#243 'From Fitness Trainer To Changemaker', Rochelle Courtenay Founder & CEO Share The Dignity
In 2015, Rochelle Courtenay came across an article that exposed the reality faced by many women experiencing homelessness or living in poverty in Australia. It described how some were forced to use socks, newspapers, or toilet paper to manage their periods due to a lack of access to essential products. Reading this, Rochelle felt she couldn’t ignore the issue.At the time, she was running a personal training and photography business, but the idea of doing something practical to help took hold. She started small, asking her clients to donate period products, using her gym as a collection point. The response was immediate, and what began as a local effort soon grew into a nationwide movement- Share The Dignity.The charity’s goal is simple: to ensure no one in Australia goes without the basic products needed to manage their period. It provides pads and tampons to people experiencing homelessness, financial hardship, or crisis, ensuring they can manage their periods with dignity.Beyond distributing products, Share The Dignity pushes for better menstrual health education and policy change. The organisation has installed dignity vending machines across Australia, offering free period packs in schools, community centres, and other accessible locations. It also played a key role in the campaign to remove the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on period products, a classification that unfairly labelled them as luxury items.In its first year, Rochelle encouraged her clients to donatea pack of pads or tampons for every glass of wine they drank in March. The support she received confirmed the willingness of people to help. As the initiative expanded, Rochelle faced the logistical challenges of building a charity—securing legal status, obtaining permits, and managing distribution networks. Volunteers, whom she calls “sheroes and heroes,” played a crucial role in overcoming these hurdles.Rochelle’s motivation came from a mix of personal experience and the stories she encountered. She had faced struggles of her own and could imagine the additional burden of managing a period without proper supplies. One story stuck with her—a young girl in a domestic violence shelter who resorted to using stolen socks because she had no other option.Share The Dignity is more than a charity; it’s a movement for change. While providing immediate support, it also challenges the systems that have allowed period poverty to persist. Its success in removing the GST on period products is a testament to the power of public action and advocacy. The charity’s vision is simple: menstrual products should be as readily available as toilet paper, with long-term solutions embedded in policy, not just charity.For those looking to support this cause, there are many ways to get involved—donating products, volunteering, or simply raising awareness about period poverty. Share The Dignity is proof that small actions, when combined, can create lasting change.
New Zealand