About this resource
Not having enough food affects health, focus and wellbeing. This plan helps workers and clients map local food relief, community meals, school programs and low-cost options, check cooking and storage facilities, and plan longer-term supports such as income, financial counselling and housing.
Purpose
To help people secure food now and plan for more reliable access.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Community services and case workers. Also relevant for social workers, youth workers.
Client or participant group: Adults and families experiencing food insecurity.
Practice setting: Emergency relief, community centres, housing services and outreach.
Suggested uses
- Emergency relief appointments
- Case planning
- Outreach and housing support
- Referral planning
Instructions for practitioners
- Ask about food needs respectfully and without judgement.
- Map local options with current days and times.
- Check cooking, storage and dietary needs.
- Address underlying causes such as income and housing.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Write the places you can get food.
- Tick what you have at home for cooking.
- Choose a longer-term step.
Accessibility considerations
Worker can scribe. Interpreters can support.
Scope and limitations
A planning tool. Local services change often; check details before sharing.
Research basis
Debt and financial stress are strongly linked with poorer mental and physical health, so practical financial support is part of holistic care. Case management practice standards describe assessment, planning, coordination, review and planned exits with the person at the centre.
- Case Management Society of Australia and New Zealand. (2013). National standards of practice for case management (3rd ed.). https://www.cmsa.org.au/
- Richardson, T., Elliott, P., & Roberts, R. (2013). The relationship between personal unsecured debt and mental and physical health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(8), 1148–1162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2013.08.009
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
