OzHarvest

Join team OzHarvest for an adventure of a lifetime exploring Vietnam!

Taking place in November 2025, this trip has been designed for keen, purpose-led travellers who want to experience the rich culture of Vietnam. You'll see the stunning rice terraces of Sapa, the awe-inspiring summit of Fanxipan Mountain, the serene beauty of Halong Bay and more. Plus, you'll connect with our sister food rescue organisation, VietHarvest, for a special Cooking for a Cause session, transforming rescued ingredients into nourishing meals to feed local communities in need. Every dollar raised will support our Food Rescue program, to help us deliver more meals to those in need and reduce food waste.

To find out more and register your interest, head to the website: www.inspiredadventures.com.au/event/ozharvest-vietnam-2025/

At OzHarvest we love saying thank you, and this post is dedicated to our wonderful partners whose shared passion and financial support keep our wheels turning, making an incredible difference and helping to ‘Nourish our Country’.

We cherish every single partner, each bringing their own unique way of connecting to our cause and making a tangible difference to the people we serve and planet we protect.

If you’d like to know more about joining the OzHarvest family, start by heading to our website to find out more: www.ozharvest.org/corporate-partnerships/

A huge thank you to: Goodman, Woolworths Group, Suncorp Bank, bp, Gastronomy, Adelaide Oval, AGL, AON, BioPak, Budget Direct, HOYTS, IHG, IMC Foundation, Insignia Community Foundation, IVECO, JCDecaux, Lendlease, McCormick, Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre, OXO, Pinnacle People, Scully RSV, Telethon, Thermomix, Vittoria Coffee.

Did you know that every paid Food Truck event enables us to deliver a nourishing lunch, free of charge, to a charity or community event for people in need? 💛

We love nourishing bellies across all corners of Sydney and this month, our Food Truck has been zipping around Maroubra, Blakehust, Cronulla, Eveleigh, Redfern and Marrickville for numerous NAIDOC Week events, plating up over 1000 delicious winter meals. It's been our largest run of community Food Truck events to date and we're so grateful for every paid booking that has made this possible!

"OzHarvest's presence added a special touch to the event, and we are immensely grateful for your support in celebrating the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.” - Gail Richards from 3 Bridges NAIDOC Youth & Family Day

To book our Sydney Food Truck, get in touch at: https://www.ozharvest.org/foodtruck/

Our incredible partner, OXO have been helping us 'Nourish our Country' for four years! :sparkles: From supporting our food rescue operations to helping us deliver the FEAST program to more primary and high school students across the country, OXO support us in so many ways and we couldn't achieve the impact we do without them!

Here's a snapshot of what we've achieved to date with OXO's support...

💛 Over 700,000 nourishing meals delivered to communities in need
💛 79 schools and 4,300 students have benefited from our FEAST program
💛 50 free OXO sustainability kits for FEAST high schools
💛 2,000 Use it Up tapes distributed to the OXO community, helping Australian households fight food waste

A big thank you to OXO for your ongoing commitment and support for our cause! We are so grateful.

Our most senior volunteer Jim Miles, is hanging up his yellow shirt at the magnificent age of 98. 💛

“This is an emotional time for me, people have been saying thank you a lot, marking the end of my volunteering with OzHarvest. But it is I who should be doing the thanking! I would not have been picking up discarded good food that would otherwise be going to land-fill, if it weren’t for what Ronni started. Thank you so much.”

Jim signed up as an OzHarvest volunteer 7 years ago when he heard good food was going to landfill and thought, “what a waste with people out there who really need it!” Since then, Jim has been driving his own car around Victor Harbour rescuing good surplus food and delivering it to those in need each week.

Thank you Jim! You are a true inspiration and adored by everyone. Your passion for helping others and dedication to nourishing vulnerable communities in Victor Harbour is a reminder that one person can make a huge difference, and that it’s never too late to get started. You will always be part of the OzHarvest family 💛

Our new OzHarvest yellow kitchen in Brisbane is officially open! 😍

After damaging storms late last year, we're so grateful to have found our dream space in Bowen Hills with the support of our partner, Suncorp Bank. With demand for food relief at an all-time high, our new kitchen will enable us to cook over 50,000 meals made with love to help feed local communities in need.

