RUSU Women’s Committee Launches ‘Flow Forward’ to Fight Period Poverty and Rising Costs

Melbourne, Australia – 12th April 2022 — The RUSU Women’s Committee has just launched Flow Forward, a student-led project tackling period poverty and rising living costs with a practical, sustainable solution: free reusable period products for students who need them.

With rent, groceries, and transport all climbing, everyday essentials, including period care are getting harder to afford. According to the 2024 Bloody Big Survey, 3 in 5 people in Australia struggle to afford period products, with many forced to use toilet paper, socks, or old rags instead. This period poverty disproportionately affects students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, those in rural areas, and members of marginalised communities, including Indigenous Australians and gender-diverse people.

“Everything’s expensive right now and period products aren’t optional,” said Akansha, Chair of the RUSU Women’s Committee. “Flow Forward is about easing that financial pressure with a solution that’s not only affordable, but better for the environment too.”

What Flow Forward Offers
The project is rolling out in three key stages:

  1. Education & Awareness – Hosting student workshops and events on how disposable products impact the planet, and how to switch to reusable options.

  2. Free Product Distribution – Providing reusable pads to students who need them, along with resources to make your own at home.

  3. Community Partnerships – Collaborating with local organisations to expand access to sustainable period care across campus and beyond.

The initiative is expected to provide 500 reusable pads in its first year, helping to cut down around 1,000 kg of plastic waste that would otherwise come from disposable products.

It’s not just an environmental issue, it’s an economic one. A 2022 study found 1 in 3 people who menstruate have missed work due to period-related issues, costing Australia $9.6 billion a year. When students can’t afford the basics, their education and wellbeing take a hit.

“We’re not just handing out pads, we’re helping students feel confident, included, and supported,” said Georgia, a RUSU Women’s Committee member. “No one should have to compromise their health because of rising prices.”

Get Involved
Want to help make period care accessible for all? Support the Flow Forward project by donating reusable products, volunteering, or spreading the word. Contact rusuwomen@rmit.edu.au to learn more.