- The Guardian
- Issue #2120
Poverty in Sydney. Photo: Carey Ciuro – flickr.com (CC BY-NC 2.0)
New research from charity Good360 Australia reveals an unprecedented surge in community demand for non-food aid, with 82 per cent of charities reporting that demand for essential items like hygiene products, clothing, furniture, and education supplies is higher than ever before. As the cost of living crisis continues to impact Australians, 84 per cent of charities across Australia expect the year ahead to be tougher and the demand for non-food aid to increase further.
The Good360 Australia Communities in Need Report features new research into the concerns and challenges of charities and disadvantaged schools nationwide, alongside Good360’s latest donation data, and paints a stark picture of the impact the cost of living crisis is having across Australia. With 65 per cent of charities unable to meet the demand for non-food aid in their communities and 60 per cent witnessing a broader range of people needing support, the findings underscore the critical and growing need for non-food aid.
Good360 donation data reveals a 40 per cent surge in the value of new, donated essential items delivered to people in need via Good360’s charity network in the last financial year, the highest on record. In addition, Good360 saw an 11 per cent increase in charities and schools seeking support, highlighting the escalating need in the community.
The research also reveals the types of items in highest demand, with personal hygiene products (76 per cent), clothing (72 per cent), and educational supplies (69 per cent) topping the list.
Alison Covington AM, Founder and Managing Director of Good360 Australia, says the findings emphasise the urgency of addressing the rising demand for non-food aid.
“The cost of living crisis is pushing more Australians to the brink, and we are seeing a significant increase in the number of people turning to charities for help. The reality is that our communities need more than just food; they need everyday essentials that contribute to a dignified life.
“It’s not just the volume of need that’s concerning, but the fact that 58 per cent of charities have reported a rise in people seeking help for the first time. We need to do more to ensure that all Australians, regardless of their circumstances, have access to the essentials. This includes items to support personal hygiene, for education, for living comfortably at home, and for play,” said Covington.
Looking ahead, the research found that deteriorating economic conditions and the cost of living tops the list of charity concerns (89 per cent), followed by declining donations and fundraising challenges (65 per cent) and not having enough donated goods to support people in need (62 per cent). It also found that 89 per cent of charities surveyed think governments could be doing more to help people in need, while 85 per cent believe retailers and businesses could be doing more (e.g. by donating excess or unsold goods).
“The situation is becoming increasingly untenable for so many Australians,” said Covington.
“Meanwhile we know that $2.5 billion of unsold essential household goods are unnecessarily wasted each year. There’s so much more we can do to reduce both need and waste in our community, including by working with more retailers to donate more excess or unsold goods to people who need it most.
