With food insecurity surging in Warrnambool, a new program will target support for struggling carers

In 2022, almost 55,000 people in Warrnambool relied on emergency food relief. Now, an investment into a Warrnambool community project could go some way towards lowering that number.

❓ What’s happening: To help tackle food insecurity, West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House has received a $24,382 grant to launch the Cultivating Carers program.

• The initiative will focus on local carers, developing practical skills in gardening, cooking and nutrition.

A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to family members or friends with a disability, mental illness, substance addiction, chronic health issue or an older person with care needs. 

🪏 Hands-on experience: The kitchen-garden-themed wellbeing initiative, run in partnership with Warrnambool Community Garden, will offer hands-on workshops in gardening, cooking, nutrition and self-care, alongside a local food swap event. 

💰 State government funded: The Connecting Carers in their Community Small Grants program is funded by the Victorian Government and administered by Carers Victoria.

• So far, it has awarded 28 grants of between $15,000 and $25,000 to assist with activities that strengthen the local and social connection of unpaid carers. 

🗣️What locals are saying: Project manager Brenda O’Connor said she was “thrilled to be delivering a program that will provide practical experience for carers”.

Warrnambool Community Garden Convenor Courtney Mathew highlighted the link between gardening and wellbeing, saying it helps people “reconnect with where their food comes from” while fostering social connection.

🫂 A much needed help: The program arrives amid troubling figures on food insecurity in the area. 

• A 2022 survey by South West Healthcare found 27 percent of respondents had run out of food in the past year without funds to buy more, and 34 percent worried they would run out before being able to afford more. 

Financial stress, housing instability, transport barriers, and mental health challenges were all cited as reasons people struggled to access fresh, nutritious food. 

Many residents rely on emergency food relief, with Warrnambool and District Foodshare supporting 54,967 people in 2022, from than doubling from 22,000 the previous year.

The free program will begin with an information session from 1–3pm on Monday 17 November at West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House.