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

Christina Mary Pollard, Timothy John Landrigan, Jennie Margaret Gray, Lockie McDonald, Helen Creed and Sue Booth
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Christina Mary Pollard: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, 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

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-15

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.

Keywords: food insecurity; disaster management; COVID-19; emergency food assistance; Food Stress Index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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