By Lara Paturzo
In Melbourne’s west, some parents are forced to stretch a single nappy across an entire day, or go without entirely. Not because they want to, but because they have no other option.
When you’re facing a crisis, fleeing violence, or deciding between food and medicine, a clean nappy isn’t just about convenience. They’re essential for health and easing the overwhelming burden of impossible decisions.
This struggle is often invisible, but for tens of thousands of families in Australia it’s devastatingly real. And one national charity is asking locals to help change that.
The Nappy Collective is Australia’s only nonprofit solely dedicated to collecting and redistributing nappies to families in need. These include women and children escaping domestic violence, families experiencing extreme financial hardship, those at risk of homelessness, seeking asylum, or impacted by natural disaster emergencies.
Partnering with more than 830 frontline organisations across the country, the Collective plays a vital role right here in Melbourne’s West, where the demand for nappies is outpacing supply.
Right now, the charity is urgently calling for donations of 4, 5 and 6-sized nappies. These are the most in-demand sizes and the hardest to keep in stock.
“We’re constantly running low on bigger size nappies,” says Lauren Read, Head of Operations. “So often, when we think of a vulnerable child, we picture a baby. But many of the children who desperately need our help are toddlers, or even older children who might be experiencing trauma-related incontinence. Without the right size nappies, they’re either going without, or wearing ones that are far too small.”
New or opened packs are accepted, plus loose, clean nappies, of any brand or type: pull ups, tabs, boys or girls. Every single nappy is carefully sorted by our volunteers and delivered directly to our trusted community partners.
In the West, those include organisations like McAuley Community Services for Women in Footscray, which supports women and children escaping violence, as well as other local organisations like ADRA Community Care in Melton South and West Welcome Wagon in Sunshine West, which help families rebuild their lives.
“These nappies go to the families who need them most,” says Emma Rowland, Volunteer and Community Partner Coordinator for Melbourne’s West. “They’re practical, immediate and genuinely life changing.”
The charity collects nappies all year round through a network of businesses and community spaces that have signed up as official donation points, ranging from retailers and libraries, to healthcare clinics, early learning centres and local MP offices like State Member for Footscray, Katie Hall MP, and Federal Member for Gellibrand, Tim Watts MP.
To keep this vital work going, they’re also calling for more volunteers across Melbourne’s West, particularly in Williamstown, Yarraville and Point Cook. No experience is needed. Just time, empathy and a willingness to lend a hand.
“Volunteers are the heart of what we do,” says Kylie Conway, Volunteer and Regional Leader for Melbourne’s West. A few hours of your time can ease the burden for a parent who’s already carrying too much. Volunteering has not only allowed me to support others, but has also shown my children the value of giving back and something I’m incredibly proud of.”
Since its launch in 2013, The Nappy Collective has redistributed over 9 million nappies across Australia and supported more than 280,000 families in crisis.
Nappies can be donated at local donation points throughout the West, as well as at all Baby Bunting stores across Australia, including their flagship store at Maribyrnong.
To find your nearest nappy donation point, or to register as a volunteer, visit www.thenappycollective.com.
