Pad it Forward – Addressing Period Poverty in South Australia

TABOO’s Pad it Forward (PIF) program exists to address period poverty in Australia by increasing access to period products and menstrual health education to people experiencing disadvantage in Australia. Period poverty is when someone does not have access to period products, menstrual health education, sufficient sanitation facilities (clean water and bathrooms), and waste management facilities to deal with their period. Period poverty prevents people from participating fully in life, whether that’s school or work absenteeism, or the development of avoidable health complications, further fuelling social, economic and health inequalities, disproportionately affecting the quality of life for girls and women.

TABOO’s PIF Program works to address period poverty in Australia by increasing access to period products and menstrual health education among at-risk populations. TABOO partners with community organisations who work with at-risk populations including youth organisations, DV services, homelessness services, women’s support services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations and more. The PIF program works to alleviate the social, economic and health inequalities experienced by vulnerable groups by providing safe and unrestricted access to menstrual health supports, enabling people to continue participating in school, work, social activities and contribute fully to their communities. TABOO does this through period product provisioning, menstrual health education initiatives, and support around creating inclusive and accessible spaces for women and people who menstruate.

This project is transformational at both an individual and societal level, as it breaks cycles of period poverty, improving health, education, and economic outcomes, while normalising menstruation and fostering systemic change.