Perspectives of Food Insecurity and Service Delivery amongst Emergency Food Relief Clients in a Regional City in Victoria, Australia

Table 1

Demographic characteristics of direct service recipients accessing emergency food relief and meals programmes in Ballarat, Victoria (n = 100).

Characteristics	Total n (%)
Male	53
Female	47
Age group
18–29 years	16
30–39 years	14
40–49 years	21
50–59 years	35
60–69 years	10
70–79 years	3
80–89 years	1
Households with children <18 years of age
Yes	26
No	74
Country of birth
Australia	87
New Zealand	4
United Kingdom	2
Other	6
Did not respond	1
Aboriginal and/or torres strait islander origin
Yes	10
No	90
Highest level of education
Primary school	2
High school	61
College/TAFE	32
University	5
Income source
Disability support pension	37
Newstart allowance	30
Parenting allowance	12
Youth allowance	7
Age pension	5
Carer allowance	2
Wages	3
Family and/or friends	2
Other	2
Fortnightly income amount ($AUD)
0–249	1
350–449	14
450–649	37
650–1049	35
More than 1050	8
Do not know	5
Accommodation
Rent private	41
Rent public housing	37
Own home/mortgage	9
Temporary accommodation	6
Sleep in car/Couch surf	5
Live on the street	2
Self-reported health status
Poor	25
Good	64
Excellent	11
Self- reported dental status
Poor	54
Good	36
Excellent	10
Food programme attending
Emergency food relief	36
Meal programs	18
Both	39
No response	7
Length of time attending services
Less than 1 year	28
1–5 years	47
6–10 years	11
11–20 years	7
Not specified	7

7 participants reported a second income source: 1 youth allowance; 1 disability; 1 aged pension; 3 Newstart; 1 carer.