New research from the Australian Council of Social Service found 95 per cent of people receiving income support payments were struggling to cover grocery costs, while 74 per cent had cut back on food or gone without meals.
Shepparton Foodshare chief executive Dee Healey said the findings reflected what the organisation was seeing locally.
“The demand just continues to rise,” she said.
During the 2025/26 financial year, Shepparton Foodshare distributed the equivalent of about 1.4 million meals, an almost 50 per cent increase on the previous year.
That followed increases of about 30 per cent in each of the two years prior.
Ms Healey said rising food, fuel and housing costs were pushing some people to seek food relief for the first time.
“It isn’t surprising considering the cost-of-living pressures,” she said.
“We’re just seeing this rise across the community of people really struggling to cover their grocery costs, which is really what the report calls out.”
ACOSS also found 90 per cent of people receiving income support said it had left them socially isolated, with many avoiding social gatherings and seeing family and friends less often.
Ms Healey said financial hardship could have significant social impacts.
“When people avoid social gatherings, we know that results in very poor health outcomes for people across the community,” she said.
“Part of what we do at Shepparton Foodshare is distributed food to community meal programs.
“Socially isolated people then have got an avenue to be able to connect as well as get a healthy meal.”
ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie said many people were struggling to see a way out of financial hardship.
“People are skipping meals, falling behind on rent and cutting themselves off from the people they love. This should not be happening in one of the wealthiest countries in the world,” she said.
JobSeeker is $404 a week and Youth Allowance is $342 a week, both below the poverty line of $584 a week and the National Minimum Wage of $1005 a week.
ACOSS is calling on the Federal Government to increase JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment and related income support, raise the maximum threshold for Commonwealth Rent Assistance, and reform pensions and income supplements.
Ms Healey said she supported the recommendations and called for continued community support for Shepparton Foodshare.
“We can only give out what we get in,” she said.
Find out more about supporting Shepparton Foodshare at sheppartonfoodshare.org.au/you-can-help
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