Foodbank NSW & ACT Partnership

Qudos Bank Arena teams up with sustainability partner Foodbank NSW & ACT

17 November 2023 

Qudos Bank Arena has announced its partnership with Foodbank NSW & ACT, a leading food relief organisation dedicated to providing essential food supplies to those in need and reducing food waste. The partnership reinforces Qudos Bank Arena’s commitment to sustainability, community support, and environmental responsibility. 

Qudos Bank Arena General Manager, Steve Hevern states that “sustainability is a key objective for the Arena and establishing a partnership with Foodbank that optimises the redistribution of any food waste was a great opportunity for our business. This means we will work with Foodbank to identify food that can repurposed at an event level resulting in a positive initiative for both the environment and the community”. 

Foodbank NSW & ACT mission is to reduce food waste and provide essential food supplies to those in need, ensuring that no one goes hungry in the community. Recent data from the Foodbank Hunger Report 2023 highlights the alarming reality that more than 1.2 million people in NSW and ACT experienced hunger in the past year, marking a concerning 10% increase from 2022.

Foodbank NSW & ACT CEO, John Robertson says, “There’s enough food in Australia to feed everyone, but the sad reality is that too many people can’t access it and millions of people are going hungry. Thanks to the support of our partners like Qudos Bank Arena, we’re able to redirect quality surplus food and get it to families right across our state and territory that need it most – making food available to anyone who needs it, no matter who they are or where they live.”  

The report also reveals that food insecurity is affecting households that have never experienced it before, with 77% of food-insecure households being first-time sufferers. This challenging scenario emphasises the crucial need for action and support. 

Qudos Bank Arena is proud to be partnering with Foodbank NSW & ACT, a leading food relief organisation dedicated to providing essential food supplies to those in need and reducing food waste. The partnership reinforces Qudos Bank Arena’s commitment to sustainability, community support, and environmental responsibility. Foodbank NSW & ACT is a leading food relief organisation in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Their mission is to reduce food waste and provide essential food supplies to those in need, ensuring that no one goes hungry in the community. 

Recent data from the Foodbank Hunger Report 2023 highlights the alarming reality that more than 1.2 million people in NSW and ACT experienced hunger in the past year, marking a concerning 10% increase from 2022. The report also reveals that food insecurity is affecting households that have never experienced it before, with 77% of food-insecure households being first-time sufferers. This challenging scenario emphasises the crucial need for action and support. 

Since September Qudos Bank Arena has donated 346 kilograms of surplus food to Foodbank NSW & ACT. This commitment to sustainability extends beyond food donations, as Qudos Bank Arena plans to collaborate closely with Foodbank to identify surplus food for repurposing, thus reducing food waste and ensuring it reaches those who need it most. 

Additionally, teams from Qudos Bank Arena and naming rights partner, Qudos Bank combined to pack 591 hampers at the Foodbank Distribution Centre, amounting to a total of 8,535 kilograms of food supply supporting Foodbank’s commendable goal of assembling 40,000 Christmas Hampers. 

Qudos Bank Arena is dedicated to working with Foodbank NSW & ACT to help support the critical issues of food waste, community support, and environmental responsibility. This partnership with Foodbank NSW & ACT stands as a testament to the Arena’s commitment to creating a positive impact in the community and the environment.