Our wonderful partners, Suncorp Bank were first to try out the new kitchen. The team joined our amazing chefs creating over 100 delicious meals of lentil & carrot fatayers and Mexican chilli at our Cooking for a Cause program.

The Salvation Army in Spring Hill received the meals and Paul Maunder from Salvo's expressed, "People come to us when they're facing difficulties. Sometimes they just want a place where someone knows their name. We serve over 600 meals a week. We couldn't do it without OzHarvest."

A heartfelt thank you to Suncorp Bank for increasing our impact and helping to ‘Nourish our Country’

For corporate teams looking to make a difference, you can book Cooking for a Cause (up to 20 pax) in the lovely new Bowen Hills kitchen! Get in touch via email: [email protected].

At OzHarvest we love saying thank you and what better way to do that, than share this special thank you note from one of our young supporters, Daisy. Seeing the impact of our work and the difference it makes to someone’s life is deeply humbling, and we are so grateful for every single person who has chosen to support OzHarvest so that we can keep feeding people in need.

Thank you for helping us Nourish our Country. 💛

We're officially half way through ! 🌏 There are so many ways we can reduce our plastic useage at home. Every action no matter how big or small adds up, so if we all do our part, we can create a more sustainable future together.

Here's three easy ways to make a difference in your kitchen this month!

We're back with another recipe from our FEAST program to keep the kids busy this school holidays... Hidden Vege Spaghetti Bolognaise! 😍

This dish is the perfect winter warmer and a great way to disguise a few extra veggies that some kids may not eat otherwise.

For more recipes, download our free, simple and delicious recipes via the ‘free resources’ tab on our FEAST website. FEAST is our free curriculum-aligned education program for primary and high schools, inspiring students to eat healthy food, waste less, and become change-makers in their local community.

www.ozharvest.org/education/feast/

Have you noticed splashes of OzHarvest yellow in your local shopping centre lately? 👀

We're fighting household food waste across the nation and thanks to Cartology we're getting more Use It Up Tape™ tapes in front of shoppers and into their households, helping them save food, money and the planet.

The bright yellow showcases feature in 24 premium shopping destinations across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart. Be sure to keep an eye out!

Meet our incredible Illawarra Food Rescue Coordinator and Driver, Saxon 💛

Wearing an OzHarvest staff tee for a little over four years now, Saxon is a driving force (literally!) in the organisation, on the road every week, rescuing good food from landfil and delivering it to local charities in need. For Saxon, one of the best parts of his job is how it connects him to the local community. "It puts a smile on my face every time I see and hear what my local charities will use the food I've rescued for and who it's going to".

We asked Saxon if there is a story from being on the road that sticks out to him most and he shared a time he rescued a large volume of red meat that had been labelled wrong... "The meat was perfect but the store couldn't sell it. I dropped half off to a charity that cook hot lunches. I dropped in there the next day and helped served a few meals of beef curry. The room was full of happy people enjoying a meal. Seeing the meat in a meal that I rescued and people in the community eating it made my day."

This week is NAIDOC Week, a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year's theme, 'Keep the Fire Burning! Blak Loud and Proud', encapsulates the unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity, inviting us all to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of First Nations people are fully valued and respected.

This week, and every week, OzHarvest acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as traditional owners of the land on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to their elders, both past and present who have cared for and nurtured this land for tens of thousands of years. Our purpose to 'Nourish our Country' by rescuing surplus food and delivering it to people in need is only possible because of the care and nourishment provided by First Nations People.

Through our collective efforts, we can forge a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of First Nations communities are cherished and celebrated, enriching the fabric of this nation with the oldest living culture in the world.

There are so many wonderful ways your business can get involved with OzHarvest! From joining us for a Day in a Van to Cooking for a Cause, you can make a real and tangible difference for communities in need.

Simon from MCEC joined our Food Rescue Driver, Paul for a day in the van and together, they rescued 1634kg of food from landfill, delivering 2744 meals to Victorians in need.

