Why we chose the Waratah as our emblem
The waratah is a symbol for strength and beauty, and, like this project,
is a native of southeast Australia.
The intense brilliant red of the waratah flower evokes the menstrual
flow, and its many floreted blooms match the complexity and multifaceted reality of a woman’s life.
This resilient plant is able to survive bush fires and has thus become a
symbol of rebirth and regeneration, just as women are physically and
psychologically reborn after each menstrual period and especially
after the transition of menopause.
Support The Waratah Project
We are a not-for-profit harm prevention organisation working to
improve the lives of women and girls everywhere. The Waratah
Project is entirely dependent upon donations and we welcome
contributions of any amount. All donations are tax-deductible and
will directly support the project.
Please send your donations to “The Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls
Public Fund” at The Victorian Women’s Trust Level 9, 313 La Trobe
Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000.
Cover photo by Peter Dedina.
This is a chance to make a positive and profound
impact on the lives of women - today and for
generations to come.
For more information please contact
Lara Owen - [email protected]
THE WARATAH PROJECT
Victorian Women’s Trust Ltd as Trustee
The Dugdale Trust
The Dugdale Trust
for Women & Girls
for Women & Girls
Harm Prevention - Innovative. Strategic. National.
Harm Prevention - Innovative. Strategic. National.
The Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls and The Victorian Women’s Trust
Level 9, 313 La Trobe Street, Melbourne 3000
p. (03) 9642 0422 e. [email protected] w. www.vwt.org.au
Exploring menstruation and
menopause in a positive and
contemporary context.
Why this project?
What we are doing
The cyclical nature of women’s biology and the transformational transitions
of menarche and menopause are facts of life.
We are conducting extensive research: talking with hundreds of women
and girls all over Victoria, and gathering all available data from medical,
psychological, cross-cultural and social sources.
Attitudes to menstruation and menopause have a huge impact on the selfesteem, confidence, health and wellbeing of women and girls.
We will publish a landmark document in 2015. We will also be developing
teaching materials, media articles, documentary films, animation, a trainthe-trainer program, an information-rich website, social media strategies,
and support groups for specific issues.
Negative attitudes to menstruation and menopause lower self-esteem and
increase both physical and emotional symptoms.
Low self-esteem is one of the known factors in making women and girls
vulnerable to harm.
Starting in Victoria, the project will then extend nationally and internationally.
Please get in touch with us if you would like to be part of the conversation.
Women cope with menstruation and menopause by disconnection and
denial: this depletes them physically and emotionally and inhibits their
ability to adequately self-care and to grow to full confidence.
The voices of women and girls coming through this
project will infuse it with life and power - fuelling positive
and lasting change.
Having a welcomed and healthily acknowledged first period has a
positive cascade effect upon a woman’s entire reproductive life.
Knowing how to self-care during menstruation and menopause supports
long term health and wellbeing.
Photo by Susannah Storch
Photo by Ally Oliver-Perham
It doesn’t have to be this way. We can make the switch from negative
to positive. It is time.
Let’s change the pattern of shame and teach the
next generations to be authentic, confident and
unapologetic about their biology.