Exploring the spatial distribution of Aboriginal food security and insecurity in New South Wales using survey and Census data

Abstract

This study presents estimates of the prevalence of food insecurity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households in small geographical areas in the state of New South Wales (NSW). Using the 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) and 2021 Census of Population and Housing, the research investigates the factors associated with food security in Aboriginal households and estimates the prevalence of food insecurity at the Statistical Area 2 (SA2) level across NSW. Logistic regression results reveal associations between household food insecurity and income, financial stress, household size, housing tenure, food preparation facilities, and remoteness. Notably, the study finds that food insecurity is driven primarily by financial resources rather than access to grocery stores. The research highlights the prevalence of going without food in urban parts of NSW for Indigenous households relative to non-metropolitan areas, and suggests a concentration of food insecurity among Indigenous populations in urban and inner regional areas. Maps of the predicted prevalence of food insecurity across NSW are provided.