The One Box | An alternative solution to food insecurity

Prof Ralph Kober, A/Prof Paul Thambar, Dr Zhiyun (Maleen) Gong, 2025

The problem of food insecurity

Food insecurity is a growing problem in Australia. Currently, 48% of Australian households experience some form of food insecurity, and this is expected to increase given the current cost of living crisis (Foodbank, 2024). This is concerning given that food insecurity is linked with reduced physical and mental health, including increased rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression (Gundersen and Zilak, 2015; Martin et al., 2016). The main way of addressing food insecurity is with rescued food, which can be unpredictable and lacking in nutritional value (Simmet et al., 2017). Receiving rescued food also stigmatises recipients (Purdam et al., 2016) and has limited long-term benefits (Loopstra and Lambie-Mumford, 2023). Consequently, there is a need to explore alternative models of food relief.

We have done this since 2020 via our research collaboration with The One Box (TOB), a charity that provides families with a guaranteed weekly box of freshly purchased fruit, vegetables, and bread through schools.

Our research – Development of an impact framework

By interviewing over 80 beneficiaries and school coordinators, asking them to self-identify the impacts of TOB’s program, we developed an impact framework to measure the benefits of TOB’s alternative model of food relief on recipients’ health (Nutrition and Wellbeing), social (Community Building and Support) and economic (Financial Savings) outcomes. This framework enables TOB to evaluate and communicate the impacts of its program to stakeholders.

Our research – Evaluation of the impact of TOB’s alternative model of food relief

We conduct annual interviews with beneficiaries and school coordinators to assess the impact of TOB’s alternative model. Our findings based on a thematic analysis of these interviews reveal the following health, social and economic benefits to recipients:

Nutrition and wellbeing (Health outcomes)

  • Increased nutritional intake
  • Improved physical health
  • Improved mental health of parents due to reduced anxiety about food provision
  • Improved mental health of children due to not facing exclusion from classmates for lacking lunches

Community building and support (Social outcomes)

  • Improved school attendance and class engagement
  • Establishing trusted connections, allowing schools to refer beneficiaries to additional services (e.g., accommodation for domestic violence cases).

Financial savings for families (Economic outcomes)

  • Estimated weekly savings of $41.76 per family in 2023, used to pay-off debts, buy uniforms, etc.
  • Lifting people out of poverty. Due to the guaranteed food provision, parents have time and mental space to seek employment. In some schools, 25% of families have voluntarily withdrawn due to achieving self-reliance.

In the last year, we have focused on schools in the City of Dandenong, which is a low socio-economic council with many migrant families. We found that the impacts described above were especially pronounced for refugee families. Receiving fresh food helped re-establish healthy eating patterns after a prolonged period of relying on canned food. Families also felt comfortable participating in social and skill-building programs, helping them to improve employability. Overall, the program had a profound impact on facilitating refugee families’ resettlement in Australia.

Impact of our research

TOB has used our research highlighting the benefits to recipients of their model of food relief to secure grant and philanthropic funding, allowing it to triple its program from 40,000 boxes in 2020 to 120,000 boxes in 2024, with over 1,800 families being helped each week. TOB’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager notes that funders appreciate the inclusion of our research in applications, which helps TOB secure funding, facilitating the tripling of the program. Consequently, our research has contributed to improving the health, social and economic situation of beneficiaries, lifting people out of poverty (SDG 1), reducing hunger (SDG 2), and enhancing health and wellbeing (SDG 3).

Our research has contributed to improving the health, social and economic situation of beneficiaries, lifting people out of poverty (SDG 1), reducing hunger (SDG 2), and enhancing health and wellbeing (SDG 3).