Share the Dignity
Share the Dignity is an Australian charity founded in 2015 that addresses period poverty by providing free menstrual products and related support to women, girls, and people experiencing disadvantage. It operates nationally through donation drives, vending machine distribution, and advocacy for menstrual equity.
History
Share the Dignity was established in March 2015 by Rochelle Courtenay on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.[1] The initiative began when Courtenay organised local collections of sanitary products to help women experiencing homelessness and family violence.[2]
By 2018, the organisation had distributed over 1.5 million pads and tampons nationally.[3] It grew into a registered national charity with thousands of volunteers and partnerships with major Australian retailers.
Programs and impact
The charity runs biannual "Dignity Drives" where volunteers collect donations of pads, tampons, and incontinence products, which are then distributed to partner organisations including shelters, schools, and community groups.[4]
Share the Dignity also manages "Dignity Vending Machines", which provide free pads and tampons in public facilities, and the annual "It's in the Bag" campaign, which delivers handbags filled with essential items to women and girls at Christmas.[5]
Policy advocacy
Share the Dignity has been active in advocacy on menstrual equity, including campaigns that contributed to the removal of the Goods and Services Tax on sanitary products in Australia in 2018.[6] The organisation also runs "Period Pride", a national survey and awareness campaign on menstruation stigma.[7]
Partnerships
The charity has partnered with Woolworths Supermarkets to run national donation drives,[8] with the Brisbane Broncos on awareness campaigns,[9] and with companies such as Tork and U by Kotex on product and education initiatives.[10][11]
Recognition
Founder Rochelle Courtenay was named Queensland recipient of the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership in 2023.[12]
See also
External links
This article "Share the Dignity" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Share the Dignity. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ "The woman behind Share the Dignity". Dear Molly. 2020. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "Sunshine Coast mum fights period poverty". ABC News. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "Queensland charity making a big difference". Courier Mail. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "Dignity drive raises awareness". Northern Star Weekly. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "Share the Dignity: everyone deserves dignity". Grant Thornton Australia. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "Australia scraps tampon tax after campaign". The Guardian. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "Period Pride campaign launches to end stigma". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "Woolworths gets behind Share the Dignity's August drive". Woolworths Group. August 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "Share the Dignity strives to end period poverty". Brisbane Broncos. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "Libra Period Positivity Program: Community partners". Tork. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "About us". U by Kotex. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ↑ "Rochelle Courtenay honoured for leadership". F Magazine. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
