Food Security in a Regional Area of Australia: A Socio-economic Perspective

Abstract

While Australia is considered to be a highly food-secure nation, some populations are more vulnerable to food insecurity than others and this applies to Tasmania, an island state of Australia. The aim of this study was to highlight food security issues in the two local government areas of Dorset and Clarence in Tasmania, Australia. This paper reports on the key quantitative findings of the project with a focus on food access and food utilisation, and their association with socio-economic factors. Quantitative data were collected from a total of 835 survey participants using a questionnaire developed in close consultation with service provider organizations as well as public health and nutrition experts. The study revealed 53 (6.6%) residents were at the low food security and 18 (2.1%) who literally went without food. The significant correlations between low food security and socio-economic factors evidenced in the study further suggested that the low-food security residents were more likely to come from the more vulnerable groups of low income families (χ2= 42.528, df = 6, p < 0.05), the younger and older population groups (χ2= 12.361, df = 5, p < 0.05) or those living in socio-economically disadvantaged rural areas (χ2= 165.9, df =7, p < 0.05). A link between physical and financial access was clearly indicated due to high fuel cost (44.4%) which was the most common barrier reported among those who used personal vehicles for travelling to and from food shops. The study findings help to direct strategic policies to food security for the future of Tasmanians such as the "Food for all Tasmanians" strategy by the Tasmanian Food Security Council which focuses on ensuring social food equity for all Tasmanians. These strategies include promoting publicly funded community cars, promoting local produce and food access initiatives such as increased farm gate sales, farmer markets, food cooperatives, community gardens and growing and swapping produce within communities.

The Association between Stressful Events and Food Insecurity: Cross-Sectional Evidence from Australia

“…For example, homeless or ‘at risk’ youth [ 58 ], students [ 10 , 59 ], refugees [ 60 , 61 ], children or families with young children [ 19 , 20 , 21 ], Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders [ 23 , 62 ], older Australians [ 14 , 16 , 22 , 23 , 63 , 64 ], those living in disadvantaged suburbs [ 20 , 65 ] or middle-income groups [ 11 ]. Most Australian studies also focus on cities or states: Adelaide and South Australia [ 9 , 58 ], Sydney and New South Wales [ 14 , 20 , 22 , 63 ] Brisbane Queensland [ 10 , 17 , 65 ] Melbourne and Victoria [ 11 , 15 ] or Tasmania and the Northern Territory [ 18 , 19 ]. There are very few Australian quantitative studies seeking a nationally representative view of the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity [ 7 , 16 ].…”

“…However, the experience of food insecurity is not evenly spread throughout the Australian population, with a growing number of studies showing that constellations of socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors are associated with food insecurity. For example, young age, being divorced or separated, low income, low education, low financial resources, a high number of resident children, poor health, not owning your home, being unemployed, being an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and measures of spatial disadvantage are all associated with experiencing food insecurity in Australia [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Do Not “Let Them Eat Cake”: Correlation of Food-Consumption Patterns among Rural Primary School Children from Welfare and Non-Welfare Households

“…In addition, when examining regional, rural, and remote contexts, other geographical factors may also contribute to this phenomenon. These factors include distance to purchase food, the availability of public transport, the short shelf-life of fresh food, increased transport costs being passed on to consumers, and rural consumers previously experiencing food shortages [ 5 ].…”

“…Low consumption of fruits and vegetables is more prevalent in low-socioeconomic populations [ 4 ]. Physical and financial access to food has been clearly shown to affect food consumption [ 5 ]. Food literacy, or knowledge of healthy eating, may also affect food choices and methods of preparation and consumption [ 5 ].…”

“…Physical and financial access to food has been clearly shown to affect food consumption [ 5 ]. Food literacy, or knowledge of healthy eating, may also affect food choices and methods of preparation and consumption [ 5 ]. Other social determinants, such as educational attainment, employment, income, gender, and socioeconomic status, also influence food choice and food consumption [ 6 , 7 ].…”