A Message from The Chair and CEO
Despite another year of hard effort and record distribution, food insecurity continues to affect far too many Victorians, with thousands struggling on a daily basis to access enough nutritious food. The voices of those experiencing hardship — rich with insight and resilience — guide our work here at Foodbank Victoria as we continue to respond to evolving challenges, from the rising cost of living to unforeseen natural disasters. It is their stories that fuel our determination.
We must continue to be focused on the provision of immediate relief as well as sustainable long-term solutions – we know this from our data-driven and on-the-ground approach to better understanding our community’s needs. Every year, in every aspect of our work, we strive to champion our values, deepen our partnerships, invest in community-driven initiatives, and advocate for lasting change alongside those who need help.
This year, as we approach the end of our four-year strategy and continue to work towards achieving our goal of providing 35 kilograms of healthy food to every food insecure Victorian every year, our Board’s hands-on strategic leadership has been vital to our ongoing growth and innovation. Their commitment ensures we remain aligned with our mission and continue to be responsive to those in need.
We‘re so proud of what our team has achieved - expanding our School Breakfast Clubs Program ahead of schedule, launching new community meal programs, growing our community food markets, boosting regional food distribution via our Community Food Centres in Ballarat and Morwell, and continuing to ensure healthy options reach more households than ever before. We also initiated the design and build of
our new warehouse facility and support office and forged new and ongoing collaborations with local organisations, and State and Federal Government, amplifying our collective impact.
Behind every statistic - like the 55 million breakfasts delivered through our School Breakfast Clubs Program - are a diversity of mums and dads, grandparents and kids, people living on their own, and couples young and old whose strength and optimism inspire our team daily. As our operations expand every year, the essence of our mission remains rooted in the dedication of our remarkable team of employees and volunteers and in every individual we touch, in each powerful story of resilience and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Thanks for helping feed Victoria,
Dave McNamara, CEO Foodbank Victoria
Steve Audsley, Chair Foodbank Victoria
Our Impact
FROM WAREHOUSE TO LUNCHBOX: WHAT IT TAKES TO FEED OUR COMMUNITY
We’ve delivered over 5.26 million kilograms of fresh produce. It’s enough to fill every seat in the MCG more than 50 times, with a basket of fruit for each fan!
Tram-tastic reach: Our Mobile Supermarket made 108 trips - more stops than Melbourne’s iconic Route 96 tram!
Volunteer legends: In true Victorian spirit, 3,617 local volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help deliver 16.6 million meals - one act of kindness at a time!
25.6 million meals distributed across Victoria
5.3 million kilograms of fresh fruit and veg shared
108 Mobile Supermarket trips reaching 14,000+ families
1,771 partners supported across metro and regional Victoria
132 Foodbank Vic team members powering the mission
14.2 million kilograms of food delivered 12.7 million meals served through the School Breakfast Clubs Program
505,000 kilograms of hygiene and household essentials handed out 1.6 million kilograms of chilled and frozen food distributed
30 university markets distributing 70,000 kilograms of food
3,617 volunteers gave 74,010 hours of their time
3.4% increase in total food volume distributed
76,000 kilograms distributed through 14 Pallet markets
Emergency Response
STANDING STRONG IN TIMES OF CRISIS
As Victoria’s official emergency food relief provider, Foodbank Victoria plays a critical role in supporting communities in the response and recovery phases following natural disasters and in times of crisis. From bushfires to floods to pandemics, we work alongside government and local agencies to deliver essential food and supplies where they’re needed most.
This year, through the School Breakfast Clubs Program, we responded to the impact of drought - ensuring children in affected regions started their day with a nutritious meal and their families had food on their plates during times of high need. Our emergency response is more than logistics, it’s about restoring dignity, stability, connection and hope when it matters most.
There’s no stigma around who attends and why they attend. It’s just a really welcoming and open environment for all students to participate in.
Assistant Principal Brookside College, Kate
School Breakfast Clubs Program & Cooking Classes
School Breakfast Clubs Program: Supporting Victorian Families
In the face of rising living costs, our School Breakfast Clubs Program, run in partnership with the Department of Education, continues to be a vital support for children and families across the state. In 2025, the program reached the milestone of delivering an incredible 12.7 million meals, equating to 3.5 million kilograms of food, to students in need. This brings the total number of meals served since the program began in 2016 to 55 million, a milestone that reflects both the scale and impact of the initiative.
