Our Food Hub Services

  • Free Food Friday

    Free groceries every Friday morning during semester. Available only to current University of Newcastle students with a valid UNSA membership.

    View Free Food Friday 

  • UNSA Pantry (Click & Collect)

    Order free pantry staples online and collect them on your chosen pickup day. Available only to current University of Newcastle students with a valid UNSA membership.

    View UNSA Pantry (Click & Collect) 

  • UNSA Free Lunch

    Free lunch for UNSA members at selected University of Newcastle campuses during semester. Menus change week to week, with options such as salads, BBQ, pizza and more.

    View UNSA Free Lunch 

Want to help support these services?

Your donation goes directly towards keeping these services running for University of Newcastle students who are stretched thin by rent, bills and the cost of living. The Food Hub runs on the generosity of our partners, university staff, students and the wider community, and your support is part of that.

Staff, students and members of the public can give by card payment or with suitable food and hygiene donations.

How donating works

By card: Donate online through our donation page. UNSA is not currently a registered Deductible Gift Recipient, so card donations are not tax deductible.

Drop off items: Bring non-perishable food and hygiene items to UNSA HQ in the Shortland Building during opening hours. Items must be in date and in good condition. No need to contact us first for smaller donations.

Click the button below to see what we accept and get full donation details.

More donation information

Weekly schedule

This week at the UNSA Food Hub

A quick look at our regular free food programs during teaching semester. Times and locations may change for special events or university closures.

Semester only These regular Food Hub services run during University of Newcastle teaching weeks only and do not run during university breaks unless otherwise advertised.
Monday

No regular weekly service

Tuesday

UNSA Free Lunch

12pm–2pm, while stocks last

NUspace, Campus Green

View Free Lunch
Wednesday

UNSA Free Lunch

12pm–2pm, while stocks last

Callaghan, Auchmuty Courtyard

View Free Lunch
Thursday

No regular weekly service

Friday

Free Food Friday

Collect a queue number from 8:45am

UNSA HQ, Shortland Building

View Free Food Friday
UNSA Pantry (Click & Collect)

Order free pantry staples online and collect them on your chosen pickup day.

View UNSA Pantry (Click & Collect)

Who can use Food Hub services?

Free Food Friday and UNSA Pantry (Click & Collect) are only for current University of Newcastle students with a valid UNSA membership. These services are not available to the general public or students from other institutions. UNSA membership is free for current UON students.

The wider community is welcome to support the Food Hub by making a donation.

Current UON students: join UNSA free
Our story

Why we built the Food Hub

Studying at university is one of life's great opportunities, but it does not come cheap. Between rent, bills, and the everyday cost of living, many students find themselves stretched thin. When money is tight, putting food on the table can quickly become one of the hardest parts of the week.

We know that some weeks are harder than others. Financial stress has a real impact on how well students can focus on their studies, and food insecurity among university students is more common than most people realise. UNSA built the Food Hub to take some of that pressure off.

Accessing the Food Hub is simple. Current University of Newcastle students need a valid UNSA membership, which is free to join. There is no means testing. UNSA Free Lunch provides a free meal at selected campuses during semester, Free Food Friday is a walk-in grocery service, and UNSA Pantry (Click & Collect) orders are placed online and collected on your chosen pickup day.

The UNSA Food Hub brings together free food programs including UNSA Free Lunch, Free Food Friday and UNSA Pantry (Click & Collect). Each service is supported by the generosity of our partners, university staff, students and the wider community. Every donation and every volunteer hour goes directly towards keeping these services running for the students who need them most.