A cafe run by students, for students aims to tackle food insecurity

A new student-run cafe in Hobart's city center is tackling food insecurity among university students, operating with a mission beyond profit.

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It's been missing in recent years, a soul and a gathering place for students to come.

The Grounded cafe, established by the Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA), dedicates all its earnings to supporting the association's broader initiatives aimed at alleviating food shortages for students. TUSA's existing food hubs provide free essential items like produce and bread, alongside affordable bundle deals for pantry staples.

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so close by to everything and very affordable

Open to the public but primarily serving students, the cafe employs students, offering them hospitality skills development while they serve affordable meals and drinks. A 20% student discount and a pay-it-forward system for coffees and meals are in place. Students like Mark, Sophia, and Dylan have praised the cafe as a much-needed "third space" – a welcoming, affordable, and convenient gathering place.

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There wasn't really any nice spaces to just sit down and potentially meet other students.

This initiative comes as a 2024 University of Tasmania survey revealed that 53% of students face food insecurity, with one in three skipping multiple meals weekly. TUSA president Jack Oates Pryor described the situation as "dire," linking food insecurity to negative impacts on academic performance and graduation rates. He noted that cost-of-living pressures are forcing students to reduce study loads and work an average of 29 hours per week alongside their studies. However, Pryor observed a recent decrease in students skipping meals, coinciding with increased access to food hubs.

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These are dire times for our university students.