History and Current Projects

Days for Girls Australia (DfGAL) began with the passion of three remarkable women—Gloria Buttsworth from Newcastle, Susanne Harris from Adelaide, and Catherine Harvey from Wagga Wagga—who independently reached out to Celeste Mergens, the founder of Days for Girls International, around 2011. Each of them was deeply affected by the heartbreaking reality that millions of women and girls worldwide had nothing to manage their periods. Whether through personal experiences or stories shared by friends, they were driven to take action against this global issue that impacts nearly 500 million women.

Fired up by Celeste’s mission to restore dignity through sustainable menstrual solutions, these women made it their mission too, bringing the cause to Australia. What began as a handful of volunteers sewing washable, reusable menstrual Kits soon sparked a passionate, nationwide movement. Communities across Australia rallied together, fueled by the belief that menstruation should never be a barrier to education, opportunity, or dignity, and in 2012 Celeste asked Gloria to coordinate Days for Girls in Australia.

At DfGAL, our mission is fueled by our deep passion: to empower women and girls by providing access to menstrual health products, educating communities, and advocating for menstrual equity. We believe that every girl deserves to embrace her health and potential without shame or interruption. When girls are given the resources they need to manage their periods, they thrive—and when girls thrive, entire communities rise.

From those early beginnings, DfGAL has grown into a powerful force for change, reaching over 350,000 women and girls in over 65 countries, including Australia and our neighboring island nations. One Kit at a time, we are making a profound, lasting difference.

DfGAL became a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity with the ACNC and Deductible Gift Recipient status, in 2016. DfGAL is passionately committed to breaking the silence and stigma surrounding menstruation, empowering girls and women everywhere with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed. Through our simple yet powerful solution—the Days for Girls washable menstrual Kit—we are ensuring that girls can live with confidence and dignity, month after month.

We believe in a world where periods are never a problem.