By Gabriella Vukman
Bayswater Pinchapoo has been honoured on Victoria’s 2024 Honour Roll for Women as a ‘Change Agent,’ which highlights the founders commitment to addressing hygiene poverty – an issue affecting one in three Australians.
Kate Austin’s journey began at the age of 16 when she fled a violent home environment after a near-death experience.
From fleeing home at 16 after a near death experience due to family violence to experiencing homelessness, appearing on Victoria’s 2024 honour roll for women was not something Ms Austin even imagined was possible.
“It is such a crazy privilege, I haven’t wrapped my head around it yet,” she said.
“Pinchapoo came about at a time in my life when I had to flee a domestic violence situation at 16, after nearly losing my life at the hands of my parents.”
“The only thing I could think to grab in that moment was my toothbrush. It wasn’t very practical when you consider everything else I should have taken. But that instinct showed me how important it is to brush your teeth, think clearly, feel fresh, and take steps forward. That really stuck with me.”
“I was 16 when it happened but I guess unconsciously, that is where ‘Pinchapoo’ started.”
A few years later, while in the shower using some shampoo she had ‘borrowed’ from a hotel, Ms Austin came up with the idea for Pinchapoo.
“I thought, ‘What if I get a few people I know who travel for work or leisure to start collecting hotel toiletries?’” she said.
“I knew those toiletries were included in the cost of accommodation, so I thought, why not help a few people in situations like I’ve been in? It really helped me with my mental health issues related to PTSD.”
“It’s an epidemic that often goes unspoken. It affects about 1 in 3 Australians, which is a significant statistic we shouldn’t ignore. We need to highlight this issue.”
Being included in Victoria’s 2024 Honour Roll was a complete surprise for Ms Austin.
“I received a letter out of the blue, with no idea we had even applied for the award. Hearing that I was on the Honour Roll is incredible. I watch those awards every year and see the amazing work these women do, so to have my name alongside theirs is pretty surreal,” she said.
“I think someone must have nominated me for another award and ticked a box saying, ‘Do you want this application to go towards the women’s Honour Roll?’”
“It came just a few weeks before a long trip to Italy I had planned, so I asked a couple of my volunteers to represent me at the ceremony. It was a lovely experience for them as well.”
The ceremony was held at the arts centre in St Kilda and was attended by minister for women Natalie Hutchens.
Starting with just a handful of people and a warehouse in Bayswater, Pinchapoo has grown to include 2,000 volunteers and operates across multiple states in Australia.
After 15 years of providing hygiene products to hundreds of thousands of people each year, the founder of Pinchapoo insists there’s still “plenty more to do.”
“We plan to take on the government in a big way next year, and I believe this award has helped open some doors for us, which is the best outcome,” she said.
“We work with many government institutions, and it’s crazy that we’re not getting funding that reflects our work. We have a schools program and supply all the hospitals in Australia, so challenging the government is our next step.”
“I’m ready to take on a real advocacy role and will be knocking on doors—or even chaining myself to the front of Parliament House if I have to.”
Another of Ms Austin’s achievements is turning 1000 tonnes of landfill waste into hygiene products.
“The sustainability aspect is a fantastic outcome of our work,” she said.
“The beauty and self-care industry hasn’t had a way to repurpose its waste, so it’s great that they can reach out to us.”
“Whether an item is close to expiry or has changed labels, there are many reasons we can rescue it. We collect these items in large quantities, which works because there’s such a high demand for our service. It’s wonderful to save the environment while providing hygiene products to those in need.”
With over a third of its workforce made up of people with various disabilities, Pinchapoo offers a holistic, culturally appropriate, and gender-inclusive solution for personal hygiene needs.
For more information about how to donate or volunteer, visit the ‘Pinchapoo’ website at: https://www.pinchapoo.org.au/
