Despite our reputation as the “lucky country”, the issue of hunger exists in Australia but is largely unnoticed. The reality is that 3.6 million Australians (15%) have experienced food insecurity at least once in the last 12 months. Three in five of these individuals experience food insecurity at least once a month.
Almost 25% of American adults are food insecure, a jump of about five percentage points from a year earlier as the double whammy of high inflation and the end of pandemic benefits squeezes more household budgets, according to a new study.
A growing number of our people cannot afford a daily nutritious meal. Research shows 2 million Australian households have experienced severe food insecurity. That means they have run out of food or gone a day without eating.
Foodbank provides food relief to over 1 million people per month but more than one in three food insecure Australians (38%) are not seeking food relief.
Key messages. In Australia, food security is not measured at a population level regularly or consistently. However, estimates suggest that between 4% and 13% of the general population are food insecure; and 22% to 32% of the Indigenous population, depending on location.
Australian consumers can be confident in our food security
Australia is one of the most food secure countries in the world, with ample supplies of safe, healthy food. The vast majority of our food is produced here in Australia, and domestic production more than meets our needs even during drought years.
Australia's exports are estimated to feed around 36.6 million people. When you add this figure to the population of the country, this means that Australian farmers feed around 61 million people overall. Breaking the figures down further, each Australian farmer produces sufficient food for 600 people for one year.
According to the 2021 Census, there were 1.46 million people (5.8% of the Australian population) who reported a core activity need for assistance.
Our 2022 Poverty in Australia Snapshot found that there are 3.3 million people (13.4%) living below the poverty line of 50% of median income, including 761,000 children (16.6%). In dollar figures, the poverty line works out to $489 a week for a single adult and $1,027 a week for a couple with 2 children.
Findings from this report: Governments in Australia spent $195.7 billion on welfare services and support in 2019–20. At 25 June 2021, 5.4 million people aged 16 and over received an income support payment.
While Australia is never going to be self-sufficient when it comes to oil, the government can improve the nation's physical energy security by, among other things, ensuring some refining capacity remains in Australia, and that the strategic petroleum reserve is increased.
Based on these trends Australia's population is projected to reach 35.9 million in 2050. Population growth, by supporting reduced ageing of the population and adding to the labour force, benefits the Australian economy but puts pressure on infrastructure, services and the environment.
Foodbank provides food relief to more than 815,000 Australians every month and distributes food and groceries to over 2,400 charities nationally.
Almost 3.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2020 – an increase of 112 million more people than in 2019, reflecting the higher costs of a healthy diet in 2020.
Another valuable resource for families struggling with food insecurity is the USDA National Hunger Hotline. This program can help you locate food assistance resources, like food banks and meal sites in your community. You can call 1-866-3-HUNGRY to speak with a representative.
Government Emergency Programs
If things are so rough for you that you can't afford food, I highly recommend you take advantage of any government programs you can. This can include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as food stamps), WIC and cash programs.
122,494 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness at the time of the 2021 Census, an increase of 6,067 people (5.2%) since 2016. The rate of homelessness decreased to 48 people per 10,000, from 50 in 2016. Of those experiencing homelessness in 2021: 68,516 (55.9%) were male, an increase of 1.6% from 2016.
Causes of poverty and inequality in Australia. A combination of factors contribute to poverty – a lack of money or resources for the basic needs of life – and inequality – unequal distribution of income and wealth.
The average yearly salary in Australia is 90,800 AUD (USD 60,355). Let's go through a few key indicators of the average earnings in Australia so you can fully understand salary statistics and trends in the country.
Governments across Australia fund services to support people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.
Four in 10 Aussies are experiencing some form of financial difficulty, NAB found. The number of Aussies under financial stress is at a three-year high, as households struggle with the rising cost of living and interest rate hikes.
Verdict. The proportion of Australian adults receiving cash payments is well below 50%. It is correct however, that about 50% of Australian households receive a government payment.
Despite our reputation as the “lucky country”, the issue of hunger exists in Australia but is largely unnoticed. The reality is that 3.6 million Australians (15%) have experienced food insecurity at least once in the last 12 months. Three in five of these individuals experience food insecurity at least once a month.
Water scarcity, heat stress and increased climatic variability in our most productive agricultural regions, such as the Murray Darling Basin, are key risks for our food security, economy, and dependent industries and communities.
Victoria's food and fibre export performance
The 2021-22 results cemented Victoria's position as Australia's largest food and fibre exporter by value, accounting for 26 per cent of the national total.