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Ipswich Food Relief Demand Hits Record High — How Goodness Enterprises Is Responding

10 September 2026 Ipswich QLD
Fresh fruit and vegetables on display at a Goodness Enterprises community market in Ipswich

With more than 3.5 million Australian households facing food hardship, Goodness Enterprises' Community Food Co-Op at 50 Coal Road, Chuwar is scaling up to meet record demand across Ipswich.

Across Queensland, the weekly grocery shop has become impossible for too many families. Findings from the Foodbank Hunger Report 2025 show that 1 in 3 Australian households experienced food insecurity over the past year, and here in Ipswich the story is no different. At Goodness Enterprises, we see the reality of the cost-of-living crisis walk through our doors every day.

Our Community Food Co-Op, located at 50 Coal Road in Chuwar on the historic Tivoli Drive-In site, operates as Ipswich's leading social supermarket and food bank alternative. Groceries are priced 30 to 60 per cent below standard retail, and every guest who spends $20 or more receives free fresh fruit, vegetables, and bakery items, subject to daily availability. There are no eligibility requirements, no referral letters, and no concession cards required — everyone is welcome.

Every week, our team and rescue logistics network sort, pack, and distribute over 14 tonnes of rescued food to more than 1,200 local families and over 100 community groups across the West Moreton region.

The Goodness Enterprises model is built on dignity, not handouts. We believe that accessing food support should never feel shameful. That is why our Food Co-Op functions like a real grocery store, where families can shop with choice, and why our team is ready to welcome and support everyone who walks through our doors with care and respect.

If you or someone you know is doing it tough, our doors are open six days a week. And if you are in a position to give back — whether through a donation, a business partnership, or joining our Volunteer Village — now is the moment your community needs you most.

HT

Hayden J. Te Runa

Community Impact Writer, Goodness Enterprises

Hayden is a proud Ipswich local and the voice behind the Goodness Enterprises impact stories. Through the HASSLFREE Digital partnership, he helps local businesses grow online while feeding families across the West Moreton region. His writing focuses on the real people, partnerships, and programs transforming the Ipswich community.