Booking & Tickets
How do I access the Food Hub?
You need to book a ticket through Rubric before attending. Tickets are released at 6 PM the Friday before each Food Hub session.
Tickets include your ticket type, allocated collection time and location details. Tickets are limited each week to help ensure fair access for students.
Please bring your UTAS student ID when you attend.
Can I attend without a ticket?
Registration and a ticket are required to access the Food Hub. You can pre-book your ticket through Rubric, or book a ticket when you arrive, subject to availability.
How often can I access the Food Hub?
Students can book one Food Hub ticket per week.
This helps us make sure food support is available to as many students as possible.
Can I collect food for a friend?
No. Each ticket is for the student who booked it, and students must attend in person with their UTAS student ID.
Your Food Hub Visit
What happens when I arrive?
Your ticket will have an allocated collection time. Please arrive during your booked time so we can manage the number of students in the Food Hub and keep things running smoothly.
Your ticket will be scanned by a student volunteer, and you’ll be given a basket to use while collecting your groceries. Your ticket type will be attached to your basket.
The Food Hub is colour coded to help you know which areas you can access:
- Green = free food
- Blue = paid pantry items
Item limits are clearly displayed throughout the Food Hub.
If you’re unsure about anything, please ask one of our friendly volunteers. If it’s your first time at Food Hub, let us know and we’ll be happy to explain how it works.
Food Hub sessions are divided into 50-minute collection periods. The Food Hub closes for the final 10 minutes of each hour so our team can restock and complete stock checks.
What should I bring?
Please bring:
- Your UTAS student ID
- A bag or bags to carry your food
- Your own containers if you’d like to use them for bulk food items
Can I bring my own containers?
Absolutely! We encourage students to bring reusable containers and jars where possible.
You can also earn stamps through our Food Hub Rewards Program for bringing reusable containers and returning eligible cleaning-product spray bottles.
Food & Bundles
What food can I get at the Food Hub?
Food available varies from week to week, but includes:
- Fresh fruit and vegetables, usually seasonal
- Pantry staples
- Bread
- Frozen food and meals
We purchase some pantry staples to help maintain a reliable supply, while much of our fresh, frozen and bread supply comes from food donations and food rescue.
Why does the food available change each week?
A significant amount of the food available at the Food Hub comes from food rescue organisations and donations. This means the types and quantities of food we receive can change from week to week.
We aim to provide a good variety of nutritious and essential foods, but we cannot guarantee particular brands or individual food items.
Are there limits on how much food I can take?
Yes. Limits apply to some fresh produce and frozen items. These vary depending on the quantities we receive and help ensure there is enough food for everyone accessing the Food Hub.
For pantry items, the maximum is 2 of the same item, within your purchased bundle limit of 5 or 8 items.
Bread is available without a set quantity limit.
Our team may adjust limits depending on the amount of food available on the day. Any limits will be clearly displayed on each item.
What do the different tickets include?
Free Ticket provides access to:
- Fruit and vegetables
- Frozen food
- Bread
- The free items table
Basic Bundle – $5 includes:
- 5 pantry items
- Fruit and vegetables
- Frozen food
- Bread
- The free items table
Premium Bundle – $8 includes:
- 8 pantry items
- Fruit and vegetables
- Frozen food
- Bread
- The free items table
Limits apply to fresh and frozen items and will be displayed on each item.
Why does the Food Hub have paid and free options?
The Food Hub operates as a partially paid service.
Paid bundles allow us to purchase pantry staples and maintain a more reliable supply of essential foods, while donations and food rescue allow us to provide a range of free food options.
The Food Hub subsidises the cost of pantry items so that these essential foods remain affordable for students.
Think of the Food Hub as a top-up to your weekly groceries, rather than a full grocery shop. The food available changes each week, so we encourage students to use the Food Hub alongside their usual grocery shopping.
If You Need More Food Support
What if I can’t afford a Basic or Premium Bundle?
The Food Hub has free food options available through the Free Ticket.
If you’re experiencing significant financial or food insecurity and need additional support, you can book an appointment with a TUSA Advocate through the TUSA website. They can talk through your circumstances and help you explore other support options.
What if I need food outside Food Hub hours?
Free bread is available at Sandy Bay Tuesday–Thursday from 9 AM–11 AM, outside the Food Hub. Frozen bread is also available Monday–Thursday at the TUSA Hub in Lazenby’s in Sandy Bay.
If our usual collection times don’t work for your schedule, please email us. We may be able to organise a pre-packed bag of groceries for you to collect during TUSA’s office hours.
If you need additional food support, you can book an appointment with a TUSA Advocate through the TUSA website.
If You Can’t Make Your Booking
What if I can’t make my allocated time?
We understand that things come up.
If you know you won’t be able to attend your allocated time, please email us by 6 PM the day before the Food Hub session and we’ll let you know what options are available.
Please don’t simply attend at a different time, as we use allocated time slots to manage numbers and stock.
What happens if I miss my ticket?
If you don’t attend your allocated session and haven’t contacted us beforehand, your ticket may not be able to be transferred to another time.
If something unexpected happens, please contact us and we’ll do our best to help.
Food Hub Rewards Program
How does the Rewards Program work?
We offer a Rewards Program to encourage reusable packaging and sustainable practices.
You can receive a stamp on your Food Hub Rewards Card when you:
- Bring your own containers or jars for bulk food items
- Return spray bottles used for Z-Water cleaning products
Collect 10 stamps to receive a reward.
Rewards may include:
- TUSA tote bags
- An additional pantry item
- Coffee vouchers
- Unique Tasmanian experiences
Rewards and availability may change from time to time.
Food Hub Guidelines & Support
Why can’t I choose exactly what I want?
The Food Hub operates using food we receive through donations, food rescue and low-cost purchasing. This means we can’t guarantee that particular foods will be available or that students will always have multiple options to choose from.
Our team works to distribute food as fairly as possible while making sure everyone has access to a useful range of groceries.
What if an item isn’t available?
Our staff and volunteers are here to help, so please ask if you’re unsure about anything or need assistance during your visit.
Food availability depends on what we receive each week, so we’re unable to guarantee specific items.
Think of the Food Hub as a top-up to your weekly groceries, rather than a full grocery shop.
What if I have specific dietary or accessibility needs?
Please speak with our staff or volunteers when you attend, or contact us before your visit. We’ll do our best to accommodate individual needs where we can.
Because much of our food comes from donations and food rescue, we cannot guarantee particular products or dietary options every week.
Still have a question?
If you can’t find the answer here, we’re happy to help.
📧 Food Hub: Food.Hub@tusa.utas.edu.au
For additional food, financial or wellbeing support, you can also book an appointment with a TUSA Advocate: https://tusa.org.au/support/
Staying Updated
How will I know if there are changes to the Food Hub?
Opening hours, closures, special events and other updates will be communicated through the TUSA Food Hub webpage and Facebook page.
Please check these before attending, particularly around public holidays or university breaks.