New research from a comprehensive household survey reveals lack of access to healthy food options, demand for more locally grown food
A wide-ranging survey of households throughout the Illawarra and Shoalhaven has revealed that more than a third have experienced food insecurity over the past year.
It is a startling figure that underscores the damage wrought by the cost-of-living crisis as many families face challenges in accessing enough food.
Dr Katherine Kent and Professor Karen Charlton, nutrition and dietetics experts from the University of Wollongong's (UOW) Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems Research Group, have spent the last six months examining the state of our plates to find out exactly what people think about the Illawarra and Shoalhaven's food environment.
The Let's Talk About Food Survey, which is the largest of its kind in the region, provided an in-depth analysis of such topics as access to healthy food options, food insecurity, where households shop, what influences their grocery choices, dietary habits, their views on urban farming and community gardens, and how rising food prices have affected families.
Conducted in collaboration with Food Fairness Illawarra and Healthy Cities Illawarra, the survey exposed the ongoing battle that households face in accessing healthy, nutritious, and affordable food choices locally. The survey was sent out to close to 10,000 random households across the Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven local government areas, with the researchers receiving more than 700 responses.
The survey revealed more than a third of households in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven were experiencing food insecurity with many respondents citing the rising cost of grocery prices as the key factor influencing their food choices.
Adequate access to safe and nutritious food for healthy development and growth is a human right, defined by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.
"The cost of buying regular groceries has also gone up and changes the way we shop … some weeks there has not been enough to pay bills AND food. [It is] one or the other," a female from Figtree told the researchers.
Twelve per cent of households have experienced severe food insecurity meaning they are skipping meals, experiencing hunger, while 27 per cent were marginally or moderately food insecure, suggesting they are struggling to keep food on the table. These figures are higher among more vulnerable groups: young adults aged 18 to 24 (61 per cent); people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds (56 per cent); single parents (63 per cent); and those who are unemployed (69 per cent) or earning less than $500 per week (59 per cent).
Concerningly, up to 30 per cent of households with children are struggling to afford a balanced diet for their children.
"What the research found was that parents will go without to ensure their kids have enough food, or they will stop offering their children greater variety in their meals, which has a knock-on effect on their health," Dr Kent said.
"Parents often shield their children from the worst impacts by skipping meals, eating less, or making other sacrifices to ensure their kids have enough to eat. However, when food insecurity becomes severe, children are inevitably affected. In a modern society where food waste is also a huge issue, this is truly not good enough."
Professor Karen Charlton and Dr Katherine Kent.
The cost of groceries and the availability of healthy food options in an environment goes hand in hand with food insecurity, Professor Charlton said.
"The community food environment in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions matters because it influences the dietary choices and overall health of its residents. Easy access to shops and restaurants that offer affordable and healthy food options encourages better eating habits, which can prevent chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes and heart disease."
The Let's Talk About Food results capture a divide between the different regions. More participants from Wollongong (70 per cent) and Shellharbour (65 per cent) agreed that there were enough shops with healthy food available in their neighbourhood compared to those in Shoalhaven (53 per cent) and Kiama (50 per cent).
Respondents in the Shoalhaven and Kiama reported greater concerns about the cost of food, with only 14 per cent of respondents, regardless of region, believing there are enough food assistance programs to help those who are struggling with food insecurity.
Access to farmers markets or spaces where residents can grow their own food is also an area ripe for improvement, the researchers said.
Kiama came out strongest with close to 60 per cent of respondents agreeing there was enough local food availability, while this was an area of deep dissatisfaction in participants from Wollongong and Shellharbour, at 12.5 per cent and 8 per cent respectively. However, overall, only 16 per cent of households, regardless of region, believe there are enough spaces where residents can grow their own food.
In addition to reducing food costs and providing access to healthier fruit and vegetables, community gardens teach vital skills that have become lost in a busy modern society, promote sustainability, and take advantage of the temperate climate in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
"There is a strong demand for expanding farmers markets and food hubs to increase access to fresh, locally grown produce, as well as strengthening food affordability initiatives and community food programs," Dr Kent said.
The researchers are calling for a Regional Food Strategy to ensure equitable access to food, support local products, and integrate food security into broader development plans.