The demand for Home Food Packs also surged, with 22,345 packs distributed this financial year alone. These Packs help ensure students who may be going without enough food at home have access to nutritious meals during both the school term and holidays to support children year-round.
The School Breakfast Clubs Program’s reach expanded significantly during this year, with 193 new schools joining the program. As of 30 June 2025, 1,228 schools across 1,335 campuses are actively participating - ensuring more children start their day with a nutritious meal.
Cooking Classes: Empowering Families Through Food Education
This year, 32 schools participated in Foodbank Victoria’s cooking classes, helping families build confidence in the kitchen while learning to prepare healthy, budget-friendly meals.
As part of the program, 1,280 hampers filled with nutritious ingredients were distributed to families in need, supporting hands-on learning and food access.
This year also saw the rollout of our new Nourish to Flourish workshop, empowering students with practical skills to create affordable, healthy lunchboxes. It’s all part of our commitment to helping communities thrive - one meal, one skill, one child at a time.
One of the students at Harston Primary, who is a VERY fussy eater, went home and made the rice paper rolls for the family - and ate them! The teacher was super excited to share this with me, as was his mum. This particular student then went on to cook fried rice learned in the cooking classes for his sick sibling, to cheer her up.
- Jane, Program Facilitator
I enjoy Breakfast Club because there’s free food.
- Amelia
Breakfast Club has made a HUGE difference to our school, our kids and our community.
- Parent
Community Food Centres
OUR COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRES ARE NOURISHING REGIONAL COMMUNITIES
At Foodbank Victoria, we believe everyone deserves access to nutritious food and a place to feel connected. In Ballarat, we proudly opened the Community Supermarket at our Community Food Centre, with some help from our friends at Ballarat Community Health and the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative. This welcoming space offers fresh, chilled, frozen and pantry staples to those referred by our partners. Through our new Community Meals Program, visitors can enjoy a warm, healthy meal and connect with others in a safe, inclusive environment.
Meanwhile, at our Community Food Centre in Morwell, we’ve expanded our reach from 19 to 28 charity partners from four Local Government Areas across Gippsland: Latrobe, Baw Baw, South Gippsland and Wellington. In December, we opened
a Community Supermarket, giving 60–70 families each week the chance to choose their own food, including fresh produce, frozen meals and chilled items.
We’re also proud of our Strong Foundations Cooking Classes, a Department of Social Services funded initiative supporting Gippsland women aged 18–64 experiencing social isolation or unemployment. Over four weeks, participants learn food safety, knife skills, cooking and barista training, finishing with a Certificate of Completion. Many have gone on to volunteer with us, and one has secured full-time employment.
Together, we’re building stronger, healthier communities - one meal, one connection, one opportunity at a time.
CASE STUDY
I'm about to turn 80. I care for my wife, who is in poor health, and I’m also the carer for our adult son. The support we've received from Foodbank Victoria has meant more than nourishment. It has brought dignity to our family. Foodbank Victoria’s commitment to helping people like us has made a profound difference, not just in our lives, but in the lives of so many others.
Ian, Morwell
Community Programs
REACHING MORE PEOPLE, MORE OFTEN
Foodbank Victoria’s community food programs continue to grow, bringing nutritious food, connection and care to people across the State. Our Mobile Supermarket Bus program is a standout initiative, delivering fresh produce, pantry staples and chilled items directly into communities. Two 18-metre bendy buses offer a dignified, supermarket-style experience and have supported over 14,000 Victorians, distributing more than 209,500 kilograms of food across 108 trips in the past year. Thanks to partnerships with Whittlesea and Hume councils, wraparound services such as financial counselling and dental care are now available alongside Foodbank Victoria’s mobile outreach. The bus is helping people connect with holistic support close to home.
Our Tertiary Market van has expanded access to food for university students, with 30 markets distributing over 70,000 kilograms of food last year. Meanwhile, our Farms to Family Market continues to deliver food to those who need it most, distributing 76,000 kilograms across 18 markets.
These programs reflect our commitment to meeting people where they are, with the food and support they need to live well. Whether it’s through a bus, a market or a community partnership, we’re creating spaces where food brings people together - and opens doors to brighter futures.
Our Charity Partners
RESILIENCE IN ACTION: BIG HEARTS, BOLD MOVES
In 2024–25, our 475 charity partners were nothing short of amazing. From drought-hit farming towns to bustling city suburbs, they rose to meet growing demand with creativity, compassion and community spirit. Many supported families reaching out for the first time - navigating tough stuff like financial stress, isolation and mental health challenges.
