WORKING residents unable to afford food, volunteers who can no longer afford to help, and a meal service preparing to raise prices – Ipswich organisations say cost-of-living pressures are being felt on both sides of the kitchen door.
Goodna Street Life said more people were seeking food assistance for the first time as food poverty grows through our city, while Ipswich Meals on Wheels has lost volunteers to the rising cost of living.
“We’re seeing a lot more working everyday people that just can no longer afford to pay their rent and put food on their table,” said a spokesperson from Goodna Street Life.
“It’s pretty shocking.”
Their experiences come as new SecondBite research reveals 94 per cent of surveyed food-relief agencies nationally reported rising demand over the past year, while 67 per cent had turned people away.
The research showed how charity partners found 58 per cent reported increased demand from working people.
At Goodna Street Life, the spokesperson said enquiries were increasing.
“The calls that we get, they don’t stop,” they said.
One working woman, who had previously helped the organisation, called seeking food vouchers while caring for an elderly parent.
“She called all embarrassed … she didn’t know who else to speak to because she was trying to find some food vouchers – the distress is real.”
The spokesperson said several fridges had been switched off to contain costs, limiting torage capacity.
“We can barely keep our doors open and electricity on as it is,” they said.
“Anyone who is making claims about not having a crisis or that food poverty doesn’t exist, doesn’t know what they’re talking about because that’s absurd.”
At Ipswich Meals on Wheels, rising costs are affecting the people delivering meals.
“We’ve lost some of our volunteers because of the cost-of-living crisis,” a spokesperson said.
“Some of our volunteers are unable to afford to be able to volunteer for us anymore.”
The service expects to raise meal prices in the new year, with the spokesperson saying Federal funding wasn’t keeping pace with demand, although Ipswich City Council’s rates relief was making a difference.
Council announced close to $1 million in 2026-27 rates concessions for almost 70 community organisations, naming Ipswich Meals on Wheels among recipients.
“Unfortunately, though, with the costs of food and everything going up, we will be in the new year having to put our prices up for our clients.”
