Casual workers and international students are among a growing number of Victorians turning to food banks to get by, as Melbourne makes its way out of its most recent COVID lockdown. Financial insecurity caused by lost work due to the pandemic has seen many more Australians than normal struggle to pay bills and consequently seek out emergency food relief. Disturbances to food distribution chains from panic buying, along with a shortage in volunteers have put greater pressure on food charity groups, who are grappling with the increased demand. A study by Deakin University during Melbourne’s second lockdown found a sharp increase in people requiring food assistance, with Foodbank Australia recording the number of people needing aid had almost doubled since the pandemic began.