Foodbank Australia hits major milestone through power of partnership

Putting food on the table has become harder for many Australians.

According to Foodbank Australia's 2025 Hunger Report, one in 3 Australian households experienced food insecurity in the past year. Rising living costs, housing stress and unexpected bills are forcing many people to make hard choices between basic needs. For many families, this struggle happens quietly and behind closed doors.

'Food insecurity is not something we often speak about as Australians. But it's affecting people from all walks of life.'

Foodbank Australia CEO, Kylea Tink

As demand continues to grow, Foodbank Australia is working to make sure people can get the food and support they need. 

Since 2002, Foodbank and its network have delivered the equivalent of 1.2 billion meals to Australians who need support. This is an important milestone. 

It also shows how great the need still is. Of those 1.2 billion meals, they delivered 92 million in the past 12 months alone.

As demand rises, Foodbank has also changed the way they work. It now does more than rely on donated food. Through its Collaborative Supply Program, Foodbank works directly with growers, manufacturers, transport providers and suppliers. They also work with a national network of nearly 3,000 charities, schools and community organisations, and with government partners. Together, they help get food to people quickly, reliably and with dignity.

Support from Australian Government and other funders has helped strengthen this approach. The Department of Social Services fund Foodbank Australia to help Emergency Relief providers access affordable food. This partnership helps more Australians get the support they need during hard times. It also helps Foodbank to source food directly and makes funding go further. For every $1 invested, they deliver about $7 worth of food to communities.

‘These partnerships are what make the response possible,’ Kylea said. ‘They help us reach people where they are, often before they're in a deeper crisis.’

Behind the scenes, these partnerships solve complex problems. Together, partners help find food, package it, store it and deliver it.

One recent example involved a large donation of oats. Partners helped turn the oats into more than 54,000 individual packets and distributed these across the country. This only happened because several partners worked together, with each sharing their expertise so the food could get to people in need.

'It's a shared effort and everyone plays a role. When partners work together like this, we can turn opportunities into real outcomes.'

Foodbank Chief Marketing and External Affairs Officer, Helen Paynter

We see the real impact of these partnerships in the lives they help.

Earlier this year, severe flooding in the Northern Territory cut off access to essential services. Foodbank worked with partners to help the Tennant Creek community prepare. They sourced a temperature-protected emergency relief container, and ensured vital supplies of water, food and shelter were available when needed most.

In South Australia, partnerships helped in a different way.

A working family, struggling with rising living costs, was referred by their child's school to a local Foodbank-supported service. There, they were able to access affordable groceries in a space designed to provide dignity, choice and support.

‘I saw that couple walk into a place where they could choose what they needed,’ Kylea said. ‘They filled their trolley, walked to their car and left knowing they could provide for their family.’

These stories show that no single organisation can solve food insecurity alone. While donated food is critical, partnerships are playing a bigger role in helping communities access essential items.

By working with government, industry, community organisations and local services, Foodbank is helping build stronger, more resilient communities across Australia.

'Australians often believe there's always somebody worse off who needs the help more. But these services are here for anyone who needs them, and partnerships are so important in ensuring support reaches the people who need it most.'

Foodbank Australia CEO, Kylea Tink

Through shared commitment, innovation and collaboration, Foodbank and its partners are connecting communities and helping more Australians put food on the table.

More information

Learn more about Supporting people in financial crises.