These troubling findings emerged from a survey conducted by The Salvation Army, which involved 3,586 vulnerable individuals who had received food, financial, or material assistance from the organization.

Families with children were among the most affected, struggling to remain above the poverty threshold. A staggering 62 percent of parents admitted they went without food so their kids could have meals, and one in every 20 respondents confessed to scavenging from bins.

The level of hardship extends to the inability to afford fresh food, medication and pay utility bills. Showering less to reduce water bills was reported by 43 per cent of respondents, while one in five were living in darkness to cut electricity charges.

The Salvation Army’s Major Bruce Harmer says the situation is heart breaking. 

“It is truly shocking in a country like Australia that we are seeing these devastating numbers.

“No one should be forced to eat expired food or to eat out of rubbish bins. The fact that over one in twenty of those we surveyed said they were eating from dumpsters breaks our heart.”

The study comes as the The Salvation Army launches its annual Red Shield Appeal, which aims to raise $38 million to ensure the charity’s 2000 services can continue to support Australians doing it tough.