Even with tight food supply and stretched resources, our partners didn’t just cope - they innovated. Think: community-led pantries, culturally inclusive support, and new service models that met people where they were with the food they needed. With Foodbank Victoria backing them, they delivered fresh healthy food, warm smiles and a whole lot of hope.
Their work goes beyond food, it’s about dignity, connection and making sure no one is left behind. Facing challenging times, they showed what resilience really looks like: local legends doing what they do best - looking after their communities.
Distributed 9.2 million kilograms of food to charity partners - enough to fill over 350 Melbourne trams bumper to bumper with fresh produce and pantry staples.
Our Food Donors
FOOD DONOR IMPACT: GROWING FRESH PARTNERSHIPS
In a year marked by rising costs and continued demand, Foodbank Victoria worked hard to maintain consistent food volumes thanks to the strength of our partnerships and programs. Through our emergency relief purchasing program, the School Breakfast Clubs Program, and an increase in participating schools, we were able to respond to growing community needs.
We’re proud to have launched GROW, a new initiative focused on intercepting more fresh produce - because we know how vital fruit and vegetables are to health and wellbeing. Our commitment to fresh food is central to every program we run, and we’re continuing to explore new ways to source and intercept more nutritious options for families across Victoria.
FOOD DONOR SPOTLIGHT: PRIMA FRESH ORCHARDS
Prima Fresh Orchards, a third-generation family business in Tatura, has been a cornerstone of our fresh produce supply - donating apples, pears and peaches for emergency relief.
At Prima Fresh, we’re a family business with young families of our own, so supporting others in need with fresh produce is something we feel deeply connected to.
- Gerard Alampi, CEO, Prima Fresh
Their generosity and values reflect our shared vision: healthy food for all.
Community Fundraising
From festive fundraisers to fruity feats, the past year at Foodbank Victoria has been a whirlwind of generosity and good vibes!
Our Christmas Appeal jingled all the way to inboxes and mailboxes, while the Virtual Christmas Table invited legends across Victoria to pull up a digital chair and donate a $10 seat - because everyone deserves a place at the table. Over at the Christmas Giving Machine, donors tapped their way to kindness, turning vending machines into joy dispensers.
Meanwhile, the Food Drive cruised through our warehouse like a convoy of kindness, with cars rolling in and out packed to the brim with pantry staples. Victorians showed up in droves, proving that when it comes to community spirit, we’ve got horsepower to spare...
Our Food Fight school fundraiser brought the energy, with over 50 schools raising more than 300,000 meals, some even slimed their principals as part of the celebrations! We also stirred up something sweet with the Broadsheet Bake Sale, where Melbourne’s best bakers turned flour into funds.
From revving engines to Vegemite-themed socials, it’s been a season of sparkle, sustenance, and serious impact. Thanks for being part of the magic.
Our Philanthropic Partners
Foodbank Victoria is deeply grateful for the incredible generosity of our philanthropic partners. Their support helps us put food on the table for thousands of Victorians doing it tough.
This year, we’ve seen remarkable commitment from many, including the Phil Taylor Foundation and Pressroom Partners, who went above and beyond,
Acknowledgements List:
Avalanche Foundation
Beryl & Robert Watling
Collier Charitable Fund
The Cox Family Foundation
Danks Trust
Ensign Laboratories Pty Ltd
Footscray Rotary Aged & Community Service Fund
Jeanne Tie
John & Lyn Levy
John & Mary Grant
Johnstone Family Foundation
Kevin Kelly
Peter Lemon
Lions Club - District 201-V5
Lions Club
International Foundation
McAllister Family Foundation
PB Senn Family
driving innovation, extending our reach, and lifting up communities in need. Their impact shows what’s possible when people come together with purpose.
Whether through funding, goods, or collaboration, every partner plays a vital role in our mission. Together, we’re creating a more food-secure Victoria - one meal at a time.
Phil Taylor Foundation & Pressroom Partners
Our Corporate Partners
FROM SPATULAS TO STADIUMS, OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS HAVE BEEN COOKING UP IMPACT!
The Minimax spatula campaign was a huge success, with celebrity-designed spatulas flying off shelves and creating 180,000 meals for Victorians in need. Over at IKON Park, the Charity Shield match between Richmond and Collingwood brought footy fans together for another night of goals and giving, delivering nearly 206,000 meals over the past two years.
