Beyond Food Relief: Thinking Outside the Box to Promote Student Food Security

SESSION OVERVIEW

The COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis have thrust students’ food struggles into the spotlight. Student unions and universities have responded with food relief initiatives such as food pantries, frozen meals, and free breakfasts. These initiatives are important for meeting the immediate and pressing needs of students currently under immense pressure.

However, how sustainable are these initiatives in the long term? How might we push for food security for all students, not just now, but future generations too?

This will be an interactive session drawing on our ongoing research exploring food insecurity in higher education across Australia. We’ll facilitate a conversation that pushes attendees to think about how we could promote student food security in ways that go beyond food relief and free food. We’ll draw on examples from around the world and discuss how they could apply
to the Australian context.

Session Outcomes

1. Understand the limits to current food relief approaches from the perspective of students and organisations.

2. Explore and consider alternative approaches and examples from around the world.

3. Imagine a different approach to food and student welfare in Australian higher education.

4. Explore the role of student groups, organisations and university administration in advocating for and implementing this change.

PRESENTERS

Sara Guest

Sara is a PhD candidate in Social Geography at the University of Melbourne. Her research examines the everyday experiences of food insecure university students in Melbourne. She’s previously been involved in projects exploring food and higher education in Australia, developing toolkits and policy recommendations, as well as working with Study Melbourne, Just Food and other student organisations.  

Haleena Nguyen

Haleena is a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) student at the University of Melbourne. Her Honours research project uses qualitative methods to investigate the ways in which the university campus foodscape has shaped students’ feelings of belonging since the 1970s.  

Professor Jane Dyson

Jane Dyson is a Professor of Human Geography at the University of Melbourne. Her work is driven by an interest in how social and economic changes transform opportunities for minoritized and marginalized young people in India and Australia. She has published books and articles and produced and directed four award winning films on themes including youth politics, food insecurity, education, work and love.