Survey to understand rates of period poverty

A SURVEY to gauge the level of period poverty experienced by Australians who menstruate has been launched by Share the Dignity.

The organisation was founded in 2015 to collect and donate products to homeless women going without basic necessities during their periods.

Since then they have grown to conduct research to understand what leads to period poverty, and founder Rachel Courtenay said she hopes the current survey could lead to menstrual equity.

“Every Dignity Drive I receive messages from our charity partners expressing their gratitude for the period products, it allows them to ensure their clients can deal with their period with dignity,” Ms Courtenay said.

“Not only do I hope to be able to collect the period products we need, but I hope we can make a tangible change for future generations, by receiving at least 200,000 responses to our Bloody Big Survey.

“The data collected will help us advocate for change and allow us to show Australia how fundamentally important ensuring menstrual equity is.”

According to results of Share the Dignity’s 2021 survey, one in five people who menstruate have had to improvise during their period when unable to source a product.

Ms Courtenay urged people with the means to donate products to their collection points and to respond to the survey.

The Bloody Big Survey is open until 31 May and can be accessed via the Share the Dignity website.

Donations of menstrual products can be left in the pink boxes at any Woolworths supermarkets in Australia.