Working families in Ballarat choose between food and Christmas gifts
More than half of food-insecure households have someone in paid work. Yet economic pressure is squeezing families.
Ballarat families are choosing between feeding their kids or buying presents as Christmas approaches. The annual Christmas Appeal is raising $100,000 for food parcels, groceries and gifts.
More than half of food-insecure households across Australia have someone in paid work. One in ten households earning $90,000 skip meals daily.
Andrew Eales is the Ballarat Foundation chief executive. He said economic pressure on families is the toughest he has seen in many years.
Local food relief services saw demand rise 11.74 percent in the past year.
- $100,000
- Appeal target
- 60 percent
- Working food-insecure households
- 10 percent of those earning $90,000
- High-income households skipping meals
- 11.74 percent
- Relief demand increase
Why it mattersWorking Australians can no longer afford basics. Full-time jobs don't guarantee food security. They don't guarantee a family Christmas either.
AustraliaBallarat and communities across Australia are seeing record numbers of working families access emergency food relief for the first time, signalling widespread economic strain beyond unemployment.
