This project offers WorkCycle programs across 10 neighbourhood houses in regional/rural and metropolitan Victoria. Recent research shows a profound need for menstrual and menopausal education to support women’s wellbeing at work, at home and in their communities. Quality education which includes health information, supportive conversations and practical steps and adjustments is vital for fulfilling this need. WorkCycle programs have been designed and tested within diverse communities to tackle the silence, isolation and lack of information caused by the menstrual taboo, and equip participants and communities with valuable resources, strategies and supportive networks. Workplaces and communities that support women through their menstrual experiences and during the menopausal transition are enacting practical steps for gender equity, inclusion and social justice.
This project aims to deliver WorkCycle Menstrual and Menopausal Wellbeing programs to
10 Neighbourhood Houses in Victoria
The WorkCycle programs are:
WorkCycle provides important pathways towards dismantling the menstrual taboo and developing a positive menstrual culture across workplaces and community organisations. Outcomes from the delivery:
By the end of FY26 10 WorkCycle programs will have been delivered to an average of 30 people per program, a total of 300 people across 10 communities; from the ripple out effects of program delivery indirect beneficiaries will be families and community members and workplaces numbering up to 3000 by FY27.
WorkCycle programs participants will be surveyed to ascertain their experience of the program and what benefits they take away. Facilitators will also report the features of each program delivery.
At the conclusion of each program using qualitative and quantitative participant and facilitator data, the surveys will be combined to create a picture of the impact of the program in that particular setting.
At the conclusion of the whole project these impact pictures will be combined to create a report of the whole project. We are especially interested in the impacts on:
The report of the whole project, including data, assessments and lessons learnt will be published on the Chalice Foundation website.
The purpose of the Chalice Foundation is to promote, educate and collaborate for a positive menstrual culture through challenging negative cultural norms and providing quality (positive, broad and evidence-based) menstrual education for all settings.
Incorporated in 2017 the Chalice Foundation builds on decades of work in this field by specialist health, education and community service professionals. Chalice Foundation programs include Celebration Day for Girls, Fathers Celebrating Daughters, Foundations of Menstrual Education and WorkCycle. We train facilitators internationally to run these programs and publish a blog called The Leak.
The three WorkCycle programs were researched, created and trialled during 2021-2023 by She Listens, who created the film Giving Voice to Menopause, the Chalice Foundation and The Dugdale Trust for Women and Girls, the harm prevention entity of the Victorian Women’s Trust. The WorkCycle programs are:
We believe WorkCycle is an important step towards dismantling the menstrual taboo and developing a positive menstrual culture across our workplaces and community organisations.
* The Chalice Foundation is awaiting DGR Status.
