Children are going hungry as cost of living crisis hits hard | 7.30

Summary

The video script highlights the growing issue of food insecurity among Australian families, particularly single-parent households. Misha, a mother of three, struggles to provide adequate food for her children, often relying on food banks. Hunger affects children's learning, with schools stepping in to offer meals. The Food Bank charity is overwhelmed by increasing demand for its services. Despite temporary relief during the pandemic, current government benefits remain insufficient, leaving families in poverty. Experts and advocates call for policy changes to address the rising cost of living, which many see as a matter of survival rather than living.

Takeaways

• 🥺 Misha, a single mother, struggles to provide enough food for her three boys, sometimes going hungry herself to ensure they have enough to eat.
• 📊 A 2022 survey by Food Bank revealed that 1.3 million Australian children experienced severe food insecurity in the past year, with families with children and single-parent households being the most affected.
• 🧒 Professor Sharon Bessel's research indicates that hunger among children is likely under-reported, as they often hide it to avoid causing their parents to skip meals.
• 🏭 A food bank in Sydney's outskirts is struggling to keep up with the demand for its school breakfast program, which has seen a 50% increase in demand over the last year.
• 📈 The food bank is facing supply chain and cost pressures, making it increasingly difficult to secure stock to meet the growing demand.
• 🏫 A primary school in South Australia recognizes the impact of hunger on learning, noting that hungry children can be irritable, tired, and unable to concentrate.
• 🍞 The school provides breakfast, lunch, and sometimes food to take home, aiming to ensure that lack of food is not a barrier to education.
• 🙎‍♀️ South Australia's Children's Commissioner, Helen Connolly, advocates for schools nationwide to offer free lunches to all children.
• 💼 Tiffany, a single mother in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, finds it challenging to afford food for her three children, even before the cost of living crisis.
• 📉 The temporary doubling of the job seeker allowance during the pandemic provided relief, but its reduction has pushed many back into poverty.
• 🏛️ The government has not committed to a permanent increase in unemployment benefits, which, despite rising with inflation, are still insufficient to cover the basic needs of many.

Q & A

What is the primary challenge Misha faces when it comes to packing school lunches for her children?

Misha struggles to pack enough food in her children's lunch boxes because of limited resources, often relying on part-time work, government benefits, and charities to make ends meet.

How does Misha cope with food shortages at home?

Misha often skips meals herself so her children can eat, and sometimes relies on very basic meals like cereal or toast for dinner.

What did the 2022 Food Bank survey reveal about food insecurity among Australian children?

The survey revealed that 1.3 million Australian children experienced severe food insecurity in the previous 12 months, with families with children and single-parent households being the most affected.

How do children often react to their hunger according to Professor Sharon Bessel's study?

Children, sometimes as young as seven, often hide their hunger because they know their parents, particularly their mothers, are also hungry and do not want to add to their stress.

What challenge does the Food Bank face in keeping up with the demand for its School Breakfast Program?

The Food Bank is struggling to meet growing demand, having served 1.5 million breakfasts in the past 12 months, while dealing with supply chain issues, rising costs, and difficulties in getting stock.

What are the effects of hunger on children’s ability to learn, according to the South Australian Primary School?

Hunger makes children irritable, tired, and unable to concentrate. It can also lead to distractions, lethargy, stomach aches, and even cause some children to avoid coming to school.

What does South Australia's Children's Commissioner, Helen Connolly, propose to address food insecurity in schools?

Helen Connolly suggests that schools across Australia should provide free lunches to all children to ensure they receive their main meal of the day.

How has the rising cost of living affected Tiffany, a single mother in the New South Wales Southern Highlands?

Tiffany struggles to afford food and rarely eats three full meals a day due to the rising cost of living, despite receiving jobseeker payments and family tax benefits.

What impact did the temporary increase in unemployment benefits during the pandemic have on people like Tiffany?

The temporary increase of $550 per fortnight during the pandemic allowed Tiffany to afford more and live with a sense of respect, but when the payment was reduced, she and others were pushed back into poverty.

What are the main critiques of the government's response to food insecurity in Australia?

Critics argue that the current level of unemployment benefits is not enough to live on, and although the government provides funding to food relief charities, there is a call for a permanent increase in benefits to address the root of poverty and food insecurity.