With food insecurity rising across the region, a newly established Illawarra Shoalhaven Food Futures Taskforce is taking urgent action to ensure everyone has access to healthy, sustainable, and culturally appropriate food.
New research led by Professor Karen Charlton and Dr Katherine Kent of the University of Wollongong reveal alarming trends in food insecurity. These findings, recently published, and as mentioned in Illawarra Mercury's articles "Kids Going Hungry" and "Coping with the Bite of High Food Costs" highlight the growing number of families skipping meals or struggling to afford nutritious food due to rising living costs.
The "Let's Talk About Food" survey, conducted with >600 households in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions found that:
- Over a third (38%) of Illawarra and Shoalhaven households experienced food insecurity over the past year, with 12% severely
- In households with children, 30% of parents/caregivers said they were worried or unable to afford balanced meals for their
- Over 70% of people surveyed at community centres in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven were experiencing food insecurity, including their
In response, a coalition of community leaders, health professionals, academics, and local organisations has established the Illawarra Shoalhaven Food Futures Taskforce. This initiative aims to ensure that every individual in the region has access to healthy, sustainable, and culturally appropriate food.
The Taskforce recognises that addressing food insecurity requires a multifaceted approach. Through collaboration, advocacy, and community-driven solutions, the Taskforce will work to:
- Strengthen local food production
- Improve food distribution networks
- Enhance access to affordable, healthy food
- Address systemic barriers through policy change
With taskforce members comprising of organisations involved in the academic, lived-experience and Government engagement spaces, the collective group aims to revitalise the Illawarra Regional Food Strategy
2013 – 2019, positively engage with key stakeholders leading to policy and funding change and boost community awareness of our region's local food systems.
RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven's Chief Executive Officer Selena Stevens, said the critical role the taskforce plays goes beyond awareness and advocacy, it's about creating lasting change, commenting: "Our goal is to create an enduring food system which equitably supports the health, well-being and social cohesion of our community,"
"One of the key priorities of RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven is to ensure that social cohesion is front and centre in key decision making across industry and all three levels of government – access to food, or lack thereof has many implications on the individual strands in our region's economic fabric."
Dr Katherine Kent, co-lead of the Let's Talk About Food survey and senior lecturer at the University of Wollongong, said: "For too long, the scale of food insecurity in our region has been underestimated. This survey has given us local evidence and a clear mandate for action."
"My research will continue to gather the data needed to inform evidence-based actions—ensuring that solutions are grounded in the real experiences of our communities."
The members are:
Professor Karen Charlton: UOW
Dr Katherine Kent: UOW
Ms Suzanne Pickles: UOW
Mr Alemayehu Gebramium: UOW
Ms Donna Rogers: Community Industry Group Mr Ash Castro: Warrawong Resident Forum Ms Susan Wallis: Good360
Ms Kelly Andrews: Healthy Cities Australia
Ms Grace Potter: Healthy Cities Australia
Ms Selena Stevens: RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven
Ms Leah Marley: RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Food Futures Taskforce calls upon community members, local businesses, and government entities to join in this vital mission. By working together, we can build a resilient food system that ensures the health and well-being of all residents, now and for future generations.
