International students in Australia: Are they food insecure?

Islam, Wasima; Jamieson, Maggie; Lawlis, Tanya

doi:10.1016/j.jnim.2017.04.044

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…In Australia, international students have previously shown to be at substantially greater risk for food insecurity due to poor food literacy (such as cooking and grocery shopping skills), limited access to traditional foods and less financial capacity, resulting in a change of diet [ 38 ]. International students were also very vulnerable when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, as Australian government made no financial provisions for international students that left many students without any means of support [ 39 ]. In this context, international students have been reported by charitable agencies to be among the top newly food insecure groups in Australia throughout the pandemic [ 40 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severity of Food Insecurity among Australian University Students, Professional and Academic Staff

et al. 2022

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Assessments of the severity of food insecurity within Australian university students are lacking, and the experience of food insecurity in Australian university staff is unknown. A cross-sectional online survey in March 2022 aimed to characterize the severity of food insecurity in students, professional and academic staff at the University of Tasmania (UTAS). The Household Food Security Survey Module six-item short form assessed food security status in addition to seven demographic and education characteristics for students and six demographic and employment characteristics for staff. Participants were categorized as having high, marginal, low, or very low food security. Multivariate binary logistic regression identified students and staff at higher risk of food insecurity. Among student respondents (n = 1257), the prevalence of food insecurity was 41.9% comprising 8.2% marginal, 16.5% low, and 17.3% very low food security. Younger, non-binary, first-year enrolled, on campus, and international students were at significantly higher risk of food insecurity. Among staff (n = 560), 16.3% were food insecure comprising 3.8% marginal, 5.5% low, and 7.0% very low food security. Professional staff, staff on casual contracts, and staff recently employed, were at significantly higher risk of food insecurity. Our findings suggest a high occurrence of food insecurity in UTAS students and staff, with a large proportion of food insecure staff and students experiencing very low food security. Our findings have implications for efforts towards reducing food insecurity at university campuses through a holistic and integrated approach, advocating for food systems that support healthy, sustainable, and equitable food procurement and provision for both university students and staff.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severity of Food Insecurity among Australian University Students, Professional and Academic Staff

et al. 2022

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“You're on your own, kid”: A critical analysis of Australian universities' international student mental health strategies

Peterie,

Ramia,

Broom

et al. 2024

Aust J Social Issues

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Mental ill‐health is a serious and growing problem among university students in Australia. Within this cohort, international students are particularly vulnerable. International students in Australia have fewer social rights than domestic students and are at elevated risk of social isolation, exploitation in employment, precarious housing, financial insecurity, and racism and discrimination. When mental health challenges arise, international students are also less likely than their domestic counterparts to access support services. Against the backdrop of this escalating problem, this article presents a critical analysis of Australian universities' policy approaches to international student mental health. We ask: (a) How many universities have such policies publicly available, and (b) how do these policies understand and seek to address the problem of international student distress? Drawing on a documentary analysis of publicly available university mental health strategies, we find that—in the comparatively rare cases where such documents exist—international students' mental ill‐health is generally framed in these documents as an individual concern, placing the onus on individual students to develop “resilience” and/or seek out help. Leveraging theoretical insights concerning the collective production of (mental) health and illness, we caution that this individualisation of student distress naturalises and depoliticises the logics of financial exploitation and neglect that contribute to many international students' mental health problems to begin with.

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International students in Australia: Are they food insecure?

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Severity of Food Insecurity among Australian University Students, Professional and Academic Staff

Severity of Food Insecurity among Australian University Students, Professional and Academic Staff

“You're on your own, kid”: A critical analysis of Australian universities' international student mental health strategies

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