TAS Faculty Report 

Year 9 Food Technology students have been exploring the concept of food equity as part of their current unit of study. To deepen their understanding, they participated in the “Live Below the Line” challenge, where they were given a budget of just $3.50 per day for seven days. Students were required to create a weekly shopping list based on this limited budget and then produce a seven-day meal plan using only the food items they had purchased. 

As part of the unit, students also learnt about organisations such as OzHarvest and the People for the Pantry initiative, both of which play an important role in supporting individuals and families who struggle to access enough food.

The challenge highlighted the real-life difficulties faced by those living below the poverty line. Some students planned strategically, selecting inexpensive staples like rice, pasta and canned goods that could last the full week, while others chose more costly items and found themselves running out of food in the final days. This experience helped students gain a deeper understanding of the impact of the rising cost of living, the complexities of food insecurity, and the vital work that community organisations do to provide food relief to those most in need.