The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs has today announced it will be the first NRL club to offer free menstruation products in female bathrooms and locker rooms, in a move to support the needs of players and help break down barriers to participation and performance in sport.
The announcement comes in line with the NRL’s Women In League Round and as the Club prepares to host a first-ever NRLW double-header at Belmore Sports Ground this Sunday, July 30.
The club has partnered with world-leading hygiene experts, Rentokil Initial, which is championing the washroom dignity movement among corporate Australia.
Rentokil Initial has installed dispensers and sanitary bins across all public washrooms and female locker rooms at Belmore Sports Ground ahead of the four NRLW teams arriving. The dispensers will provide free and discreet access to period products for female players, Bulldogs employees, fans and visitors to utilise.
Aaron Warburton, Bulldogs CEO said that while some European-based sporting agencies are already underway with the provision of complimentary products to employees and athletes, the Bulldogs are proud to be leading the charge as the early adopters of the dignity-based program in the Australian sports ecosystem.
“Central to this new partnership is the shared ambition that menstruation should not be something that holds women back from being involved in Rugby League, or prevents them from performing at their best,” Mr Warburton said.
Women make a tremendous contribution at all levels of our Football Club and the advancement, growth and progression of the women’s game is a priority for the Bulldogs.
“We are committed to creating even greater opportunities for women, as well as developing pathways, to help female staff and players reach their aspirations. Part of this commitment comes with the provision of all the tools and resources they need to succeed both on and off the field.”
Female Football Operations Coordinator at the Bulldogs, Lauren Milner said the provision of menstruation products was a “no brainer” and urged all other clubs and codes to consider following suit.
“There have been countless times when I have had young, female players approach me as a team manager to ask for period products as they have been caught unawares. So much so, that I have taken to carrying products with me when attending training sessions and games,” Ms Milner said.
“We want all of our players to feel empowered to play at their best, focusing only on their athletic development. We strongly feel that our players shouldn’t have to ask for essential items like this and having the Club and Rentokil Initial support our females with access whenever they need it, is truly a credit to their unwavering support in the advancement of female sports people.”
Recent research from Rentokil Initial and Researchify revealed not having adequate access to menstruation and incontinence products at work causes stress and anxiety for 61 per cent of working women in Australia. More than half (55 per cent) said they had taken time out of their workday to buy sanitary products, which is not an option for elite athletes and many other professions.
Commenting on the Bulldogs partnership, Karen Kavanagh, Marketing Director Pacific, Rentokil Initial, said it was encouraging to see the Bulldogs taking firm action to level the playing field for women in sports.
“Having your period shouldn’t be a barrier to your ability to perform at work, whether that’s in an office or a sports field,” Ms Kavanagh said.
“There’s been so much recent progress to remove hurdles in women’s professional sport and it’s fantastic to see the Bulldogs leading the way in removing the stigma around menstruation in women’s sports by creating more inclusive washrooms.
“We hope it sets a new standard for sports clubs and that it prompts corporate Australia to catch up and support washroom dignity at work for the benefit of working women across the country. Washroom dignity is a conversation that has flown under the radar among many businesses for years, but that has got to change.”
Rentokil Initial is also working with the Bulldogs to explore how to amplify the conversation about Washroom Dignity among sports clubs and support young athletes playing grassroots sport, to create more inclusive facilities at sports grounds across Australia.
With governments across Australia now investing in the provision of free period products in public schools, Rentokil Initial is championing washroom dignity to educate business leaders on the importance of providing free and easy access to period products to support inclusivity, mental health and hygiene in the workplace.
To learn more, visit: https://www.initial.com/au/hygiene-services/washroom-dignity
