The rising cost of living is pushing more women into period poverty, with many struggling to afford basic menstrual products, according to Share the Dignity.
In response, the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre in Warilla offers free period products to any woman who needs them, with no questions asked.
“At the Centre, women can access free period products independently and without judgement. There is no need to be a client already or have an appointment; you can just drop in anytime during our opening hours,” said the Centre’s Executive Director, Sally Stevenson.
The scale of the problem is highlighted in the 2024 Bloody Big Survey conducted by Share the Dignity.
More than 153,000 respondents shared their experiences, with 64 per cent of women saying they had struggled to afford period products in the past year.
For some, this meant making difficult choices between essentials.
“With the cost of everything rising, sometimes I had to make decisions between whether I buy food or buy period products,” said one woman.
The survey found that many women and girls were relying on makeshift alternatives like using toilet paper, cloth, or even bags, to get through their periods.
It has also led to women saying they miss work or skip school because they are worried about leaks.
In 2019, period products became tax-free in Australia, while in the NSW period, products are provided free of charge in schools.
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre provides free period products. Ask at our reception, or find them in the storage unit behind our front door.
Contact us for more information on 4255 6800.