It is a sad reality that many Australians still experience “Period Poverty”. Period Poverty is experienced when someone does not have access to period products, menstrual health education, sufficient sanitation facilities (ie clean water and bathrooms) and waste management facilities to deal with their period.
It is a global problem and is reported that over 800 million people are currently living in period poverty around the world. Those experiencing period poverty encounter various physical, mental and social consequences. When menstruators don’t have access to period products, their school and work attendance can be affected. They can encounter severe health and reproductive issues by using alternative materials and experience shame and embarrassment.
In South Australia, there are many young people who cannot afford to buy period products. So, the City of Salisbury’s Youth Council decided to take action by actively seeking Council’s approval to support a program of benefit to the local community.
Recognising the financial impact that purchasing period products places on individuals, particularly in the face of rising inflation, Council swiftly supported an application by TABOO Period Products via its Community Wellbeing & Sport Committee Grant Program, to provide period products free of charge to our local young people, up to the value of $5,000.
TABOO Period Products is the brainchild of two socially committed and innovative young South Australian women, Isobel Marshall (2021 Young Australian of the Year) and Eloise Hall (The Advertiser’s Woman of the Year Rising Star Award 2021 recipient) whose business has both local and global impact.
The OneGirl Global initiative provides comprehensive support to young girls in Sierra Leone and Uganda, allowing them to be the best they can be, through educational support programs. The net profits of TABOO Period Products go to the OneGirl global initiative.
More locally, their “Pad It Forward” program supports those experiencing period poverty in Australia by enabling donors to subscribe for as little as $7 per month and pay it forward to someone in need.
The products will be available in the female toilets at Twelve 25 Youth Centre and if successful, the products will be rolled out to other City of Salisbury locations.
