KickStart for Kids is proud to announce a record total of over $42,000 was raised at the SkyCity KickStart for Kids Against Period Poverty annual fundraiser.

Held on Friday 30 May supporters enjoyed the flowing drinks and food and sunshine on the balcony at Sol Rooftop overlooking River Torrens and the views of Adelaide CBD and out to the ocean.

The event kicked off with a warm welcome from emcee, our ambassador and media personality, Rebecca Morse who has been part of KickStart for almost ten years.

We were joined by ambassador and politician, Connie Bonaros MLC alongside the Honourable Blair Boyer MP Minister for Education, Training & Skills who spoke on the recent TafeSA “Equity for all. Period.” initiative which involves the installation of free pad and tampon dispensers in all TAFE SA campuses, training sites and non-TAFE SA-owned sites.

Despite this being a huge step forward, Minister Boyer recognised there is still a long way to go to tackle period poverty while Connie highlighted the nature of period poverty as a matter of dignity and equality–that period products are a necessity like toilet paper, not a luxury.

Connie also recently introduced a Period Products and Facilities (Access) bill to parliament to provide free access to period products, facilities, and information about menstruation. We thank Connie for her ongoing work and passionate advocacy for ending period poverty at a systemic level.

We were honored to have Port Adelaide Football Club AFLW star and ambassador Matilda Scholz attend where she spoke passionately about removing the stigma around periods and sports participation, as well as our longtime ambassador, social media personality and singer Jenna Hudson (Jenna With The Pink) who sang beautifully during the fashion parade.

Bec, Connie, Matilda and Jenna have also been speaking at schools across SA as part of our fundraising drives.

The afternoon continued as tunes flowed from the wonderful DJ Leah Tait and guests enjoyed a fashion parade with couture+love+madness designs and Kalou Models.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible sponsors SkyCity for generously donating the Sol Rooftop space, The Advertiser Foundation Kids’ Appeal, BPR, Kalou Models, couture+love+madness, Frankly You, Orbe Hair, Urban Glow, Cinematic Events, Toop + Toop, and Leah Tait Music.

And a special thank you to our amazing auction donors Pod[e], The Lion Mill, MAKAN, Paper Tiger, Enoteca, Luigi’s Delicatessen, Tally Swim, The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, Parliament South Australia, Jurlique, Bird In Hand, Haighs Chocolates, Monica, Cheesefest, Port Adelaide Football Club, Kytons Bakery, Hurley Hotel Group, Gerard McCabe, Joint, Studio Pilates, LOFT, SA LIFE, Endota Spa, and Mount Lofty House. Your generosity is deeply appreciated!

This incredible result will significantly boost our KickStart for Kids Against Period Poverty program which launched in 2021 to eradicate period poverty and improve educational outcomes for young women across South Australia. Currently, we deliver almost 2000 packs of sanitary items monthly to over 200 schools, but the demand continues to grow.

You can make a monetary donation here or donate period products including pads, tampons and reusable period undies at your local National Pharmacy.