A disturbing new report has revealed more than four million Australians are living in hygiene poverty and skipped buying essential personal items or cleaning products because they can’t afford them. Hygiene poverty is often a precursor to food and fuel poverty, as people are more likely to give up products like shampoo before they go without food. The research conducted by charity Good360 Australia looked at how the cost-of-living crisis was impacting Australians.
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. It found that women, younger people and people living in South Australia and NSW were more likely to be impacted by hygiene poverty. They had avoided social events or missed work because they could not afford hygiene items, and had kept their children home from daycare because they could not afford nappies.
Good360 Australia founder Alison Covington said it was something most Australians took for granted, with many not realising that millions of people couldn’t afford the simple products. With the cost of living crisis putting pressure on various areas, Ms Covington said people were forced to make choices they should not have to make. “It is hard for us to imagine that people have to choose between eating, heating or keeping clean,” she said.
“Some people just cannot afford those basic essentials like toothpaste or shampoo and are having to make choices to brush their teeth or wash their hair. “These sorts of things are.
