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Using the Food Stress Index for Emergency Food Assistance: An Australian Case Series Analysis during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Natural Disasters

Author

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  • Christina Mary Pollard

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
    East Metropolitan Health Service, Perth, WA 6000, Australia)

  • Timothy John Landrigan

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia)

  • Jennie Margaret Gray

    (Western Australian Council of Social Service, East Victoria Park, WA 6101, Australia)

  • Lockie McDonald

    (Independent Consultant, Fullsky Consulting, Mount Lawley, WA 6050, Australia)

  • Helen Creed

    (Western Australian Council of Social Service, East Victoria Park, WA 6101, Australia)

  • Sue Booth

    (College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia)

Abstract

Food insecurity increases with human and natural disasters. Two tools were developed to assist effective food relief in Western Australia: the Food Stress Index (similar to rental stress, predicts the likelihood of household food insecurity by geographic location) and a basic and nutritious Food Basket Recommendation (that quantifies the types and amounts of food to meet dietary recommendations for different family types). This study aims to understand and compare the processes and impact of using these tools for organisations and their clients involved in emergency food assistance and/or disaster preparedness. A multiple case-study design analysed organisation’s use of the tools to assist the response to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and the catastrophic bushfires in Australia. Qualitative interviews were conducted by telephone and Zoom (a cloud-based video conferencing service) in July–August 2020. A purposeful sample of eight interviewees representing seven cases (government, food relief and community organisations involved in emergency food assistance and/or disaster preparedness). Three themes emerged from the analysis, (1) organisations are confident users of the tools; (2) Collaborations were “ Ready to Go ” and (3) Food Stress Index is a “ game changer ”. Findings demonstrate the intrinsic value of the tools in the provision of emergency food relief under both normal circumstances and in times of increased need, i.e., COVID-19 pandemic. The study highlights the value and importance of ongoing intersectoral collaborations for food relief and food security (e.g., the Western Australian Food Relief Framework) and suggests that upscaling of the Food Stress Index and food baskets will increase the effectiveness of measures to address food insecurity in Australia.

Suggested Citation

  • Christina Mary Pollard & Timothy John Landrigan & Jennie Margaret Gray & Lockie McDonald & Helen Creed & Sue Booth, 2021. "Using the Food Stress Index for Emergency Food Assistance: An Australian Case Series Analysis during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Natural Disasters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6960-:d:584626
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alison Daly & Christina M. Pollard & Deborah A. Kerr & Colin W. Binns & Martin Caraher & Michael Phillips, 2018. "Using Cross-Sectional Data to Identify and Quantify the Relative Importance of Factors Associated with and Leading to Food Insecurity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Craig Gundersen & Monica Hake & Adam Dewey & Emily Engelhard, 2021. "Food Insecurity during COVID‐19," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(1), pages 153-161, March.
    3. Jeromey B. Temple, 2018. "The Association between Stressful Events and Food Insecurity: Cross-Sectional Evidence from Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Ami N. Seivwright & Zoe Callis & Paul Flatau, 2020. "Food Insecurity and Socioeconomic Disadvantage in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Tahna L. Pettman & Carmel Williams & Sue Booth & Deborah Wildgoose & Christina M. Pollard & John Coveney & Julie-Anne McWhinnie & Marian McAllister & Carolyn Dent & Rory Spreckley & Jonathan D. Buckle, 2022. "A Food Relief Charter for South Australia—Towards a Shared Vision for Pathways Out of Food Insecurity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Christina Zorbas & Jennifer Browne & Alexandra Chung & Anna Peeters & Sue Booth & Christina Pollard & Steven Allender & Anna Isaacs & Corinna Hawkes & Kathryn Backholer, 2023. "Shifting the social determinants of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Australian experience," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(1), pages 151-170, February.

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