Rising fuel costs and supply pressures are beginning to show up in unexpected places, with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre warning its food relief network is under strain as both demand and operating costs climb.
The Melbourne-based charity has launched an urgent food security appeal, pointing to a mix of falling donations, higher transport expenses and a growing number of people turning to its services for the first time. Its Foodbanks in Footscray and Dandenong support thousands of people each month, many of whom are on temporary visas without access to income support or stable employment.
Early warning signs are already visible. Shelves are running low as fewer donors are able to make drop-offs, while more families are arriving without enough food at home. The organisation says the shift has been gradual but is now becoming harder to manage.
Broader economic pressures appear to be feeding into the trend. Disruptions to fuel supply and ongoing global instability have pushed up the cost of transporting goods, with flow-on effects for food prices. Staples such as rice, flour, oil and meat have seen sharp increases, with bulk purchasing costs rising by as much as a quarter in some cases.
Other food relief providers across Victoria are reporting similar challenges, suggesting the issue is not isolated. As household budgets tighten, donations are declining, while suppliers are increasingly passing on higher logistics costs or requiring charities to arrange their own collection.
For the ASRC, this has meant paying more to secure and distribute food at a time when more people are seeking help. The organisation has begun increasing bulk orders of essentials, expanding storage for frozen and non-perishable goods and adjusting its logistics to maintain supply over the coming months.
Chief executive Kon Karapanagiotidis said the situation echoes earlier periods of strain but is unfolding under a different set of pressures. He described empty shelves and families without basic supplies as early indicators of what could deepen without additional support.
The centre operates independently and does not receive federal funding for its core services, relying instead on community contributions. Its latest appeal is aimed at keeping food supplies steady as costs rise and demand continues to build, with the organisation warning that without sustained support it may struggle to meet the needs of those who depend on it.
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