Sending food to Australia - has anyone sent food packages to Australia internationally and encountered food restrictions from customs?

Sometimes, when I want to send gifts to friends in other countries, I find a supplier in-that-country (of fruits, chocolates, whatever) & place an order with them.
This choice by-passes customs, gives quality goods, a local tel or email if there are problems with the order, and is usually cheaper in shipping costs than sending internationally.
I realize it does not fulfill all the terms of the swap, especially the sending of homemade food. Maybe, for that, you could send your giftee two or three of your favorite recipes, for them to make there...perhaps with the Australian quality ingredients you buy for them.
Or maybe ask the swap organizers to give you someone closer to home and your Aussie giftee someone there as their gift-giver...
Hope these ideas are some help ;)

Australia is pretty tough when it comes to food coming in! You're not meant to send anything homemade or perishable -- I think preserves like jam might be ok but you're safer with something store bought that is in its original packaging with a list of the ingredients. Also -- don't pack anything in wood, such as a crate, or in straw or egg boxes, these natural materials are often fumigated to destroy any bugs, better off with bubble wrap! There's some useful info here: https://www.parcelhero.com/blog/expert-shipping-advice/sending-food-to-australia and also look at the prohibited items list on the official Customs website, border.gov.au