Foodbank has launched its 2017 Hunger Report to coincide with Anti-Poverty Week.

Foodbank NSW and ACT executive general manager John Robertson said it was a very worrying set of figures released in the report.

“We deliver 53,000 meals to the people in Dubbo, but the demand is for 156,000 so we’re fairly well short. We literally don’t have enough food to go around as an organisation,” Mr Robertson said.

There were 29,434 kilograms of food supplied to Dubbo last year.

Almost one-third of those experiencing food insecurity live in regional and remote areas, the data states.

The preconceived notion of those experiencing food insecurity was of someone without a job, living on the streets, Mr Robertson said, however it’s not true. Almost half of those who are unsure where their next meal is coming from are employed.

“It’s a very worrying set of figures to come out of the report,” he said.

“Fifteen per cent of the population have been unsure about where their next meal is coming from – that’s a very worrying figure.”

“We say we’re living in the lucky country but when you see 3.6 million Australians have experienced food insecurity it really pulls the curtains back.”

There were three core reasons for the food insecurity issues, Mr Robertson said: rising energy prices, a lack of affordable housing and underemployment.

“Bill shock” was the cause behind 56 per cent of the people experiencing food insecurity. Of those struggle to make ends meet, two in five did not pay the bills to ensure they had enough money to buy food.

Just under half  – 48 per cent – said they simply didn’t have enough money in the first place, while 38 per cent said the reason they were having trouble was because they had to pay the rent or mortgage.

Skipping meals is common.

Almost half – 45 per cent – of those experiencing food insecurity have skipped a meal and 28 per cent have gone for an entire day without eating.

“People are living paycheck to paycheck,” the executive general manager said.

The issues needed to be address by the government, Mr Robertson said.

He has called on the NSW government to support breakfast programs in schools to feed 12,600 hungry children across the state.

At a local level, Mr Robertson said the Dubbo population could make a difference by donating to Foodbank, allowing the organisation to purchase food, or by volunteering at a charity.