Share the Dignity has written to every local councillor and mayor in Australia, encouraging them to participate in the Council Cares program.
The initiative, launched to coincide with Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, provides councils with practical tools to promote menstrual equity.
The charity’s 2024 Bloody Big Survey, which gathered responses from over 150,000 Australian menstruators, revealed that 64 per cent of respondents had struggled to afford period products, while 65 per cent felt unprepared for their first period.
In the Campaspe Shire Council area, the situation appears particularly challenging, with 70.48 per cent of respondents reporting difficulty affording period products.
The survey also found that 62.56 per cent of respondents had missed school, and 68.72per cent had missed sporting activities due to their period.
Murray River Shire Council is yet to respond to the Share the Dignity survey.
“Everyone deserves the right to manage their period with dignity, no matter their postcode,” Share the Dignity founder and managing director Rochelle Courtenay said.
“By giving councils Bloody Big Survey data from their own community, we’re encouraging councils to make informed, compassionate decisions that change lives.”
The Council Cares program encourages councils to install Dignity Vending Machines in public spaces, support menstrual education and introduce rebates for reusable period products.
Members of the public can support the initiative by emailing their local council using a template available at sharethedignity.org.au/end-period-poverty/council-cares
Since its establishment in 2015, Share the Dignity has distributed over five million packets of period products and more than one million ‘It's in the Bag’ donations through its network of 3300 volunteers.
11°C