Media Release

Share the Dignity's Dignity Drive campaign, which runs each year in March and August, has received more than six million period product donations to date, helping to fight period poverty in Australia.

Period poverty is defined as a lack of access to period products, hygiene facilities, waste management and education about period health, with recent national data from Share the Dignity showing that two-thirds of people who menstruate have struggled to afford period products.

During August, pink collection boxes will be stationed at Monash IVF Group clinics across the country for people to donate period care products in their original packaging, including pads, tampons, period underwear, menstrual cups, maternity pads and incontinence products.

Share the Dignity Founder and CEO Rochelle Courtenay said cost-of-living pressures are driving more people into period poverty, yet many in the community remain unaware of this crisis.

"Many people are surprised to learn this exists in Australia, despite one in five women having to use a tampon for far longer than they should or having to resort to using bread or a tea towel during their period, simply because they can't afford the essentials," Ms Courtenay said.

"Menstruation is not a choice, and no one should have to choose between buying period products so they can manage their period with dignity or buying the essential items they need to survive."

Share the Dignity works with more than 4,000 charity partners across Australia, including domestic violence services, homelessness services and community centres, to distribute period products in the local community.

Monash IVF Group proudly partnered with Share the Dignity at the beginning of this year, and CEO Dr Victoria Atkinson said that the period care donations made at clinics will play a critical role in supporting vulnerable women and girls across the country.

"Supporting both the physical and mental needs of women is something Monash IVF Group and our team members are incredibly passionate about," Dr Atkinson said. "No one should have to go without basic period care, and we're proud to help make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most. We encourage anyone in the community who can afford it to donate at one of our participating clinics."

The donation drive will run from Saturday, 1 August to Monday, 31 August.

Throughout the year, Monash IVF Group staff from across the country will take part in fundraising, hygiene bag packing and other initiatives to provide essential period care to those in need.

Participating clinics can be found here: sharethedignity.org.au/what-we-do/dignity-drive