There’s a particular kind of worry that comes with being a mum and knowing the money just isn’t going to stretch far enough.
It’s standing in the supermarket, adding up the cost of everything in your trolley and putting something back. It’s checking the bank balance before you buy the essentials. It’s wondering how you’ll cover the groceries after rent, electricity, school costs and everything else have been paid.
And sometimes, it’s making sure the kids have eaten before admitting to yourself that you’re still hungry.
For many single mums, these aren’t occasional worries. They’re part of everyday life, and the newly released Foodbank Hunger Report has put a number to the struggle that far too many single mother families know all too well.
According to Foodbank Australia’s Hunger Report 2026, around one in three Australian households experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months – but it’s single-parent households that are particularly affected.
The report also challenges politicians and policy makers to look behind those numbers and see the mums doing their absolute best to keep their families fed, happy and safe, often while carrying the financial pressure and the emotional load of parenting alone.
When the budget simply doesn’t add up
Foodbank’s latest report found that 60 per cent of single-parent households experienced food insecurity in the past year, compared with 45 per cent of households with children overall.
Food insecurity can look different for every family. For some, it means buying cheaper foods that may not be as nutritious. For others, it means skipping meals, eating smaller portions or relying on family, friends and food relief services to get through the week.
Often, it means mums quietly going without so their children don’t have to.
The emotional weight of going without
Food insecurity isn’t just about what’s on the dinner table. It’s about how it feels to worry constantly about whether there will be enough.
It’s the anxiety of opening the fridge and trying to work out what you can make from what’s left. It’s the guilt of not being able to put the same things in your child’s lunchbox as other parents. It’s saying no to a birthday party, a school activity or a family outing because there simply isn’t room in the budget.
And it’s the exhaustion of trying to keep all those worries to yourself, because you don’t want your children to feel the weight of them, too.
For single mothers, who are often managing everything from household finances to school drop-offs and emotional support without another parent to share the load, that pressure can be relentless.
It’s important to remember that struggling to afford food is not a reflection of how well you parent. It doesn’t mean you haven’t tried hard enough, planned carefully enough or made the right choices. Sometimes, despite everything you do, there just isn’t enough money.
Foodbank’s report outlined a number of initiatives that could address food insecurity in single mother families, including school breakfast programs. For a child, they say, a breakfast at school can mean starting the day with a full tummy, feeling ready to learn and being able to concentrate alongside their classmates. For a mum, knowing that support is there can lift just a little of the pressure.
Support is a phone call away
At CSMC, we know that asking for help isn’t always easy. Perhaps you’ve always been the person who manages. Perhaps you’ve worked hard to give your children a stable home and feel uncomfortable admitting that things have become difficult. Or perhaps you look at other families who seem to be struggling more and tell yourself that you should be able to cope.
If any of that sounds familiar, please know this: you don’t have to wait until you’re at breaking point to receive help.
CSMC is here to listen and help you explore your options without judgement. Some women who call CSMC’s Support Line are dealing with complex and serious issues; others are simply seeking answers to questions, but they all share one thing in common: they all receive the support, referrals, information, and resources they need from a Support Line Worker with the lived experience of being a single mother.
Every single mother who calls CSMC’s Support Line is connected to a Support Line Worker who provides validation, support, and the opportunity to discuss the issues and evaluate options. Callers are provided with support that includes specialist tailored information, referrals, and emergency financial support.
If you are one of the 60 per cent of single mothers experiencing food insecurity, or are in need of support or a chat about another issue, contact us today.
0 Comments