Brisbane, 8 April 2024

The partnership will feed over 3,300 international students across three states

Allianz Partners has partnered with Foodbank Australia to help alleviate the burden of financial hardship and food insecurity among international students studying in Australia.

This year Allianz Partners and Foodbank will host seven market-style events on campuses across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The partnership will help more than 3,300 students this year, providing over $120,000 of food. At each event, international students will be given the opportunity to receive up to $50 worth of food, which could include items such as fresh fruit, vegetables, staples such as pasta and rice, and frozen nutritious ready-made meals.

The partnership follows a report from Monash University (2023), highlighting the financial pressures faced by international students. The study reveals a concerning trend of financial strain, particularly in accessing nutritious food, leading to deteriorating mental and physical wellbeing across the nation.

Miranda Fennell, Executive Head of Health and International Student Wellbeing Spokesperson, said this partnership is a proactive step towards improving the wellbeing of international students studying in Australia, amid rising hardship.

“The rising cost of living has led international students to rely on charitable organisations to meet their most basic needs, emphasising the need for further support,” Miranda Fennell said.

“We want to ensure the wider international student community is receiving the support they need so they can focus on their education and fully experience living in Australia,” added Fennell.

Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey said there is a reported[1] correlation between hunger and concentration.

“We know it becomes more difficult to concentrate and focus when you are hungry which ultimately affects the ability to learn. University is hard enough without having the added pressure of not knowing where your next meal is coming from. This partnership with Allianz Partners will enable many university students up and down the eastern seaboard to have access to nutritious food,” said Ms Casey.

This partnership also builds on Allianz Partners’ culture of assistance with employees getting regular hands-on volunteering opportunities at Foodbank Australia sites across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

[1] Foodbank Rumbling Tummies 2018

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Allianz Partners is a world leader in B2B2C insurance and assistance, offering global solutions that span international health and life, travel insurance, automotive and assistance. Customer driven, our innovative experts are redefining insurance services by delivering future-ready, high-tech high-touch products and solutions that go beyond traditional insurance. Our products are embedded seamlessly into our partners’ businesses or sold directly to customers, and are available through two commercial brands in Australia: Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Care. Present in over 75 countries, our 19,400 employees speak 70 languages, handle over 58 million cases each year, and are motivated to go the extra mile to offer assistance to our customers around the world.