Simon loved learning about what goes on behind the scenes at OzHarvest."What OzHarvest does is amazing, from the systems you have set up to how you engage with charities with care. Every little bit matters. From start to finish I felt welcome and part of the team. It felt good, knowing I played a small part in feeding the community."

To learn more about how you can add a splash of yellow and some purpose to your day, visit our website: www.ozharvest.org/workplace-engagement/

We have limited spots left for our Kids Cooking for a Cause sessions in Sydney! 💛

Led by our OzHarvest chefs, this unique cooking experience brings families together to learn zero-waste cooking skills whilst transforming rescued ingredients into gourmet meals that support people in need.

Details:
💛 Date: Monday 15th July.
💛 Time: 9am to 11:30am.
💛 Location: OzHarvest Kitchen, Alexandria Sydney.
💛 Price: $175 adult ticket (includes up to two kids for free!).
💛Age: 8+ year olds or 120cm tall.

To secure your tickets, book via our website: www.ozharvest.org/cooking-for-a-cause/book-sydney/

Congratulations to our wonderful Nourish students in Sydney, Adelaide, and Newcastle, who have officially graduated with a Certificate II in Cookery! 💛

After 18 weeks of hard work and dedication, 24 incredible Nourish students graduated with newfound life skills, meaningful connections, and opportunities for further education and work!

The Nourish graduation ceremony is undoubtedly one of the best days of the year at OzHarvest as we celebrate the incredible achievements of each and every student. There wasn't a dry eye in the Sydney crowd when one student shared, "The Nourish team have created a home away from home. This isn’t just a job for them, this is a community and a family. They’re here because they love it and truly care about us. Graduating is wonderful but the support goes well beyond that.”

A huge thank you to our donors and supporters including our national partners Allara Learning and Lendlease who make this program possible.

A big shout out to...
19 On-Green Community Centre, Allara Learning, Adelaide Institute of Hospitality, Adelaide Convention Centre, Belmont 16s, BP, The Brocas, Canva, CBD College, City of Charles Sturt Council, Chef Works Australia, Common Ground Permaculture, Dress for Success, Dress for Work, Family Planning, FWH Foundation, Hoyts, IHG, Josie’s Coffee, Lendlease, Mas National, Matana Foundation, Marrickville Legal Centre, Maxima, Morialta Trust, Mosaic Hotel, Nisbets, PCYC Lake Macquarie, The Pear Café, Placed Recruitment, Radish Catering, Rotary Charlestown, Salvation Army, Sheldon & Hammond, Sullivan Consulting, Vittoria, Venues NSW, Wests Group, Woolworths, Working Women’s Centre and YMCA St Clair.

“It’s a national shame that 7.6 million tonnes of food goes to waste each year while 3.7 million households struggle to put food on the table.”

Senator Dean Smith has joined forces with the food relief sector and will table a Private Bill next week to introduce a historic reform that unlock tonnes of fresh produce to help feed people in need. The National Food Donation Tax Incentive could potentially lead to 100 million extra meals by 2030, helping alleviate pressures for those struggling with the cost-of-living, as well as helping Australia achieving its commitment to halve food waste by 2030.

Senator Smith joined OzHarvest, Foodbank Australia and SecondBite this morning with 9 News to urge Federal Parliament to pass the long-awaited National Food Donation Tax Incentive.

OzHarvest CEO James Goth said “Demand for food relief is at an all-time high and our charities are struggling to cope with the ongoing increase. This bill has the potential to get edible food off farms and onto the plates of those who need it most, addressing food security and food waste simultaneously. Politicians must recognise this need in the community and unite to implement this reform.”

Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey AM, stressed the importance of this incentive. “We know that households under financial pressure have been forced to reduce – or even remove – their spend on fresh fruit & vegetables and protein, meaning demand for these products at food banks across Australia has skyrocketed. This tax incentive is smart policy and the debate in the Senate next week should be about how quickly we can introduce it, not about party politics.”

Solly Fahiz from SecondBite added, “We are committed to working with the government and all stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of this tax incentive. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of millions of Australians and move closer to achieving our food waste reduction goals.”

The reform would work to incentivise food businesses such as farmers, producers, wholesalers, transporters and food logistic companies to donate surplus food and allied services for food relief.

