“Menstrual Health is integral to improving global population health, achieving sustainable development goals and realising gender equality and human rights.” Menstrual Health, a definition for policy, practice & research, 2021

Weaving the Red Thread  offers Positive Menstruality (1) Education, created by Amanda Trieger and Sahara Contempree – Naturopathic and Menstrual Specialists – who have been working in the industry since 2003. Our programs are based on a modern scientific and holistic wellbeing model providing inclusive education for our youth, families and community. 

OUR AIM

To empower individuals with hormonal and cyclical wellbeing, whilst nourishing a sustainable future and gender equity aligned with the UN sustainable development goals. We offer this through our School Programs, Community Workshops, Practitioner Trainings and Social Advocacy. 

LIFT WOMEN CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN

Reaching our goal of $1500.00 will enable Weaving the Red Thread to develop and promote our School Social Advocacy Program. 

INDUSTRY BARRIERS
In talking to Schools about our Positive Menstruality Education Program has been met with enthusiasm and the realistic barriers for schools of funding and scheduling availability. To assist with funding we have been applying for grants to be able to offer schools entering the Program a discount. To assist with scheduling we are developing a Free School Social Advocacy Program, which this Lift Women Crowdfunding Campaign would fund. 

How would this assist with scheduling I hear you ask ??

Scheduling is based on priorities. Menstrual Education is currently seen as being delivered within the curriculum and therefore not a major priority, however Australian students are reporting:

• Nearly 1 in 10 girls had no idea what was happening to them at their first period (2)
• 25% knew a little, 10% not much & 2% nothing from their School Menstrual Education (3)
• 60% were not taught how to manage their periods in day to day life (3)
• 50% were not taught how to use period products properly and when to change them (3)
• 1 in 5 young people had not heard about reusable menstrual products (3)
• more than ¾ of students are not taught about ‘normal versus abnormal’ periods (3)
• 7 in 10 girls had negative feelings about their periods & 4 out of 10 disliked everything about their periods (2)

Menstruation typically carries significant taboo and stigmas of silence, shame and a get on with it attitude, that negatively impact girls, women & menstruators and their views and experiences of their body. Students expressed how a general lack of knowledge about periods, what to expect and how to talk about menstruation more broadly contributes to their anxiety and discomfort. (3)  The students also express how they would like to be taught by teachers who are comfortable in facilitating menstrual education, would like education to be offered more than once a year and to have boys included in the conversation. (3)

OUR SOLUTION – SCHOOL SOCIAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM

Offering a Free Program starts and opens up a positive menstruality conversation in Schools with the staff, students and the school community. Our School Social Advocacy Program would sit within School Cultural Diversity Awareness days, such as Harmony Day and Pride Day, creating a platform to gently enter the Menstrual Conversation within. The program is designed around cultivating individual and community awareness for Australian Period Poverty. Awareness is built through

• Staff, student and community collection of period products – distributed by Australian NGO Period Poverty Social Enterprises.
• School newsletter informative community education
• Social media promotional material
• Educational and advocacy assembly video
• Class lesson templates: science, technology, history, PDHPE

Running School Social Advocacy Programs will generate conversations and relationships with Schools, all creating awareness of our Positive School Menstruality Education Program. This Program supports the cultivation of a Positive Menstruality School through education and culture, via support for: Wellbeing Framework, Staff Training, Student Education, School Bathrooms, Parental Involvement and Community Alliance. The Program is designed for all school students and offers multiple education contact points each term for the staff, students and parents.

Positive Menstruality Education:

• Nourishes a reproductive wellbeing blueprint.
• Cultivates body positivity, confidence and self-esteem.
• Supports physical, mental, emotional, sexual and social wellbeing.
• Empowers body autonomy, long-term healthy life habits and relationships.
• Inclusive of all humans fostering social solidarity, human rights and gender equity.

OUR VISION

We have a big vision to nourish contemporary school puberty and menstrual education, empowering individuals and communities with long term wellbeing. Many girls and women do not have a complete and accurate understanding of menstruation as a normal biological process. Educating girls before their first period and ongoing – and, importantly, boys, parents, communities, societal structures and government policy – on menstruation, fertility, contraception, cyclical living, perimenopause and menopause, builds a reproductive wellbeing blueprint contributing to physical, mental, emotional, sexual and social wellbeing. 

Menstrual Health is, “A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity, in relation to the menstrual cycle.” Developed by the Terminology Action Group of the Global Menstrual Collective 2021

SUPPORT US – EVERY DOLLAR GETS US CLOSER TO…

Supporting our youth. Supporting schools. Supporting parents. Supporting menstruality wellbeing. Supporting cultural change.

(1) Menstruality encompasses puberty, menarche, menstruation, menopause and the mature years.  It is a multilayered hormonal and biological experience for females and menstruators and is considered to be the 5th Vital Sign of Life. Menstruality culture, education and healthcare will positively or negatively impact the physical, mental, emotional, sexual and social wellbeing of females and menstruators.
Menstruality was coined in 2004 by New Zealand Psychotherapist, Jane Catherine Severn to describe the female life process – Menarche, Menstruation, Menopause and the Mature years.
(2) About Bloody Time – Victorian Women’s Trust – 2019
(3) Menstruation Matters Report – SA Commissioner for Children and Young People 2021