1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: We know that Christmas it can be an expensive time 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: when it comes to gift giving, holidays, even food on 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 1: top of all of the other costs of living. But 4 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: as always we are being encouraged to think of others, 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: particularly those doing it tough and well. Joining us on 6 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: the line right now is one of the organizations which 7 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: see so many territories. It is Food Bank NT and 8 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: ready to speak to us this morning is their CEO, 9 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: Greg Pattinson. Good morning to. 10 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: You, Greg, Good morning Katie. Greg. 11 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: How are things going at the moment from food Bank's perspective. 12 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 2: Well, food Bank in the NC is, in fact all 13 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:46,279 Speaker 2: of the sites across Australia are seeing unprecedented demand. So 14 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: compared to the same time last year, we're seeing about 15 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 2: a fifty percent increase in the number of families seeking 16 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 2: food assistance. And as we know, cost of living now 17 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: is the single biggest cause of people being in that situation. 18 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 2: That's there is no longer you know, if you've got 19 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 2: a job, that's no longer isolation from being food insecure. 20 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 2: There's in fact, over fifty percent of the people who 21 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 2: are seeking food assystems have jobs, and over thirty percent 22 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 2: have mortgages and. 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: That's a really tough thing at the moment, isn't it. 24 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: As we see those interest rates rise, as we see 25 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: the cost of living continued to rise, it is it 26 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,759 Speaker 1: is people that are working, that are that you know, 27 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: you may not think are going through a tough time, 28 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: that really are going through tough times. 29 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 2: Absolutely, there's no longer poor and rich suburbs or poor 30 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 2: and rich regions of of our territory or our states 31 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: that the you know, it could happen to anybody, could 32 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 2: be you know, just an unexpected bill comes through and 33 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 2: all of a sudden, people are tipped over the edge, 34 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 2: and you have to have to see food as being 35 00:01:55,160 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 2: a discretionary, discretionary artem dubai, you know. And and the 36 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 2: problems that that then becomes associated with is you know, 37 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 2: particularly for parents, is that whole feeling of being failing 38 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 2: as a parent if they're not able to feed their kids. 39 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 2: So the shame and embarrassment, the loss of self esteem, 40 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: and the mental health issues and that's associated with are 41 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: quite significant right at this moment. 42 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, Gee, that's tough to hear, and I really feel 43 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: for people because in a lot of cases, you know, 44 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 1: it's not through any fault of their own. It is 45 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: literally a situation where our wages are not rising at 46 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: the same rate as that cost of living is and 47 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: it is hard. It's really hard for people. 48 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, and electricity prices are going up, we know, fuels 49 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 2: going up allegedly because of a war in Ukraine, but 50 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 2: that's more experts other than me to work it out. 51 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: And so everything is going up and as you say, 52 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 2: there's not a corresponding increase in income. And we've actually 53 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,959 Speaker 2: we're actually we can actually track the inquiries we get 54 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: with the interest rate rises. So as the interest rate 55 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: rises have come through the level of inquiries, we've had 56 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 2: actually almost mimics that graph going up. So it's it's 57 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 2: really quite scary what's what's going on and we don't unfortunately, 58 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,239 Speaker 2: we don't see it improving in certainly and in their future. 59 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 2: We know governments at federal and territory level are doing, 60 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 2: you know, have started to address cost of living, but 61 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 2: you know, in terms of things like public housing, there's 62 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 2: there's been twenty years of neglect in a lot of 63 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 2: areas of Australia around that sort of that sort of thing, 64 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 2: and government are now is doing to catch up and say, well, 65 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 2: look we have to address this, but it's not going 66 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 2: to be a quick fix, you know, we know that 67 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 2: it's going to be you know, you know, two or 68 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 2: three years or four years longer before those sort of 69 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 2: issues start to get back to some sort of normality. 