Free period products? This Brisbane local is making it happen

The term ‘period poverty’ is powerful but still unfamiliar to many. What does it really mean and what do you wish more people understood about its impact – especially here in Australia?

It’s a hidden and silent crisis that needs to be loud. Our inaugural launch partner, Afterpay, recently commissioned research to uncover more about the realities of period poverty in Australia. The statistics are shocking. More than three in five women have been forced to use makeshift pads due to a lack of access, with almost 64 percent of women using toilet paper, followed by tissues and in some extreme cases even socks.

That doesn’t mean a lot to many, unless you look at its effects. It affects people’s confidence, mental health and day-to-day life too, with almost half of women reporting feeling anxious (47 percent) or embarrassed (43 percent) and nearly three in five (58 percent) noted that they’ve missed key life events. Not having access to period products means missed work, school and job interviews. No access equals inequality. 

At just 25 you’re tackling a global issue that many still avoid – what was the exact moment or experience that made you say, “I’m going to change this”?

My experience as a student midwife with refugees and young mothers exposed me to the heartbreaking choices they had to make. I knew then that I had to make a change, I just didn’t know how.

You studied to be a midwife and also have a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from UQ – how has your background shaped your understanding of period poverty and influenced the way you approached this initiative?

You’ve created a one-of-a-kind model offering free products through brand-supported advertising. How did you come up with this operational model and how does it work?

It really is a model that has been used for years, just in different ways – something that’s free because there are ads on it, like Facebook, Instagram and Spotify. We’ve taken that same model and turned it into tangible products with a real world impact – ending period poverty. On The House has the vision and the practical solution to a critical issue and brands like Afterpay are providing the support to help bring that vision to life and scale it. The launch marks the first major step in this partnership. On The House is rolling out its innovative digital dispensers in public toilets across Brisbane, which will provide free and sustainable period products to anyone who needs them.

Starting something like this at 25 takes courage. What personal challenges or moments of doubt have you faced so far and how do you keep going?

I’ve definitely had moments where I’ve wondered if I’m too young or too inexperienced. But I actually thrive on being pushed to my edge as it tests me, makes me sharper and helps me understand who I am under pressure. I’d get bored without a challenge. The stakes of this mission make it worth every uncomfortable moment.

As On the House continues to grow, how can everyday people, businesses or institutions play a role in helping it reach more women and expand its impact?

People help to spread the word and real change comes when everyone knows. Businesses don’t spend more advertising dollars [they] just relocate a portion of it. You are the ones who will really change the world for Women, just like Afterpay is doing.

You’ve launched in venues like university campuses and major stadiums. What’s the real-world feedback been like from the women using these dispensers?

We’ve heard nothing but great things so far, but open to any and all feedback people may have, that’s how we get better and how we help more people.

If you could take On the House global, which country would you choose first and why? What’s your long-term vision for creating change on an international scale?

By 2035, I want to have over 20,000 dispensers globally. I want to have started the world’s first female-founded out-of-home advertising company that single handedly ended a real-world issue. Country-wise, I’ll have to keep that one a secret for now!