The ASRC Foodbank supports people seeking asylum and refugees to access food and essential items in Melbourne. The program provides equitable access to culturally appropriate, nutritious food and basic groceries to our clients in a welcoming and social environment. This page provides information for people seeking asylum on:
New to the ASRC
If you are new to the ASRC and need access to food, please call 03 9326 6066 or come to the centre and our team can assess your circumstances. We are open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10:00am–12:30pm and 1:30pm–3:30pm.
If you are eligible, you can pick up your food at the Foodbank. We are located on Level 2 of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre at 214-218 Nicholson St, Footscray VIC 3011.
Existing members
Foodbank Supermarket
If you are a current ASRC client, eligible to access the Foodbank, you can come in and shop at the Footscray centre.
ASRC Foodbank at Footscray is currently open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00am – 12:30pm and 1:15pm – 3:30pm. The Foodbank is closed on Wednesdays.
If you are an existing member, you can come to the ASRC to shop Monday to Friday 11:00am – 12:30pm and 1:15pm – 3:30pm without an appointment.
Home Delivery was offered as a response to COVID-19 and state-wide lockdowns. People can now come into ASRC to do their weekly or fortnightly shop at Foodbank.
Yes, when you come to the centre to shop you can select which items you would like.
Yes, we have a category system which shows you how much is allocated to your household size per week or fortnight.
Each household receives both pantry staples and fresh produce. The pantry items include basmati rice, dried pulses like chickpeas or lentils, tea or coffee, salt, sugar, long-life milk, pasta and toilet paper. You can also select tinned goods from a range including tuna, tomatoes, coconut cream, vegetables and pulses. Greek-style yoghurt and flatbread are also available.
There are also a variety of specialty items which we try to make available as often as possible, such as honey, spices, nuts and dried fruits. The Foodbank also offers toiletries, dishwashing liquid and laundry powder. Sanitary pads are also available.
The fresh produce section of the Foodbank offers onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, apples, oranges and greens, as well as seasonal produce such as eggplant, cauliflower, sweet potato, chillies, capsicum, cabbage and herbs, and sometimes lemons and other seasonal fruits, when available.
With the exception of tinned tuna, all food distributed through the Foodbank is vegetarian. Milk, eggs and yoghurt are included, and there are many vegan protein options available such as dried and tinned pulses, and plant-based milk is available on request.
I need food but I am not seeking asylum. Where can I get help?
We want to help connect you to other service providers offering food relief services for the wider community. Search your location in the links below to access food assistance in your neighbourhood.
As you may be aware, there are changes occurring at the ASRC.
To plan for these changes to make the ASRC sustainable into the future:
The Footscray centre will close to all visitors every Wednesday.
Every Friday, some services will be closed but the Foodbank, Health, Legal and Hub services will remain open.
To access our services, you can phone 03 9326 6066 or come to the ASRC Footscray in person during opening hours.
The Reception Team will greet you and link you with our services.
As you may be aware, there are changes occurring at the ASRC.
To plan for these changes to make the ASRC sustainable into the future:
The Footscray centre will close to all visitors every Wednesday.
Every Friday, some services will be closed but the Foodbank, Health, Legal and Hub services will remain open.
To access our services, you can phone 03 9326 6066 or come to the ASRC Footscray in person during opening hours. The Reception Team will greet you and link you with our services.
The Government has announced it will provide pathways for TPV/SHEV holders and TPV/SHEV applicants to
be assessed for RoS visas. RoS visas are permanent visas that allow holders to live, work and study in Australia,
access government services such as Medicare and Centrelink, and sponsor eligible family members for
permanent residence.
Click here for Permanent Visa Pathways for TPV/SHEV Holders & Applicants Fact Sheet
The Fact Sheet is also available in: Dari – Urdu – Arabic – Tamil
Thanks for your interest in supporting the ASRC Telethon on World Refugee Day, Monday 20th June.
Complete this form with your details and we will send you an email reminder before the event as well as alerts throughout the day when key activities happen.
Please note: all requests submitted to the Marketing Services Model will not be worked on until 1 July 2022 to allow the team space to focus on projects such as the Winter Appeal and Telethon.
You are welcome to submit requests and we’d love to support – we ask that you please supply a reasonable due date, keeping in mind we will not tend to the request until July. Thank you!
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners across Australia and pay respect to their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. We acknowledge sovereignty of the lands upon which we work and live have never been ceded.
The centre is OPEN again from Tuesday 11th – Friday 14th (10am – 5pm).
We will return to normal operating hours (10am – 5pm, Monday – Friday), from Monday 17th of January onwards.
The centre is OPEN again from Tuesday 11th – Friday 14th (10am – 5pm).
We will return to normal operating hours (10am – 5pm, Monday – Friday), from Monday 17th of January onwards.
You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/
If you applied for a TPV or SHEV visa between 2015 and 2017 and have not already attended a Protection visa interview with the Department, please contact the ASRC urgently for legal assistance. CALL: Fast track hotline 0422035324 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or email legal@asrc.org.au
The application interview is your only chance to explain your case to the Department. Update your contact details with the Department to receive your Interview Invitation (the ASRC can also help you do this).
Click here to learn more (Info sheet Fast Track interviews).
Click here to read info sheet in other languages.
“I can’t erase racism by myself. It’s only if we all come together to accept that there is an issue and work together that we can make a change.”
Prudence Melom, founder and CEO of E-RACED
“Growing in a refugee camp and experiencing hardship from a young age I felt very misunderstood among my peers in Australia. Kids my age did not understand why my skin was darker, they didn’t understand why my accent was a little different and they didn’t understand why I came to Australia.
“I was inspired to start E-RACED after experiencing first hand the effects of racism in this country and the power of sharing my story to completely change people’s attitudes. Never underestimate the power of one-on-one interactions and sharing stories to change the world.”
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Connect with us
Need help from the ASRC? Call 03 9326 6066 (Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm) to book an appointment.