Share the Dignity has been working to end period poverty in Australia for a decade, but Australia’s need for support continues to grow?
This March, Share the Dignity is celebrating 10 years of working to end period poverty in Australia, however after a decade working to ensure dignified access to period products, Share the Dignity continues to see the demand rise to new heights.
With several major campaigns running every year, including bi-annual Dignity Drives in March and August, the organisation which started as a grassroots initiative, has turned into a national movement.
With support from corporate partnerships like Woolworths, government figures, Australian influencers and well-loved Australian icons, Share the Dignity has no intention to slow down, especially when the demand for period products and basic essentials continue to rise at an alarming rate.
The rising costs of living continue to remain challenging for everyday Australians as they struggle to make ends meet. Compare the Market’s Household Budget Barometer 2024 survey of 3,000 Australians, found that 25% of respondents were worried about the rising cost of groceries and basic essentials, with 45% of respondents experiencing financial concerns at least once a week.
Share the Dignity founder and managing director, Rochelle Courtney said despite all the incredible support the charity receives, the cost-of-living crisis in Australia continues to impact those experiencing period poverty.
“We’ve accomplished so much over the last 10 years and I’m so proud of the work that we’ve done, but there is still so much more to do,” Ms Courtenay said.
“The cost-of-living crisis has placed immense pressure on vulnerable Australians, and we must rally together to ensure no one has to face period poverty alone.
“No woman, girl or person who menstruates should have to experience the indignity of having to substitute period products”.
Women living in poverty and their struggles with menstruation was first brought to Courtenay’s attention 10 years ago whilst reading an article from Mamamia, where it detailed women and girls resorting to using socks, newspapers and wadded up toilet paper to try and manage their period. After that day, Courtenay took her first steps towards creating a charity from the ground up to try and tackle Australia’s issue with period poverty.
The Bloody Big Survey, conducted by Share the Dignity in 2024, highlighted the hardships faced by everyday Australians, quantified in alarming statistics, finding 64% of respondents have had difficulty purchasing period products due to cost.
“Our mission has always been to ensure that no one has to go without period products, but the reality is that demand is growing faster than we can meet it,” Ms Courtenay said.
“As we reflect on our 10-year birthday, it is clear that our work is more critical than ever, and more people than ever need our help.”
Darian Brooker has experienced period poverty firsthand and said she still vividly remembers what it was like to bleed through her clothes and have period blood running down her leg at school.
"I would wear multiple pairs of undies and wrap up a huge amount of toilet paper to catch the school bus,” Ms Brooker said.
Brooker now speaks of the importance of access to period products and how these essential items would have changed her whole experience with menstruation growing up.
“I could have had the dignity in that situation to access the products that I needed without needing to ask anybody, and to also have had the opportunity to not bleed through and stain clothes.”
To help people like Darian, Share the Dignity is collecting period products and incontinence aids this March, which can be donated in the pink collection boxes at all Woolworths Supermarkets Australia-wide.
Woolworths will also donate 5 cents from the sale of every period product purchased throughout March, adding to the $3,157,033 already donated since the partnership started in 2019. Thanks to these Woolworths donations, Share the Dignity has been able to install and maintain 107 currently installed Dignity Vending Machines which dispense free period packs to those in need in the community.
This support helps to ensure those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, domestic violence or poverty don’t have to risk their health and go through the indignity of using other items in place of period products.
All period products and incontinence aids collected through the Dignity Drive will be distributed to Share the Dignity’s 3000+ charity partners, including community groups, domestic violence refuges, homeless shelters and other organisations supporting our most vulnerable community members.
Share the Dignity are calling on everyday Australians to join together to support their fellow neighbours needing support by donating period products, funds or their time. Make an impact this March by donating period products to Share the Dignity’s Dignity Drive, find your closest collection point here.
