New research released by the Give Where You Live Foundation has revealed increasing pressure on local food relief services, with 72% of organisations reporting demand for food support has increased over the past 12 months.
The Foundation’s latest Food for Thought research, developed in collaboration with Deakin University, is being launched as part of the 2026 Feed Geelong Appeal, running from 12–18 October.
The research provides an important snapshot of food insecurity across the Geelong region and the growing challenges facing local community organisations responding to increasing demand.
The research found 72% of surveyed organisations had experienced an increase in demand for food support, while 82% of those reported challenges in responding to that demand. More than half of organisations surveyed had been forced to turn people away due to limited capacity, food supplies, staffing or funding.
Give Where You Live Foundation CEO Zac Lewis said the findings highlighted the increasing pressure being felt by households across the region.
“Geelong continues to experience strong population and economic growth, but the benefits of that growth are not being experienced equally across our community,” Mr Lewis said.
“For many people, the rising cost of housing, food and other everyday essentials means household budgets simply aren’t stretching far enough.”
“What this research tells us is that food insecurity is not only increasing, but it is also affecting people who may never have previously needed to seek support.”
The research found 58% of organisations were seeing new cohorts seeking food relief, including working families, middle-income households and people accessing services for the first time.
It also highlights the scale of food insecurity across the region. Food insecurity in the Barwon area increased from 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022, while in 2024 almost one in 10 Greater Geelong residents reported running out of food and being unable to afford more.
Mr Lewis said the findings reinforced the importance of addressing both immediate food relief needs and the underlying causes of food insecurity.
“Food insecurity is about much more than food. It is closely connected to the cost of housing, income, transport and people’s ability to access affordable, healthy and nutritious food,” he said.
“Emergency food relief plays an incredibly important role in supporting people when they need it most, but we also need to look at how we create longer-term change.”
“At the Foundation, our approach is to respond to immediate need while also investing in solutions that can strengthen food security across our region into the future.”
Food security is one of the Give Where You Live Foundation’s key areas of impact, alongside housing justice and inclusive employment.
Through its Feed Geelong initiative, community grant funding and Community Choice voucher program, the Foundation supports local organisations and provides people experiencing financial pressure with greater choice and dignity in accessing food and other essentials.
In 2024/25, the Foundation provided more than $1.1 million to 45 community partner organisations across food security and homelessness assistance.
The Foundation is also investing in longer-term approaches through initiatives including The Paddock, its seven-acre community farm in Leopold, and a new partnership with Feed Me to support community-led food production and contribute to a stronger and more sustainable local food system.
Mr Lewis said the Food for Thought research would help inform the Foundation’s future investment and provide an evidence base for broader community action.
“This research gives us a clearer understanding of what is happening in our community and, importantly, where there are opportunities for us to work collectively to make a difference,” he said.
“No single organisation can address food insecurity alone. It requires government, community organisations, businesses, researchers and our broader community working together.”
“Our region already has strong foundations for this collaboration, and Food for Thought gives us further evidence to help guide that collective response.”
The Food for Thought research was undertaken by Deakin University researchers Fiona McKay and Bolanle Olajide, with more than 30 local community organisations contributing their knowledge and experiences.
The Feed Geelong Appeal runs from 12–18 October, raising funds to support food relief programs across the Geelong region and helping local organisations provide food, meals and other essential support to people experiencing food insecurity.
“Through research, investment, collaboration and action, we can continue to strengthen food security across our region and work towards a future where everyone has access to healthy and nutritious food,” Mr Lewis said.
To make a donation or get involved visit https://www.givewhereyoulive.com.au
Read the full Food for Thought Report here