This Saturday, women across Sydney are gathering for bubbles and finger sandwiches with a purpose—to end period poverty in Australia. But dignity isn't just about access to pads and tampons. It's about feeling clean, comfortable, and in control of your body. Every single day.
Picture this. A room full of women, clinking glasses of bubbles, laughing over finger sandwiches, and raising money for... period products. It sounds like a very specific kind of party. But this Saturday, that party is happening in Sydney Olympic Park. It's called DigniTea. And it might just change the way you think about what it means to have "dignity" as a woman.
On Saturday 16 May 2026, from 12:30pm to 3:30pm at Waterview in Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park, women will gather for DigniTea Sydney 2026—a fundraising high tea event organised by the charity Share the Dignity . Your ticket gets you delicious food, bubbles on arrival, incredible guest speakers, and the knowledge that you're helping to end period poverty in Australia .
But here's what I want to talk about today. DigniTea events are held across May in celebration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day (28 May) . They're about ensuring every woman and girl has access to sanitary products so they don't have to choose between food and period care.
That mission is vital. It's urgent. It's life-changing for the women who are currently using toilet paper or newspaper because they can't afford pads .
But "dignity" means more than access to products. It means feeling clean. Comfortable. In control of your body. And that's where this conversation connects to everything we talk about at Just Between Us.
What Is Period Poverty?
Let's start with the basics. Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, and adequate sanitation facilities . In Australia, it's a hidden crisis. Women experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or simply doing it tough are forced to make impossible choices: buy food or buy pads? Pay rent or buy tampons?
Share the Dignity was founded in 2015 after it was identified that vulnerable women in our community were having to use toilet paper, newspaper, or even socks to manage their periods . Women and children in shelters were cleaning themselves in public toilets. This is not and should never be okay.
Since then, Share the Dignity has delivered over 3 million packets of pads and tampons and over 600,000 essential filled handbags to Australian women and girls . They run collection drives, install Dignity Vending Machines in public spaces, and mobilise thousands of volunteers across the country .
DigniTea is their flagship fundraising event—a chance to bring supporters together for an afternoon of fun, connection, and real change .
The Dignity Gap
Here's where I want to push the conversation a little further.
Having access to a pad is essential. It is the absolute baseline of dignity. But is it the whole picture?
Think about what it feels like to be on your period. The heavy days. The unexpected gushes. The ruined underwear. The feeling of never being quite clean. Now imagine you don't have reliable access to clean water. Or a private bathroom. Or the ability to change your product when you need to.
The anxiety of "am I leaking?" is universal. But for women experiencing period poverty, that anxiety is compounded by scarcity. Every pad is precious. Every stain is a crisis.
And even for women who aren't experiencing period poverty—women like you and me, who can afford to buy whatever products we want—there's still a dignity gap. We still deal with leakage. We still do the awkward waddle to the bathroom. We still feel that low-grade shame about our bodies doing exactly what they're supposed to do.
Real Life Stories:
I think about Rachel, who told me about the first time she discovered period underwear. "I cried," she said. "I cried because I realised I'd been managing my period wrong for twenty years. No one told me there was another way. No one told me I didn't have to feel like I was wading through a mess every month."
Rachel's story is about access to information, not just products. It's about the dignity of knowing your options.
I think about Share the Dignity's volunteers—over 5,000 of them—who collect and distribute period products to those in need . They're not just handing out pads. They're handing out the message that periods are nothing to be ashamed of. That women deserve to manage their bodies with dignity.
And I think about the women who will attend DigniTea Sydney this Saturday. They'll drink bubbles, eat scones, and listen to speakers like Dr Nikhil Patravali—a gynaecologist and fertility specialist who is a passionate advocate for women's health in Western Sydney . They'll laugh and connect and then go home having made a tangible difference.
That's what community looks like.
The Speakers: Voices That Matter
One of the highlights of DigniTea Sydney is the opportunity to hear from incredible guest speakers . This year, attendees will hear from Dr Nikhil Patravali, a gynaecologist and fertility specialist who is known for his professional, respectful, and caring approach, and is a passionate advocate for women's health in Western Sydney .
Hearing from medical professionals who understand the full scope of women's health—from periods to fertility to menopause—is a reminder that our bodies are not mysterious or shameful. They are simply bodies. And they deserve care.
Across Australia, DigniTea events are also featuring speakers like Dr Victoria Atkinson (CEO of Monash IVF Group) in Melbourne and A/Prof Anusch Yazdani (gynaecologist and fertility specialist) in Brisbane . These are the voices leading important conversations in women's reproductive health. And their presence at DigniTea signals something important: period dignity is not a niche issue. It is a core women's health issue.
What "Dignity" Really Means
Let's sit with that word for a moment. Dignity.
