Children arriving hungry in the first year of school: population trends in Australia from 2009 to 2021

Access to adequate nutrition is a human right. In 2023, 23% of Australian households were severely food insecure, reducing food intake, skipping meals or days of eating. 1 Food insecurity in early childhood is linked to poor health and development. Specifically, breakfast provides children with the necessary nutrients required for sustained attention, memory, and cognitive growth. Australian research has reported that one in three children aged 8–18 years regularly skip breakfast. 2 3 However, there is little understanding of the prevalence of food insecurity among young children in Australia. This study investigates trends in the prevalence of children who arrived at school hungry in their first year of full-time school in Australia from 2009 to 2021, using a national census of child development. Findings highlight experiences of food insecurity among young children in Australia to inform the supports required.