Share the Dignity is an Australian charity that distributes period products to women and girls experiencing domestic violence, homelessness and period poverty. Its biannual Dignity Drive in March strives to give dignity to those experiencing period poverty by collecting and distributing donations of period products from Woolworths stores across the country and a selection of nominated businesses.

This year’s campaign is called Period Pride, and it’s the biggest to date. It reflects Share the Dignity’s determination to end the shame and stigma of periods, spark discussion, and provide an insight into the issue of period poverty. It follows the belief that if people can’t talk openly about periods, then we can’t properly address period poverty. Unfortunately, simply distributing period products to those in need is a Band-Aid solution, which is why Share the Dignity is also encouraging those who menstruate to complete its “bloody big survey”.

Launched on International Women’s Day, the survey closes on June 1 and concentrates on menstruation – often a taboo topic – and it’s predicted to be the biggest period-related survey in the world. To make a real difference at a government level, Share the Dignity needs at least 100,000 responses to prove the social, personal and financial impacts of menstruation among Australians. This is a required step in Share the Dignity’s three-pronged approach to end period poverty.

Founded in 2015, Share the Dignity has so far been able to donate 2.8 million packets of tampons and pads to those in need. Share the Dignity believes that every person suffering period poverty deserves the right to their dignity. To learn more about Period Pride and complete the survey, go to https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/period-pride