Limestone Coast women are being encouraged to take part in a new survey by Share the Dignity which looks at periods and period poverty in line with the organisation’s March Dignity Drive.


As cost-of-living soars, so to do period product requests from Share the Dignity’s charity partners for its biannual Dignity Drive.


Request levels are currently sitting at 170,000 and rising, leading Australian charity Share the Dignity to worry about meeting the demand.


A 2023 UNICEF report found one in six children in Australia are living in poverty and Share the Dignity has heard first-hand that when people struggle to make ends meet, pads and tampons are often the first thing off the shopping list.


This month Share the Dignity is collecting period products and incontinence aids in pink boxes at all Woolworths supermarkets nationwide, to ensure those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, domestic violence or poverty do not have to risk their health and go through the indignity of using other items in place of period products.


Woolworths will also donate five cents from the sale of every period product purchased during the Drive, adding to the $2.7m already donated to help support menstrual equity for all.


In line with the drive, Share the Dignity will also be conducting its second Bloody Big Survey after 125,000 people responded to the first initiation in 2021.


The first Bloody Big Survey is the world’s largest body of data on menstruation and now three years later Share the Dignity is hoping to discern whether period poverty rates have risen.


The 2021 survey found some alarming statistics including how one in five people who menstruate have had to improvise on period products, but with inflation and the rising cost of living, Share the Dignity is concerned the 2024 Bloody Big Survey will find period poverty rates have skyrocketed.


The Bloody Big Survey asks questions about period pain, affordability, period shame, period poverty, and other experiences and will be open to May 31 with a goal of 200,000 respondents from women, girls and those who menstruate in Australia.


Within the Limestone Coast, Nicole Milosevic and Nikki Kirkland volunteer with Share the Dignity to help make a difference in Millicent, Naracoorte and Mount Gambier through Share the Dignity’s initiatives.


“Our Dignity Drives are incredibly important, every period product donated stays within the local community and ensures someone can get through their next period with the dignity they deserve,” the locals said.


“So please help us make a positive impact this month by donating period products and incontinence aids to our Dignity Drive and further your impact by taking part in our Bloody Big Survey.”


For each survey completion up to 100,000, U By Kotex will donate a packet of period products to assist Share the Dignity in meeting the rising demand.


Make an impact this March by donating period products to Share the Dignity’s Dignity Drive, find your closest collection point at sharethedignity.org.au/dignity-drives


You can also help Share the Dignity create change by ensuring your voice is heard in Share the Dignity’s Bloody Big Survey at sharethedignity.org.au/end-period-poverty/bloody-big-survey-2024