Clothing is one of the most-needed items across Australian charities, according to new research from national charity connector Good360 Australia.
A survey conducted with 412 charities nationwide revealed that 69 per cent don’t have enough donated items to meet the needs in their community. This is up 65 per cent from last year.
The research also showed that community demand for donated essential items remains at record highs, with 82 per cent of charities saying demand has never been higher and 83 per cent expecting the year ahead to be even tougher.
Personal hygiene and cleaning products are the most needed, with demand up 2 per cent to 78 per cent. Clothing (69 per cent) and education items such as stationery, books and backpacks (68 per cent) come in second and third, while digital devices are increasingly needed at 48 per cent, up 6 percentage points on last year.
The report also reveals a 15 per cent increase in charities and schools seeking support compared to last year.
Meanwhile, Good360 data showed $60.5 million dollars’ worth of donated new items were delivered to people in need in FY25, on par with 2024, highlighting that donations are not keeping pace with rising community demand.
Good360 Australian founder and MD Alison Covington said the findings reinforce that the challenge of reducing need and waste is deepening, and must not be treated as temporary.
“While some indicators might suggest the cost of living crisis may be easing, charities paint a very different picture,” Covington said. “The reality is that demand on charities is rising. Australia’s cost-of-living crisis is becoming a permanent, structural challenge that requires smart and sustainable long-term solutions.”
Covington added that behind these numbers are families going without basic hygiene products, children without essential school supplies, and elderly Australians facing hardship for the first time.
“This is not the Australia we should accept in 2025,” she said.
Added to this, a report by Deloitte Access Economics that was commissioned by Ragtrader shows the value of unsold retail goods wasted in Australia has risen sharply over the past few years. It is estimated that $4.5 billion worth of unsold household goods are wasted each year, with the rise of online shopping returns adding to the challenge.
“We have rising community need on one side and rising waste on the other,” Covington said. “We cannot allow billions of dollars of unsold items to be wasted; these are perfectly usable goods that can be connected to people who need them most.”
In a bid to address this growing challenge, Good360 Australia has launched its own community hub – a flagship space and community store where people in need, accompanied by a charity community worker, can access free essential goods in a retail-like environment.
According to Covington, the store will provide dignity, comfort and a sense of belonging.
“It is also a milestone for Good360 Australia,” she said. “For the first time, we are creating spaces where charities, donors and communities can come together to reduce need and waste. With the generous support of IKEA and our partners, we plan to expand this model nationwide, with at least one Community Hub established in every state and territory.”
Good360’s survey also found that the top concern among charities remains deteriorating economic conditions and cost of living, at 83 per cent. Concerns over a lack of donated items have also increased since this time last year by 4 percentage points to 66 per cent.
Following a wild winter across much of the country, there is also rising concern about the potential impact of natural disasters on communities (27 per cent - up from 24 per cent last year).
In addition, 8 per cent of surveyed charities believe governments could be doing more to improve access to non-food aid, while 83 per cent say retailers and businesses could do more by donating excess or unsold goods.
“Meeting this challenge takes more than goodwill; it requires smart solutions and collective action from government, business and community,” Covington said. “Together, we can make sure no Australian goes without life’s essentials and that perfectly good products are never wasted.”
Good360 Australia is the largest digital marketplace in Australia for the retail industry to donate unused and unsold consumer goods to people in need.