The dictionary says it's about being worthy of respect. But in the context of women's bodies, dignity means something more concrete. It means:
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Not having to choose between food and period products
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Having access to clean, safe facilities to manage your period
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Being able to change your product when you need to, not when you can afford to
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Feeling clean and comfortable in your body, not just "managing the mess"
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Having information about all your options—pads, tampons, cups, period underwear, and tools like Aprés for heavy flow or treatment aftermath
Share the Dignity is doing incredible work on the first three points. They are ensuring that no woman in Australia has to choose between her dignity and her next meal .
At Just Between Us, we're focused on the last two. The feeling of being clean. The knowledge that there are tools to help. The dignity of not having to "just deal with it" because no one told you there was another way.
The Aprés Connection: Completing the Picture
Aprés was designed for post-intimacy cleanup. But as we've learned from our customers, it has become so much more. Women use it for:
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Managing heavy period flow—especially before bed or before important meetings
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Absorbing the aftermath of fertility treatments (progesterone residue)
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Postpartum recovery, including lochia management
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The simple desire to feel clean and comfortable, without the awkward bathroom shuffle
Dignity isn't one thing. It's the accumulation of small comforts. It's knowing you won't leak through your sheets. It's not having to use your finger to clear medical residue. It's feeling clean after sex without dashing to the bathroom.
This Saturday, as women gather for DigniTea Sydney, I hope we remember that dignity has many layers. Access to products is the foundation. But the roof is made of small, practical tools that make daily life more bearable.
Your Top Questions Answered:
1. "What is DigniTea Sydney?"
It's a fundraising high tea event hosted by Share the Dignity, taking place on Saturday 16 May 2026 from 12:30pm to 3:30pm at Waterview in Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park . Tickets are $119 and include high tea, bubbles on arrival, and guest speakers .
2. "What is period poverty?"
Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, and adequate sanitation facilities . In Australia, women experiencing homelessness or domestic violence often cannot afford period products and resort to using toilet paper, newspaper, or socks .
3. "Who is Share the Dignity?"
A national charity founded in 2015 that works to end period poverty in Australia . They have delivered over 3 million packets of pads and tampons and over 600,000 filled handbags to women and girls in need . They operate through thousands of volunteers and run collection drives and Dignity Vending Machines across the country .
4. "How does Aprés relate to period dignity?"
Aprés helps women manage heavy flow, treatment aftermath, and post-intimacy cleanup with dignity. While access to period products is the foundation of dignity, feeling truly clean and comfortable requires additional tools. Aprés fills that gap.
Your 4-Step Guide to Taking Action on Period Dignity
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Donate to Share the Dignity. Even if you can't attend DigniTea, you can donate online. Every dollar helps deliver period products to women in need.
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Attend a DigniTea event. If you're in Sydney, grab your tickets—though this Saturday is the event, there are also events in Melbourne (30 May) and Brisbane (31 May) .
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Host your own DigniTea. Share the Dignity encourages workplaces and community groups to host their own fundraising high teas . Gather your colleagues, set a date, and raise money for a cause that affects half the population.
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Expand your own dignity toolkit. While you're advocating for systemic change, don't forget your own body. Explore tools—like period underwear, menstrual cups, and Aprés—that make your own experience more comfortable.
Key Takeaways:
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DigniTea Sydney 2026 is happening this Saturday, 16 May, at Waterview in Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park .
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The event raises funds for Share the Dignity, a charity working to end period poverty in Australia .
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Period poverty forces women to choose between food and sanitary products—or use toilet paper and newspaper .
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Share the Dignity has delivered over 3 million packets of pads and tampons since 2015 .
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Guest speakers include Dr Nikhil Patravali, a gynaecologist and fertility specialist advocating for women's health in Western Sydney .
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Dignity is multi-layered: access to products is the foundation, but feeling truly clean and comfortable requires additional tools.
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Aprés helps women manage heavy flow, treatment aftermath, and post-intimacy cleanup with dignity.
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If you can't attend DigniTea, you can donate, host your own event, or simply start talking about period poverty with the women in your life.
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World Menstrual Hygiene Day is 28 May—a perfect time to continue this conversation .
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Every woman deserves dignity. Not just on her period. Every single day.
This Saturday, women across Sydney will gather for bubbles, finger sandwiches, and a mission: to end period poverty in Australia. At Just Between Us, we believe dignity has many layers. Access to products is the foundation. Feeling clean, comfortable, and in control is the roof. If you're in Sydney, grab a ticket. If you're not, donate. And while you're advocating for others, don't forget your own body. Explore tools like Aprés that make daily comfort possible. Subscribe for more honest conversations about women's health, dignity, and the small tools that make a big difference.