70 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: So where sort of gearing up ourselves that we've Unfortunately, 71 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 2: demand for food bank services is going to increase as 72 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 2: time goes on. 73 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: So for the Northern territory, I mean, I know Australia 74 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: why there there is a huge demand at this point, 75 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: but for the Northern Territory, are you still seeking donations 76 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: for the food drive and what kind of things are 77 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: you after? 78 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 2: Well, to be honest, most of the food a lot 79 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 2: of the food we buy we distribute, we actually have 80 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 2: to buy. So about forty percent of the food we distribute, 81 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 2: so things like milk and meat and king tuna and 82 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 2: those key staple foods, we actually have to buy those. 83 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:35,919 Speaker 2: Now we buy them at really really cheap prices, so 84 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 2: far cheaper than anyone called it the supermarket. So much 85 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 2: as we appreciate people donating food to us, we would 86 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 2: much rather they get online, it onto the food bank 87 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 2: website and donate money to us because we can actually 88 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 2: turn a dollar donation into three dollars worth of purchased food, 89 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 2: and it's a much easier way way to do it. 90 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,919 Speaker 2: But having said that, we understand people, we'd still like 91 00:04:58,960 --> 00:04:59,719 Speaker 2: to donate food. 92 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: And so if people, though I do want to make 93 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: a monetary donation, I'm assuming they can jump online and 94 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: do that, or how do they make sure that it 95 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: is sort of coming to their community if they want 96 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: it to stay in the Northern Territory. 97 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 2: Well, no, it's definitely going to stay in the Northern Cherichory. 98 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 2: In fact, you toulither depending on whether they could allocate 99 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 2: it to our springs or to Darwin wherever they wanted 100 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: to put it to. We we will any money we 101 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: raise in our springs, for example, actually stays in our 102 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 2: springs and we use it for that particular site. So 103 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 2: our sighting Darwin is exactly the same we're going to be. 104 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 2: You know, we track the donations there and all the 105 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 2: money we're raising Darwin is actually used to buy food 106 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: to Darwin. One hundred percent of the money that we 107 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: raise goes to food procurement and and so none of 108 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,359 Speaker 2: it goes to Addin or you know, other other things 109 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 2: other than other than food. And you know, the exciting 110 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 2: thing for us in Darwin right now is that we're 111 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 2: actually preparing to move to a new site which will 112 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: be open in the very early in the new year. 113 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 2: I'm not allowed I allowed to say where it is, 114 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: but it's going to be a really nice, bright, new 115 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 2: supermarket where people will be able to people who have 116 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 2: been referred to us. We'll be able to go and 117 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 2: shop for food in a much nicer, air conditioned thing. 118 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 2: We try to recreate a supermarket shopping experience and will 119 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 2: be open five days a week. 120 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 1: That is good to hear. And I know that food 121 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: Bank helps so many in the community. Are you still 122 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: after volunteers as well, or do you need any volunteers? 123 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 2: Definitely went particularly when we open the news site and 124 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 2: again people can go onto the onto the food Bank 125 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: website and and you know, expert put bill out an 126 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 2: expression of interest form for volunteers. But we'll need people 127 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 2: in the supermarket to restop the shells. We'll need. We'll 128 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 2: need for one of a better word, checkout checks. Our 129 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 2: checkouts are pretty simple. We need people in the warehouse. 130 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 2: We'll need drivers who want to drive our bands around 131 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 2: to do deliveries, and particularly when we have to deliver 132 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 2: the schools for school breakfast programs because we've started. I'm 133 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 2: not sure whether you're aware last we started. We're delivering 134 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 2: school breakfast now to twenty eight schools around the top 135 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 2: end and we're looking to expand that in the future. 136 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: Wonderful stuff. Well, it has been great speaking to you 137 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: this morning, Greg. We really appreciate your time. Food Bank 138 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,239 Speaker 1: do a phenomenal job right around Australia, but particularly here 139 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory. Thanks so much for having your 140 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: chat this morning. 141 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 2: Thanks very much, Katie, and Happy Christmas to 142 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: All your listeners you too, Thank you.