Sunshine Coast tradie Krystal Brookes was working at a rural property near Eumundi, without access to a bathroom, when her boss at the time told her to just use a bush.
The Paint Chick and Crew founder told them she couldn’t because she was on her period.
Unfortunately for Krystal, as a woman working on male-dominated work sites, this experience wasn’t an isolated one.
She said, “There was nothing malicious. No hard feelings in any way towards that boss. It was just that he never had to think about it. I was his first ever female that had worked for him.“
Hacia Atherton, chair and founder of Empowered Women In Trades (EWIT), is calling for sanitary items to be included in first-aid kids across Australian worksites.
“Adding pads and tampons to first aid kits might seem small, but it sends a powerful message that women belong onsite,“ Hacia said.
“Inclusion is built through everyday actions, and making period care accessible removes a quiet barrier that’s kept many women from feeling truly welcome on site.“
Krystal has been in the trade industry for close to a decade, and is now using her voice to help the younger generation of female tradies.
“As a whole it’s been fantastic,“ she said.
“I’ve been met with, you know, open arms so to speak. I’ve had some incredible bosses over the years when I was learning, that taught me the skill set that allows me to run my business and provide for my kids.
“I can imagine, especially for a lot of young women, that time of the month would be a bit stressful. Endometriosis is increasing in younger women which is unfortunate. They need to be able to come on site and not have to stress about where they can use the bathroom.
“I really like what they’re (EWIT) doing. Let’s just have the conversation so people are aware and to get companies and businesses thinking about it.“
While Krystal says that her experience in the industry has been overall positive, she says that “women just need that understanding and acceptance.”
“I come from a mining town and at least women in those jobs can expect a proper toilet, sanitary bin and sink. On work sites, even if there’s a porta-loo, there’s no sanitary bin,” Krystal said.
“If readily available period care was common knowledge, it may attract more women to the industry.”
Now EWIT is partnering with Melbourne family business, Femme Organic, to make period care more accessible for female tradies.
They will send out some free sanitary products for first-aid kits and provide bathroom dispensers for trade sites.
Co-Founder of Femme Organic Thomas Burns said they’ve found access is one of the biggest barriers to female period care and any chance to help change this for female tradies they want to get behind.
