United Nations Sustainable Development
Goal 2: Zero hunger
Students hunger interventions. Provide interventions to prevent or alleviate hunger among students.
UniSC has a comprehensive approach to addressing student food insecurity to prevent or alleviate hunger among students. This involves numerous UniSC areas: Student Wellbeing, Student Guild, Student Senate, and various external stakeholders and community organisations.
The UniSC Student Guild plays a pivotal role by offering free pantry services daily, ensuring students have access to essential groceries. Additionally, they promote options for low-cost groceries, food banks, and ready-made meals within the community, providing multiple avenues for students to obtain nutritious food. This collaborative effort highlights UniSC’s commitment to supporting student well-being and ensuring that no student goes hungry.
In 2024, the Emergency Food Bank:
- Operated across all five campuses, with walk-in access available five days a week at Sippy Downs and Petrie campuses.
- Provided food packages valued at approximately $50, containing 15–20 shelf-stable items.
- Supported by community partners including OzHarvest, SecondBite, Banjo’s Sippy Downs, and Urban Angels.
- Over 100kg of fresh produce and bread distributed weekly; ready-made meals included.
In addition to the food pantry, UniSC has partnered with local organisations to enhance its support network for students facing food insecurity. These partnerships enable the university to offer meal vouchers and emergency food relief packages. By collaborating with community groups and food banks, UniSC can extend its reach and provide more comprehensive assistance to students in need. In particular, 2024 activities included:
Free student dinners
- Organised 2–3 times per semester, with each dinner serving 150–200 students.
- Meals were made using food from SecondBite and OzHarvest.
- Partnerships with local KFC and RedBull representatives.
- Biopack compostable packaging is used.
- Cans are recycled.
- Ensured students had access to fresh, nutritious, full-sized meals while reducing food waste.
Brunch dates
- Weekly at Sippy Downs campus and fortnightly at Petrie campus, these sessions offered free breakfast items including pastries and baked goods.
- Reached 50–100 students per week, supported by donations from Banjo’s Sippy Downs.
- Helped reduce financial pressure on students and minimised food waste through redistribution.
UniSC also runs educational workshops and campaigns to raise awareness about food insecurity and promote healthy eating habits. These workshops cover topics such as budgeting for groceries, meal planning, and cooking nutritious meals on a tight budget. By equipping students with these essential skills, the university not only addresses immediate food needs but also empowers students to make sustainable, long-term changes to their eating habits.
Furthermore, the university has implemented a “Student Food Subsidy” program, where students at retail outlets on campus (Brasserie and Cafe C) can purchase a main hot meal for A$5.50-$6.50 and other subsidised items. This initiative utilises the funds derived from Student Services Amenities Fee, which the Federal government legislation determines can be spent on providing food or drink to students on a campus of the higher education provider.
Summary
UniSC collaborates with local businesses and restaurants to provide meal vouchers and discounts for students facing financial hardship. These partnerships enable students to access affordable meals off-campus, expanding their options for nutritious food. By integrating these various interventions, UniSC creates a supportive environment that prioritises the health and success of its students, ensuring that no one has to go hungry while pursuing their education.