Dignity Drive seeking donations

SHARE the Dignity is again asking residents from across Geelong, the Bellarine, and Surf Coast to consider donating feminine hygiene products throughout the rest of August as part of its current ‘Dignity Drive’.

The initiative aims to assist the 7 per cent of Victorian women who have experienced ‘period poverty’ in the last 12 months.

Share the Dignity is partnering with Woolworths for the campaign, which is held twice a year.

As part of the drive, Woolworths will donate five cents from the sale of every related product – a move that has helped fund about $2.84 million for 110 ‘dignity vending machines’ across the country.

“It breaks my heart to see such high rates of period poverty continuing here in Australia,” Share the Dignity founder and managing director Rochelle Courtenay said.

“No one should have to go without these basic essentials, yet this issue is alarmingly prevalent.

“I have heard so many stories shared through the survey about people’s experiences with period poverty, with some people having used tea towels or tote bags to try and manage their period with dignity, which is simply unacceptable in a country like Australia.”

Ms Courtenay said she had hoped to see a drop in the effects of period poverty based on Share the Dignity’s last survey in 2021, but demand has remained steady.

The survey report, by Dr Jane Connory of Swinburne University of Technology, found that unemployed individuals, stay-at-home parents and university/TAFE students were more likely to have experienced period poverty in the past year.

“Since our last ‘Bloody Big Survey’ in 2021, we have seen every state/territory ensure the provision of period products to high school students,” Ms Courtenay said.

“Being a student is hard enough without the added burden of period poverty.

“This survey shows that we need to see universities and TAFEs better equipped to ensure our students can manage their period with dignity.

“This research highlights that we need change, and we need it now.

“Our ‘Bloody Big Survey’ is vital to ensure we have the data to validate every heartbreaking experience we have heard with period poverty since we started nine years ago so we can advocate for change.”

People can access vending machines at any Woolworths or can donate online at sharethedignity.org.au/dignity-drives