63,000 kids going hungry as families buckle under cost pressures

An estimated 63,000 Australian children have gone without food in the past year because their families couldn’t afford it, according to a new national survey highlighting the deepening impact of Australia’s cost-of-living crisis.

The findings come from Finder’s Parenting Report 2026, which surveyed 1,008 parents with children under 13.

While many households have already sacrificed holidays and entertainment, the report suggests some families have now reached a far more troubling point. Almost half of parents (41%) said their children had gone without something during the past 12 months because money was too tight. Most concerning, 7% said their child had gone without food.

Finder personal finance expert Sarah Megginson said that figure should concern every Australian.

“Parents will usually go without before their children do, so when kids are missing out, we know that families are already beyond breaking point,” she said.

Megginson shared the story of a divorced couple who survive on baked beans and eggs during the weeks their children aren’t with them so they can afford proper meals when the kids arrive.

“For so many households, there’s just no more fat left in the budget,” she said.

“Many families have already cancelled the holidays, skipped the entertainment and cut every non-essential expense they can.”

Holidays and activities first to go

Before food became an issue, many families had already stripped back almost every discretionary expense.

Nearly one in four parents (24%) said they could not afford a family holiday during the past year.

Others reported cutting children’s extracurricular activities (16%), entertainment (15%), technology purchases (13%), new clothes (13%), presents (8%) and books (7%).

The findings paint a picture of households juggling rising grocery bills, housing costs and electricity prices while trying to shield their children from financial stress.

Megginson warned that children are increasingly feeling the effects themselves.

“Children are starting to absorb the stress of the cost-of-living crisis alongside their parents — whether that’s missing out on activities with friends or hearing ‘we can’t afford it’ more often at home.”

Where to seek help

For families under financial pressure, Megginson recommends protecting essential spending such as food, housing, utilities and transport before anything else.

She also urged Australians to review recurring expenses, compare providers for better deals and contact their bank if mortgage repayments are becoming unmanageable.

Australian lenders are required to consider hardship requests, which can include temporary repayment pauses, interest-only arrangements or waived fees for eligible customers.