Rockingham & Mandurah named among highest areas in demand of Vinnies emergency relief

Mandurah and Rockingham have been named the highest-in-demand areas of urgent assistance by Vinnies WA’s emergency relief.

Vinnies WA have reported an overwhelming demand for food, clothing and living essentials amid mounting cost-of-living pressures.

A growing number of people are turning to not-for-profits for emergency support for the first time.

Between January and April this year, Vinnies WA recorded an 18 per cent increase in the volume of calls to its emergency relief call lines, compared to the same period last year.

Figures from the emergency relief lines revealed the Perth metro area with the highest demand for urgent support was Rockingham, followed by Midland, Armadale, Kwinana and Joondalup.

2057 people in the Rockingham area asked for assistance between July 2025 and March 2026.

Mandurah was regional WA’s most in-need area with 1646 calls for help, followed by Geraldton, Bunbury, Albany and Narrogin.

Overall, Vinnies WA received a total of 38,711 emergency relief calls during this period, which roughly equates to the population of Geraldton.

Food remained the most requested form of support, accounting for 65 per cent of all assistance provided, followed by clothing and living essentials, petrol and help to pay bills.

The number of employed West Australians provided with support jumped by 25 per cent compared to the same period last year, with 14 per cent of people supported for the first time.

Figures also showed 70 per cent of people supported were women, one in three were aged between 40 and 50, and one in three were single parents with children.

Vinnies WA CEO Ann Curran said the figures showed hardship was no longer isolated to people experiencing entrenched disadvantage.

“We are hearing from more people who never would have imagined they would need to ask for help, and many who are simply one payslip away from crisis,” she said.

“Heading into winter, many people are forced to make difficult decisions, and often this means choosing between heating their homes, putting food on the table or paying their rent.

“We know the colder months place enormous pressure on households already doing it tough, which is why our Vinnies Winter Appeal is critical to so many WA families right now.”

Ms Curran said funds raised through the Vinnies annual Winter Appeal would support thousands of West Australians struggling to cope with the rising cost-of-living pressure.

“These are not simply numbers, they are people in our community, often our friends and neighbours, who are trying desperately to hold everything together,” she said.

“The Vinnies Winter Appeal helps ensure we can continue providing practical support, including food assistance, help with bills, clothing and fuel, as well as funding our vital homelessness services to people who need it most.”

To donate to the Vinnies Winter Appeal or to seek urgent support, visit vinnies.org.au/wa.