South Australian not-for-profit organisation, KickStart for Kids (KSFK), is desperately calling on donations of sanitary items as part of its mission to help end period poverty in South Australia.

Sadly, 1 in 4 South Australian females experience period poverty.

Ten of Adelaide’s private schools are joining local not-for-profit organisation, KickStart for Kids, in their fight to end period poverty in South Australia this May.  Running for its fourth consecutive year, the number of schools participating in the sanitary
product drive has grown from one in 2022, to now ten in 2025, demonstrating the increase of awareness, support and generosity in the community to help solve the issue.

The schools involved include Walford Anglican School for Girls, Wilderness School, Loreto College, St Paul’s College, Westminster School, Seymour College, Cabra Dominican College, St Dominic’s Priory College, St Michael’s College, and all-boys school Rostrevor College, who are coming together by running fundraising drives at their schools throughout May to raise money
and sanitary product donations for other students in need.

Each school will welcome KickStart for Kids founder, Ian Steel, as well as the charity’s recognisable period poverty ambassadors, including Connie Bonaros MLC, AFLW PAFC ruck Matilda Scholz, singer and TikTok personality Jenna in the Pink, and SA media personality Rebecca Morse, at their school assembly where they will address both students and teachers about the cause and their mission and how the community can help.

These assemblies, conducted around World Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28 May, are then accompanied by a sanitary product drive, with students and teachers being able to donate products in branded KickStart for Kids Against Period Poverty donation boxes.  Rostrevor College Principal, Shana Bennett, emphasises the vital role schools have in supporting this drive:

“Rostrevor are proud to once again be partnering with KickStart for Kids to end period poverty in South Australia. Students have the opportunity to make a difference through action, embodying our College’s mission and touchstones. Initiatives like this empower our young people to develop empathy, leadership, and a strong sense of social justice. By engaging in meaningful service, they learn that even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.”

Period Poverty refers to the issue of women and girls lacking access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, washing facilities, and waste management.  A survey conducted in May 2020* found that 1 in 4 South Australian girls miss out on attending school due to not having access to feminine hygiene products and 1 in 2 don’t know how to access sanitary items at school. 

Since launching KickStart for Kids Against Period Poverty in 2021 in a bid to raise awareness, support, and funds for young South Australian girls experiencing period poverty, the local charity now provides almost 2,000 sanitary products to students across South Australia each month.  Ian has been overwhelmed by the increase of support for the cause throughout the years but is hoping that the school visits become something of the past.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

You can help a young South Aussie girl experiencing period poverty now by making a donation today.  Donations can be made via:

• Special donation boxes located across at National Pharmacies stores in South Australia
• Dropping them off at the KSFK warehouse – 87 James Melrose Rd, Novar Gardens SA 5040
• For online monetary donations, please click link below

YOU CAN DONATE HERE

Kickstart for Kids is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2009 by Ian Steel that helps disadvantaged school children in South Australia by providing over 50,000 breakfasts and 10,000 lunches every week.

*Source: 2020 Sanitary Survey Short Report: Impact of Periods on School Students in South Australia by the Commissioner of Children and Young People.

For more information and all enquiries please visit the Kickstart Against Period Poverty website.

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

Image Source: images supplied (Image credit: One Cast Media / school students picture: Sarah Reed/Bppr)

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