Grocery shopping when you are sick or housebound in Australia

When you cannot get to the supermarket

Most grocery planning assumes you can physically go to a store. When illness, injury, a sick child, caring responsibilities or mobility limitations make that impossible, a different set of options applies.

This guide covers the practical options available to Australian households in these situations.

Home delivery: the most direct option

Both Woolworths and Coles offer home delivery with a minimum order threshold and a delivery fee that varies by window and timing. When you cannot leave the house, paying a delivery fee is usually more practical and less expensive than the alternatives — especially if the alternative is expensive convenience food delivery.

The main things to check: your delivery slot availability, the minimum order, and substitution preferences for items that may be out of stock. Our delivery guide covers how the pricing structure works.

Some areas also have same-day or rapid delivery options through retailer apps or third-party services. These typically cost more per item and per delivery but can cover urgent needs when your usual planned shop is not possible.

Click & Collect via a trusted person

If you have a family member, friend or neighbour who can collect on your behalf, Click & Collect lets you do the entire shop online and have it ready for pickup. This removes the need for them to navigate a supermarket on your behalf and ensures you get the specific items you need.

Relying on a stocked pantry

A pantry with reliable staples — pasta, rice, canned goods, oats, oil, stock — allows you to cover several days of meals without any fresh shopping. This is the most practical short-term buffer when being unwell is unpredictable.

Our pantry staples guide covers which items provide the most meal coverage per dollar and are worth keeping on hand. The freezer management guide covers how a stocked freezer extends this buffer further.

Community and neighbourhood support

If home delivery is not available in your area or you are facing a longer period of limited mobility, community support options exist. Neighbourhood Facebook groups and apps like Nextdoor are practical for asking a nearby neighbour for assistance with pickup. Local councils and community organisations in some areas offer grocery assistance for elderly or disabled residents — worth checking with your local council.

Planning ahead for future periods

If you have a condition or care situation that creates predictable periods when shopping is difficult, building a pantry buffer during easier weeks is the most cost-effective preparation. Buying a few extra shelf-stable items each week during good periods costs little and provides real security.