‘Devastating': What these Aussies can't afford
Up to one-in-five people are going without soap, toothpaste, pads and tampons or deodorant, results of a new survey from Good360 suggests. The researchers deem being unable to afford these essentials as 'hygiene poverty'.
'The impacts of hygiene poverty are wide ranging, with our research showing it takes a devastating toll on people's mental and physical wellbeing,' Good360 managing director Alison Covington said.
'Hygiene poverty can cause feelings of low self-esteem, embarrassment and shame, and make it difficult for people to maintain their health.' Women are more likely to be deciding which health essentials they can and cannot afford, the survey shows. Credit: Supplied
Good360 donates new and unsold clothes, homewares, toiletries and toys from hundreds of retailers to thousands of Australian charities and schools. The charity has surveyed 1000 Australians to see how many people cannot afford hygiene and cleaning products, and the results were released on Tuesday.
One-in-seven survey respondents are unable to afford cleaning products, the survey finds.
Women and young people are more likely to experience hygiene poverty. About 30 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 are concerned about affording hygiene and cleaning products, as are 21 per cent of women.
'Our research also highlights the significant consequences on daily life, such as people avoiding social events or other critical commitments such as work and school,' Ms Covington said. As well as personal items, the survey finds large numbers of Australians cannot afford cleaning products. Credit: Supplied
'Eliminating hygiene poverty isn't just about ensuring people have access to toothpaste and deodorant, it's about helping people to live a dignified and healthy life.
'There should not be millions of Australians, including children, going without the basics they need to thrive,' she said.
Australian-founded company QV Skincare works with Good360 to help people get basic necessities. QV head of global marketing Simone Thomassen said the findings of hygiene poverty across Australia were alarming.
'We were shocked at Good360 Australia's recent report on hygiene poverty,' she said.
'Nobody should have to experience hygiene poverty in a country like Australia. That's why we are proud to be partnering with leading charity Good360 to donate essential hygiene products to people in need.' Nearly a third of 18-24 year olds and 1-in-5 Australian women are concerned about affording essential hygiene and cleaning products. Credit: Supplied
Separate from the Good360 research, the Victorian government announced on Monday an expansion of its free pads and tampons scheme, which has put vending machines in major public markets, libraries, sporting venues and recreation centres.
The $23m scheme has dispensed 90,000 hygiene packs since November 2024.
'Whether you're at a footy final or on a school excursion, you shouldn't have to worry about access to pads and tampons,' Victorian Women's Minister Natalie Hutchins said.
'We're delivering free pads and tampons in public places right across Victoria, and now we're making it a reality at some of our most iconic venues – saving Victorian families thousands of dollars every year.'
The latest consumer price index data shows health costs having risen 4.1 per cent in the past year, while furnishings, household equipment and services costs have risen 1.1 per cent in the capital cities during the past three months.
Food inflation is running at 3 per cent for the past 12 months.
Overall, the household inflation rate has ticked up 2.1 per cent during the past year. Wages are outpacing inflation again, with the latest quarterly wage price index data showing a 3.4 per cent rise in annual terms.
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Good360 channels unsold consumer goods to charities and disadvantaged schools to help people in need, preventing the surplus goods from going to landfill. Millions of Australians could be living in hygiene poverty, with many struggling to afford basic items such as soap, toothpaste and deodorant. About one in eight people recently skipped buying personal hygiene or cleaning products to afford other essentials, according to research conducted on behalf of charity Good360 Australia. "Our research has uncovered the heartbreaking reality that millions of Australians are struggling to afford everyday basics," managing director Alison Covington said. Hygiene poverty occurs when people are unable to afford everyday essential products such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, household cleaning products and feminine hygiene products. "Hygiene poverty can cause feelings of low self-esteem, embarrassment and shame, and make it difficult for people to maintain their health," Ms Covington said. "It takes a devastating toll on people's mental and physical wellbeing." People unable to afford basic needs often avoid social events or commitments such as work and school, Ms Covington added. "There should not be millions of Australians, including children, going without the basics they need to thrive," she said. The survey, involving a nationally representative sample of 1000 people, also found that one in seven respondents struggled to afford cleaning products in the last six months, while one in eight experienced hygiene poverty for the first time. A further 19 per cent feared they would soon be unable to afford hygiene or cleaning products and 12 per cent of people were experiencing hygiene poverty for the first time. Women and young people were more likely to be impacted by the issue, with almost a third of young people and 21 per cent of women concerned about affording essential hygiene and cleaning products, compared to 16 per cent of men. Liverpool Women's Health Centre, in Sydney's southwest, helps more than 5000 women per year and has found personal items such as soap, deodorant and feminine hygiene products to be in high demand. "Everyday women that you wouldn't necessarily expect to need a deodorant or a packet of soap are taking it," chief executive Kate Meyer told AAP. "They're thrilled. They come and they check our freebie table that we have set up in the reception area and their eyes light up. "They're so grateful to have these things that they thought that they were going