Partnering for dignity: A new chapter in washroom inclusion

Initial Hygiene Australia is proud to announce a new partnership with Continence Health Australia, a collaboration that marks a significant step towards creating more inclusive and dignified washroom facilities across the country. This partnership aims to tackle the silent issue of incontinence, which affects 2.4 million Australian men and boys.

The challenges posed by incontinence are often unspoken in corporate Australia. A review of corporate washrooms nationwide shows a widespread lack of appropriate dispensing and disposal solutions to support effective incontinence care in male facilities. We believe that as a national sanitary provider servicing over 300,000 washrooms across 60,000 businesses, we are uniquely positioned to drive meaningful change.

In collaboration with Continence Health Australia, we will work to eliminate the stigma surrounding incontinence and empower men and boys to live their lives fully and confidently. Our shared vision is to create environments where dignity, awareness, and support are the norm.

Our mission and goals

This partnership is focused on delivering measurable impact, going beyond just raising awareness to drive real change in support and infrastructure. We will be working to:

• Promote early intervention and workplace inclusion, ensuring employees with incontinence can participate fully and confidently, supported by safe, hygienic, and dignified facilities.
• Raise public awareness by advocating for better hygiene solutions that enhance well-being and foster positive conversations around continence health.
• Prioritise vulnerable groups so that those most affected can access timely support and safe facilities.
• Support health and well-being, while enhancing workplace participation, engagement, and overall productivity.

Building on a proven track record

This new initiative builds on our three-year track record of normalising menstrual dignity in Australian workplaces. Our success in this area has shown us the power of leveraging our platform for responsible, values-driven change. With this new partnership, we are striving to become a national leader in washroom dignity, working with businesses to address the hygiene needs of men with incontinence in a respectful and impactful way.

We are excited about the positive impact this partnership will have and are committed to creating dignified, supportive, and hygienic spaces for all Australians.

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For Australians needing support, the National Continence Helpline (1800 33 00 66) is a free and confidential service staffed by Nurse Continence Specialists. It operates Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm. The helpline provides information, advice, and support to anyone in Australia affected by incontinence, including resources and information on local services and funding schemes. 

Additionally, for people on the move, the National Public Toilet Map is a free website and app showing the location of nearly 25,000 public and private toilet facilities across Australia. Funded by the Australian Government as part of the National Continence Program, it provides details on accessibility, opening hours, and other features like sharps disposal and baby change facilities.