford this?’”

Every week, Rainbow Community Services provide food to 140 families, serve hot meals on Thursdays and prepare 56 hampers for their community.

Kathy and Peter Bray from Kenthurst Rotary Club have been running local food relief service Serving Hope on Wheels in Sydney’s north-west for the past two years.

Demand for their service has more than doubled since they began.

“We do a hot meal twice a week. We have fresh fruit and veggies. We have a pantry where they can take a bag full of groceries. We have clothes, virtually everything. And you can sit down and chat to other people for a couple of hours.”

“We used to get maybe half a dozen people on a night. This Tuesday we had over 40. And we have a lot of families now.

“They’re driving a flash car, and they look really well-dressed, but once they’ve paid their bills, they can’t afford to put food on the table.”

While she remains alarmed by the growing trend of those in need of food relief, she is heartened by the generosity of locals.

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“I put a post up the other day because our pantry was really low and I’ve just been inundated [with people wanting to donate items].”

Struggling suffer in silence

Despite an estimated three million Australians accessing food relief in recent months, a massive portion of the population still refuses to ask for help.

The survey reports 48 per cent avoid seeking relief because they believe “someone else needs it more” and 32 per cent say they are simply too embarrassed to ask.

SecondBite CEO Daniel Moorfield highlighted that demand is shifting rapidly. “Local charities are seeing demand reach working families, double-income households, and people who may never have needed support before,” Moorfield explained.

Supermarket charity drives trigger backlash from shoppers

In response to the crisis, Coles launched a Community Food Relief Appeal alongside SecondBite and Foodbank Australia, running through September 1. Meanwhile, Woolworths continues its decades-long partnership with charities like OzHarvest to divert unsold produce to community pantries.

However, asking shoppers for extra cash at the register is sparking growing frustration.

New research from Money.com.au reveals that 65 per cent of Australians believe it is “out of touch” or “unfair” for major supermarket chains to prompt customers for checkout donations while grocery prices and corporate profits remain high.

Furthermore, 80 per cent of shoppers report routinely hitting “No” at the register.

“For many Australians, it doesn’t feel right to be asked for a donation when major supermarket chains continue to post strong profits,” said Sean Callery, Head of Insights at Money.com.au.

“Being asked to support others when you’re struggling to support your own family can feel like a step too far.”

How to get (or give) help locally

If you or someone you know is struggling to put food on the table, you don’t have to wait until you are in a crisis. Organisations like The Salvation Army, Vinnies, local churches, and neighbourhood pantries provide assistance.

Most local services can be found on Facebook or via the Government Food Relief Service Finder, simply by entering your postcode.