New unpublished findings from the Australian Youth Barometer reveal the extent of food insecurity experienced by young Victorians in 2024.
The report, Young Australians' Experiences of Food Insecurity: A Spotlight on Victoria, outlines the struggles to access nutritious, culturally appropriate food by Victorians aged 18-24.
This report examines the drivers and impacts of food insecurity on young Victorians' lives, presenting the prevalence of food insecurity among young Victorians in comparison to national averages.
Food insecurity occurs when people lack regular and reliable social, economic and physical access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences, preventing them from leading a healthy and active life.
This year in Victoria:
- 16 per cent of Victorians aged 18–24 experienced food insecurity in the last year, compared with the national average of 17 per cent.
- 56 per cent of Victorians aged 18–24 were worried about not having enough to eat, slightly higher than the national average of 54 per cent.
- 60 per cent were unable to eat healthy and nutritious food, slightly higher than the national average of 58 per cent.
- 57 per cent were hungry but did not eat, compared with the national average of 58 per cent.
- 74 per cent could not go out to eat with friends or family due to a lack of money, higher than the national average of 70 per cent.
- 68 per cent ate only a few kinds of food, slightly higher than the national average of 66 per cent.
Co author of the report, Dr Thuc Bao Huynh from the Monash Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice said access to food is a human right.
"In a country such as Australia, it is unacceptable that young people do not have secure access to food that is appropriate to their needs," said Dr Huynh. More must be done to understand the causes of food insecurity, and to support young people in accessing this basic right.
"While food support is available, there is often a stigma around asking for help with food security. For support to be effective, these stigmas must be overcome."
Financial stability was a key driver of food insecurity with 46 per cent of the research participants experiencing financial difficulties and food insecurity. For many young people interviewed, being able to afford food was a key aspect of feeling financially secure.
"For me [financial security] means to be able to get all your basic necessities, like a house and to be able to pay your bills, get enough food for the week," said a 19 year old woman participant.
The report was co-authored by CYPEP Director Professor Lucas Walsh. "With rising costs of living, young Victorians are doing it particularly hard in relation to a basic necessity of life: food, which has flow on effects to their health and social lives. Young Victorians need support now," said Professor Walsh.
"Even though some of the findings are slightly better than the national average, the figures are still too high to ignore." To view Young Australians' Experiences of Food Insecurity: A Spotlight on Victoria, please visit: https://doi.org/10.26180/26502097