Online, Catch.com.au’s round-up campaign turned spare change into nearly 400,000 full plates, with thousands of customers rounding up at the checkout to support Foodbank Victoria. And in the orchards, our Fruit Loop Corporate Challenge saw 12 teams pick 13,000 kilos of apples - proof that teamwork really does bear fruit.
These campaigns show how creative, collaborative, and community-driven our corporate partners are. Whether it’s retail, sport, tech or fresh produce, we’re proud to partner with businesses that believe in a Victoria where no one goes hungry.
Big thanks to these food legends for their significant contributions!
AusNet
One of our biggest volunteer crews, powering four Farms to Families markets and monthly warehouse days.
Chobani
Founding partner to the Morwell Community Food Centre, as well as supporting our Dandenong food markets, and keeping us stocked with yogurt.
DECJUBA
Foundation, TANK Foundation and Kinetic
Bus program champions, helping us reach communities far and wide.
Peters Ice Cream
Our longest-standing partner; backing Fruit Loop, the Emergency Food Drive, two Farms to Families Markets and our largest team of workplace givers.
Port of Melbourne
Long-time partner, together delivering two million meals.
Partners:
Aesop
Allianz Partners Australia
AusNet
AGIG
Catch.com.au
Chobani
Coates
DECJUBA Foundation and TANK Foundation
Encore Tissue
Kinetic
Lineage Foundation For Good Minimax
Peters Ice Cream
Port of Melbourne
Presidian Vanguard
Villawood Foundation
Supporters:
CMV Group
Collingwood and Richmond Football Clubs
Colliers International
Dow Chemical
Fuseco
Go Transit
Insight 38
Metro Trains
Montague Farms
Origin Foundation
oOH! Media
Supercart Australia
Tech Envy
Woolworths
Fruit Loop Teams:
BildGroup
Chobani
CH Robinson
Frasers Property
GJK Facility Services
Lineage Foundation For Good
McCain
Repurpose It
Salesforce
Villawood Properties
Fruit Loop Supporters: Aesop
Asahi Beverages
Carman's
Chobani
Coates
DECJUBA Foundation
DON Smallgoods
Everywhere Specialty Coffee
Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse
Kinetic
Mondelez International
Montague Farms
Peters Ice Cream
Our Volunteers
THE PURPLE-POWERED LEGENDS BEHIND THE SCENES
In FY25, our incredible community volunteers rolled up their sleeves and gave us a whopping 58,049 hours of their time - that’s a cool $2.6 million in value! By the end of the year, 451 active volunteers were still showing up, week after week, with big hearts and even bigger energy.
From pick-packing and fresh food sorting to scanning, customer service, fundraising, and helping at our markets and cooking classes - our volunteers did it all. And they didn’t stop there!
I love Foodbank, it's my happy place. I work because I have to and come to Foodbank because I want to.
They brought the fun to events like Fruit Loop, Charity Shield Footy Match (Richmond v Collingwood), Emergency Food Drive, and the ABC Gives campaign.
Whether they were packing hampers or pouring coffee, they brought the vibes, the smiles, and the magic that makes Foodbank Victoria more than just a food relief organisation. They’re not just volunteers - they’re family.
Volunteering for Foodbank helps me feel like I'm doing my part in helping with struggling communities.
I'm comfortable, happy and more "me" than I have ever been in any other job ...and I'm retired and 71!!
Volunteering at Foodbank enables a conversation to be started. It’s important work.
Joining Foodbank has felt like home.
Thank You to Our People
Thank you to our people: The heart and hustle of Foodbank Victoria
At Foodbank Victoria, our people bring the energy, the heart - and let’s be honest - the hustle! From early morning warehouse shifts to travelling market set-ups, our team shows up with passion, purpose and a whole lot of good vibes.
This year, we packed hampers, drove buses, built partnerships, and made magic happen in every corner of the state. We’ve grown, adapted, and cheered each other on through every challenge. Whether they’re a forklift whiz, a spreadsheet superstar, or a volunteer with a smile that lights up the room – our people have helped us deliver more than just food. They’ve delivered hope.
Our culture is powered by kindness, collaboration and a shared belief that everyone deserves access to good, healthy food. And we don’t just work together - we celebrate together. Every win, every milestone, every moment of impact.
To our incredible team, volunteers and partners: thank you. You’re not just part of Foodbank Victoria - you are Foodbank Victoria. And together, we’re not just feeding people. We’re building a movement, sparking joy, and changing lives.