With the need for food relief at an all-time high, OzHarvest teams across the country are busier than ever. Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve been up to...

💛 Our annual Community Needs Survey from the 1,500 charities we support, revealed this is toughest they’ve ever seen it. The biggest change from last year is that 67% of charities cannot meet demand, and the vast majority could take up to 50% more food. Your support helps get more food to those who need it most, and we have been overwhelmed by how many of you have rallied behind our Giving Day. This year we’ve raised enough to deliver 2 million more meals to people in need.

💛 It's an exciting time for our Adelaide team as they prepare to open OzHarvest’s second free market! In response to the increased need for food relief, we’re proud to be able to support the community by providing a variety of rescued fresh produce and pantry stables for people in need. We are so incredibly grateful to every single supporter who is helping bring this project to life.

💛 Congratulations to our wonderful Nourish students in Sydney, Adelaide, and Newcastle, who graduated with a Certificate II in Cookery this month! The 18-week program sees students gain new life skills, form meaningful connections, and opens opportunities for further education and work. The profound impact was beautifully expressed by a Sydney student who shared, "The Nourish team have created a home away from home. This isn’t just a job for them, this is a community and a family. They’re here because they love it and truly care about us. Graduating is wonderful but the support goes well beyond that.”

💛 Our partners at BioPak joined forces with chef Alastair McLeod in Brisbane to host ‘Cooking for a Change’, a zero-waste cooking event to help feed vulnerable communities while fighting food waste! Using rescued food, Alastair showed attendees how to make nourishing meals from everyday ingredients while our very own chef, Kara, joined a panel to share the importance of ensuring good food does not go to waste, and instead feeds those in need.

To find out more about what OzHarvest is doing across Australia, sign up to our bi-monthly newsletter, The Harvest: www.ozharvest.org/newsletter/

Did you know that we use rescued ingredients for our Cooking for a Cause sessions? Almost everyone who cooks in our kitchens tells us how shocked they are to see all the beautiful, edible produce that was rescued, and can't believe it was destined for landfill!

Last month our awesome partner, Budget Direct, rolled up their sleeves in the Sunshine Coast kitchen, transforming rescued produce like sweet potato, pumpkin, leeks, herbs, chickpeas, rice (and much more!) into a delicious veggie tagine, feta fatayers and koftas, made with love, to be delivered to charities who feed people in need.

We are so grateful for our partnership with Budget Direct. Since 2022, they have been supporting our food rescue operations and enabling us to deliver an additional 200,000 nourishing meals per year. Two years into our partnership, their extremely generous team have also volunteered close to 1000 hours to support our mission to ‘Nourish our Country’ and get more meals to those who need them most. Thank you Budget Direct!

We’re thrilled to share that Finish are supporting OzHarvest for the third year in a row to help address water waste with their campaign!

With the support of Woolworths, the campaign will help save 69 million litres of water by rescuing 200,000 kilograms of food from going to waste!

Want to get involved? Head to your local Woolworths store and purchase any pack of Finish Ultimate Plus until 4th July 2024. For every pack purchased, OzHarvest will be able to rescue 1kg of food from going to waste which saves over 300 litres of water!

Only 12 hours to go until Giving Day!

The need for our services is at an all-time high. With your help, we can get more food to those who need it. All donations made on Giving Day will be matched, meaning you can double your impact.

A small $1 donation enables us to deliver 4 meals to people in need.

To donate, head to: https://bit.ly/3KDvtVk

Yesterday, Minister for Education Jason Clare MP paid a visit to St Euphemia College, one of 1170 schools across the country delivering our free education program, FEAST. Students showcased their new skills in the kitchen, chopping, stirring, and plating up a delicious use-it-up honey soy chicken stir fry!

St Euphemia College Teacher Afrodite, who is running FEAST for the second time, said discovering the program was a game-changer. "OzHarvest makes it seamless for teachers to deliver. It's free, curriculum-aligned, engaging, and packaged in a way that is so easy to use. Our students love FEAST, knowing they can make a positive impact on the environment by using up all their food to make a delicious, healthy meal."

For more details or to register your school in OzHarvest's FREE curriculum-aligned program FEAST, visit https://education.ozharvest.org/