to have to make do without." Ms Meyer said one of the centre's elderly clients was "over the moon with gratitude" when she was given incontinence products. "That's horrifying for us because these are things that she needs for her everyday living," she said. "They shouldn't be something that gives her such joy. "They should be things that she's able to get in her groceries every week." Good360 channels unsold consumer goods to charities and disadvantaged schools to help people in need, preventing the surplus goods from going to landfill. Millions of Australians could be living in hygiene poverty, with many struggling to afford basic items such as soap, toothpaste and deodorant. About one in eight people recently skipped buying personal hygiene or cleaning products to afford other essentials, according to research conducted on behalf of charity Good360 Australia. "Our research has uncovered the heartbreaking reality that millions of Australians are struggling to afford everyday basics," managing director Alison Covington said. Hygiene poverty occurs when people are unable to afford everyday essential products such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, household cleaning products and feminine hygiene products. "Hygiene poverty can cause feelings of low self-esteem, embarrassment and shame, and make it difficult for people to maintain their health," Ms Covington said. "It takes a devastating toll on people's mental and physical wellbeing." People unable to afford basic needs often avoid social events or commitments such as work and school, Ms Covington added. "There should not be millions of Australians, including children, going without the basics they need to thrive," she said. The survey, involving a nationally representative sample of 1000 people, also found that one in seven respondents struggled to afford cleaning products in the last six months, while one in eight experienced hygiene poverty for the first time. A further 19 per cent feared they would soon be unable to afford hygiene or cleaning products and 12 per cent of people were experiencing hygiene poverty for the first time. Women and young people were more likely to be impacted by the issue, with almost a third of young people and 21 per cent of women concerned about affording essential hygiene and cleaning products, compared to 16 per cent of men. Liverpool Women's Health Centre, in Sydney's southwest, helps more than 5000 women per year and has found personal items such as soap, deodorant and feminine hygiene products to be in high demand. "Everyday women that you wouldn't necessarily expect to need a deodorant or a packet of soap are taking it," chief executive Kate Meyer told AAP. "They're thrilled. They come and they check our freebie table that we have set up in the reception area and their eyes light up. "They're so grateful to have these things that they thought that they were going to have to make do without." Ms Meyer said one of the centre's elderly clients was "over the moon with gratitude" when she was given incontinence products. "That's horrifying for us because these are things that she needs for her everyday living," she said. "They shouldn't be something that gives her such joy. "They should be things that she's able to get in her groceries every week." Good360 channels unsold consumer goods to charities and disadvantaged schools to help people in need, preventing the surplus goods from going to landfill. Millions of Australians could be living in hygiene poverty, with many struggling to afford basic items such as soap, toothpaste and deodorant. About one in eight people recently skipped buying personal hygiene or cleaning products to afford other essentials, according to research conducted on behalf of charity Good360 Australia. "Our research has uncovered the heartbreaking reality that millions of Australians are struggling to afford everyday basics," managing director Alison Covington said. Hygiene poverty occurs when people are unable to afford everyday essential products such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, household cleaning products and feminine hygiene products. "Hygiene poverty can cause feelings of low self-esteem, embarrassment and shame, and make it difficult for people to maintain their health," Ms Covington said. "It takes a devastating toll on people's mental and physical wellbeing." People unable to afford basic needs often avoid social events or commitments such as work and school, Ms Covington added. "There should not be millions of Australians, including children, going without the basics they need to thrive," she said. The survey, involving a nationally representative sample of 1000 people, also found that one in seven respondents struggled to afford cleaning products in the last six months, while one in eight experienced hygiene poverty for the first time. A further 19 per cent feared they would soon be unable to afford hygiene or cleaning products and 12 per cent of people were experiencing hygiene poverty for the first time. Women and young people were more likely to be impacted by the issue, with almost a third of young people and 21 per cent of women concerned about affording essential hygiene and cleaning products, compared to 16 per cent of men. Liverpool Women's Health Centre, in Sydney's southwest, helps more than 5000 women per year and has found personal items such as soap, deodorant and feminine hygiene products to be in high demand. "Everyday women that you wouldn't necessarily expect to need a deodorant or a packet of soap are taking it," chief executive Kate Meyer told AAP. "They're thrilled. They come and they check our freebie table that we have set up in the reception area and their eyes light up. "They're so grateful to have these things that they thought that they were going to have to make do without." Ms Meyer said one of the centre's elderly clients was "over the moon with gratitude" when she was given incontinence products. "That's horrifying for us because these are things that she needs for her everyday living," she said. "They shouldn't be something that gives her such joy. "They should be things that she's able to get in her groceries every week." Good360 channels unsold consumer goods to charities and disadvantaged schools to help people in need, preventing the surplus goods from going to landfill.
