Navigating Food Insecurity and Relief Services for Higher Education Students

Food insecurity is a growing concern across higher education campuses, impacting both students and staff alike. For many, the struggle to afford consistent, nutritious meals can affect mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being. Recognising this, organisations like UNSA - University of Newcastle Students' Association have taken action, introducing accessible food relief services that address both immediate needs and long-term support.

The Scope of Food Insecurity on Campus

As evidenced in our recent Q3 Report, there remains a critical demand for food relief services and an ongoing issue of service upkeep. So far, UNSA have provided approximately 30,000 free lunches across multiple campuses—Callaghan, NUspace, Ourimbah, Gosford, Sydney, and HMRI—since the beginning of 2024. Each week, the Callaghan campus alone serves over 500 free coffees, offering students and staff a welcoming space to relax and connect, even if finances are tight.

Programs like Free Food Friday (supported by our partner OzHarvest ) are also helping hundreds of students each week to meet their basic needs without additional marketing or outreach, as word-of-mouth has driven attendance to a steady 120 participants per week rain, hail or shine. For many, these services provide more than just a meal—they create a foundation for personal stability and resilience. For service delivery organisations such as ours, the pressure to meet the demand on services continues to create challenges and the necessity to overcome operational complexities. This article aims to provide ideas for implementation by those working within higher education as a way to share the collective burden of addressing food insecurity among students.

UNSA’s Food Relief Strategy: Building Comprehensive Food Relief Services

To respond effectively to food insecurity, UNSA have designed a range of services tailored to the unique needs of university students and in limited cases, staff:

1. Free Lunch Programs – Offered consistently across all campuses, UNSA’s free lunches cater to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, creating access to nutritious meals in a supportive environment. Although there are many different formats you can follow, below are some of our favourites which seem to yield the best results for students:

BBQs & Beats

For UNSA, our go to offering for lunches is a BBQ as they are a cost effective way to feed many mouths and require less staffing and resources than other alternatives. At Callaghan, UNSA run a BBQ once per week on Wednesdays and typically provide a minimum of 600-700 serves. PRO TIP: for greater student engagement, make your free lunches as frequent and consistent as possible. Holding your food event on the same day/time each week will allow students to learn the schedule and align their activities to your event.

When planning a BBQ, make sure to stock up on gluten free options (bread & protein) as well as halal and vegan friendly alternatives- it's 2024 you can do it! UNSA also organise a student DJ or musician to play alongside our food event to make for a more engaging atmosphere and draw card- hire students for gigs!!

Grab & Go

At other campuses, we utilise a "grab & go" system with pre-packed snacky type lunches (or girl dinners for our Gen Zs) which contain fruit, a drink, noodles, sweet treat and a savory treat. We utilise this kind of lunch type at campuses with less social atmosphere and a more academic focused schedule i.e. Gosford or Sydney campuses where students don't tend to have time to stick around and chat so a grab and go is best. This is an excellent option for those wanting to connect more 1:1 with students and requires only minimal preparation.

Pizza or Sandwiches

Much like the tried and true BBQ, pizza and sandwiches are a great option to feed the masses but per serve can work out quite expensive. As such, UNSA largely reserve these kinds of lunches for special events or later in the Semester to align with Stress Less activities and exam preparation. You can elect to hand out entire pizzas or a few slices per person but either way they're a hit.

2. Grocery Hub (Pantry) – A grocery hub operates on the Callaghan, NUspace and Ourimbah campuses, supported by a streamlined booking system that allows students to reserve essential grocery items. This easy-to-use system not only simplifies access but provides students with an additional support layer through email reminders and resources. UNSA's Pantry is supported by donations from community and University of Newcastle staff as well as a significant allocation of funds within our operations budget. On average, UNSA conservatively supports 60 students per week at Callaghan, 10-15 students per week at NUspace and 5 students per week at Ourimbah- that's another 80 students per week.

The important aspect of this program is to refer students to existing financial and wellbeing support services external to UNSA to ensure appropriate and more substantial support can be offered to the student. It is helpful to link in with your institution's counselling and wellbeing service to develop a fit for purpose referral process.

3. Food and Beverage Events – Events like UNSA’s Clubs Market, parties and expos offer affordable or additional free food options on campus. At a recent market, some stalls quickly sold out due to overwhelming demand, underscoring the importance of providing affordable, accessible meals to students on campus. UNSA parties also include a free food component for event attendees from both a safety standpoint and a welfare lens. Basically- make food a priority and the students will come. Food trucks are your friend.

Supporting Dignity in Food Relief

When creating food relief programs, maintaining a sense of dignity and respect is essential. For UNSA, this means creating an inclusive, judgment-free environment where every student member feels comfortable seeking support. Here are some ways UNSA ensures dignity:

• Privacy and Ease of Access: The use of online booking systems, such as Microsoft Bookings for the Callaghan Grocery Hub, enables students to access services discreetly and in a manner that fits their schedules.
• No-Questions-Asked Policy: All UNSA food services are freely accessible without requiring proof of need. This approach removes stigma, encouraging students who might otherwise hesitate to participate.
• Community-Building Events: By creating welcoming events like Free Food Friday or free coffee sessions, UNSA fosters a sense of belonging and shared experience, turning food relief into a positive community-building effort rather than an experience rooted in scarcity.
• Education & Continuous Improvement: All UNSA staff and volunteers are committed to a continuous improvement model of learning and working. We take the time to speak with students, hear them, learn about the factors which influence insecurity and regularly review our existing models to ensure compliance with best practice.

Creating a Lasting Impact

Food insecurity is an ongoing challenge, but with proactive initiatives and community support, higher education institutions can make a significant difference. UNSA’s example shows that even small programs can have a substantial impact, creating both immediate and lasting support for students and staff alike.

Navigating food insecurity is a shared responsibility, and it’s encouraging to see other campus organisations taking meaningful steps to ensure no one has to choose between their education and their next meal. For students, these programs provide not only sustenance but also an essential layer of dignity and community that can make all the difference.

If you're looking for ideas or more information on how UNSA run any of our services or where to get started, please reach out to either [email protected] or directly on LinkedIn and we'd be happy to help get you started!

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