Mount Gambier’s Bare Necessities Lingerie is one of several local businesses taking part in this year’s Share the Dignity’s August Dignity Drive.


Share the Dignity’s August Dignity Drive enables people to donate period products and incontinence aids at Woolworths supermarkets and select businesses nationwide to help minimise period poverty.


Other South East businesses taking part are Priceline Pharmacy and Star Discount Chemist with products donated in the South East redistributed to local service organisations to help community members in need.


New research from Australian charity Share the Dignity’s Bloody Big Survey has found that a startling 65% of South Australian menstruators have found it difficult to buy period products.


Students are also doing it tough.


When compared to 2021, the number of university/TAFE students who had to improvise on period products nationally due to cost, increased from 19% in 2021 to 25% in 2024, highlighting the impact the cost of living is having on students.


Surveying 153,620 people, The Bloody Big Survey is the world’s largest survey and findings on experiences, attitudes and insights on menstruation.


It runs every three years to monitor the physical, social and financial impacts of menstruation and to look at period poverty rates across the nation.


The Bloody Big Survey found that 66% of women in Mount Gambier find it difficult to purchase period products while 65.50% missed school due to their period.


Share the Dignity founder and managing director Rochelle Courtenay expressed deep concern over the Bloody Big Survey findings.


“It breaks my heart to see such high rates of period poverty continuing here in Australia,” she said.


“No one should have to go without these basic essentials, yet this issue is alarmingly prevalent.


“I have heard so many stories shared through the survey about people’s experiences with period poverty, with some people having used tea towels, or tote bags to try and manage their period with dignity, which is simply unacceptable in a country like Australia.


“I had hoped to see a significant drop in the effects of period poverty when compared to our last survey in 2021, but it is just as high.


“This evidence-based data is what we need to keep advocating for change and to show the government needs to act now to ensure basic dignity for Australian menstruators.”