Keni Li
© Keni Li

“When your time comes, I’m here – made for you, made to last.”

Menstruation Health Solution

Context

Ampilatwatja is located north east of Alice Springs on the Aherrenge Aboriginal Land Trust. The community is surrounded by the pastoral properties of Ammaroo, Derry Downs and Elkedra.

Problem

In Ampilatwatja community, less than half of the erolled secondary school students attend school regularly.

(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021)

Period Proverty


Many girls chose not to attend school during their periods due to inadequate pain management and a scarcity of menstrual products (Lansbury & King, 2021).

‘I had to choose between buying food and pads.’ (Sallal, 2022)

The Gap

Lack of Awareness – Many Indigenous girls don’t know reusable products exist.

Cultural Taboos – Menstruation is often seen as shameful, limiting open discussion.

Product Access – Remote areas face high costs and low availability, worsening period poverty.

Need for Education – Culturally sensitive teaching is key to informed menstrual care.

Stigma’s Impact – Shame leads to social exclusion and missed school or activities.

Limited Support – More free products and workshops are needed in communities.

Poor WASH Access – Clean water and toilets are often unavailable, affecting hygiene.

This sketch illustrates my design exploration for reusable menstrual underwear which integrates replaceable, flushable inner materials.

Visual Design by Keisha Leon

Themes of community, womanhood, and support

The upside-down calendar lets girls privately track their period. Washable color markers in school toilets support this, helping prevent surprises and embarrassment.

A walnut shell heating pad is provided to ease period pain. It’s sustainable, safe, and cost-free—easily reheated using sunlight, a microwave, or boiling water, making it practical for reuse in low-resource settings.

The black fabric helps hide blood stains, preventing fear or embarrassment if others see it. Inside, a pocket allows easy insertion of a replaceable bamboo wadding layer for added comfort and absorption.

The replaceable bamboo wadding is flushable and provided in school toilets, allowing girls to stay clean without needing to wash their underwear during school hours.

Storyboard

System Design

Product design alone cannot solve the multifaceted issues faced by Indigenous girls.

The design is guided by the Cultural Safety Theory, Co-Design and Yarning Methodologies, and 5 key Frameworks listed upon.

Sponsor

— PROJECT NAME

Menstruation Health Solution



— ROLE

Industrial Designer


— DATE

14/11/2024

As a girl, seeing others still without access to basic menstrual products pushed me to act. I knew this wasn’t just a product issue—it’s a dignity issue. As a designer, it’s my role to address real problems and create solutions that make life better for everyone, especially those too often overlooked.