Food security and related health risks facing vulnerable youth in rural areas of Tasmania, Australia

The future of a nation depends on the economic and social opportunities available to its youth. The recent economic downturn, however, has exerted tremendous strains on today’s youth, whose limited mobility and work experience have made them more vulnerable to unemployment and social exclusion. Among these strains is food security, which could have long-term impacts on health and related socio-economic factors, particularly in rural communities due to high cost and poorer access to healthy foods. This project investigated the issue of food security among the youth living in the North West of Tasmania, Australia which had been experiencing a loss of industries and infrastructure. An exploratory descriptive design was adopted using questionnaires, interviews with young job seekers, and focus groups with stakeholders. A range of interrelated factors were examined including: socio-economic status, employment opportunities, awareness of healthy foods, health conditions, access to healthy foods, and peer infl uences on food choices. The study confi rmed the close association between socio-economic factors, health issues and food security amongst the target study group. Young residents without a job faced a higher chance of having health problems and being food insecure. A high rate of unemployment was found to be a key characteristic of the socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Tasmania. Socio-economic disadvantage has a direct correlation to levels of food insecurity and related health conditions. The fi ndings and recommendations from this study may contribute to improve the health and well-being of young people within vulnerable communities through innovative and pragmatic initiatives related to food security.