The latest data found 18 per cent of residents in the region, which includes Campaspe Shire, were experiencing low or very low food security.
The figure shows nearly one in five surveyed faced challenges in accessing enough nutritious food over the past 12 months, and has almost doubled since 2019.
This year’s survey included a more comprehensive set of questions on food insecurity than previous years to capture a deeper understanding of the issues in the region.
Respondents were asked about experiences, such as worrying food would run out, being unable to afford balanced meals, and reducing meal size or skipping meals due to financial constraints.
Healthy Loddon Campaspe spokesperson Jess Howard said the findings were relevant, as food insecurity could be especially challenging over the holidays.
“Everyone in the community has the right to access sufficient healthy, affordable food to support their health and wellbeing,” she said.
“These early findings give us a clearer picture of the scale of the problem and will help inform future planning and action.”
Ms Howard said in-depth local data was rare, and could be used to make informed decisions on how best to help those experiencing the complex issue of food insecurity.
Certain community groups were found more likely to be impacted by the problem, including females, young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those who identify as neurodivergent.
“It is also more prevalent among those with lower levels of education, people experiencing financial hardship and individuals requiring help with daily activities,” Ms Howard said.
Healthy Loddon Campaspe works with local organisations to support food relief through programs, community lunches and its Flourish Regional Food System Framework.
Detailed findings from its annual report will break down regional figures when released next year.
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