“Food is the Glue”: Community Centres in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Use Food as a Gateway to Supporting Wellbeing & Connection

This evidence brief presents a comparative analysis of the "Let's Talk About Food" survey results, examining the differing responses from individuals who engaged through community centres versus those who responded online or via postal methods. Community centres act as key referral hubs, linking individuals with a wide network of support that extends beyond immediate food relief.

The data presented highlights that people attending community centres experience a higher severity of food insecurity (73% of adults and 73% of children), poorer diets and deal with more serious health issues than the wider community. Despite these challenges, they report a higher level of community support— likely a reflection of their direct engagement with these centres.

The pivotal role of community centres in supporting individuals facing these challenges is highlighted, demonstrating that “food is the glue”. Despite being under-resourced in their efforts to provide food relief, community centres find that food paves the way for connecting people to other critical support services, including healthcare, employment resources, education, and mental health care.

In response to these findings, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Food Futures Taskforce was established, bringing together stakeholders from local government, community organisations, health services, and food relief agencies to collaborate on integrated strategies addressing food insecurity and its associated health impacts across the region.