Remy Tucker, 25, grew up in Brisbane and left school in 2016 to study midwifery. She worked closely with refugees and young mothers in pre and post-natal care, where she first witnessed the harsh reality of period poverty in Australia.
“I saw women having to choose between buying baby formula for their newborns or period products for themselves. Of course, as a mother, that is an easy choice, but no woman should ever have to make a choice like that,” she recalls. Motivated by what she saw, Remy began researching the issue and discovered it was far more widespread than she had
imagined.
“Two-thirds of women and girls in Australia struggle to afford period care, many are using makeshift items like socks or toilet paper as substitutes. The problem leads to missed work and school, perpetuating inequality,” said Remy.
Two-thirds of women
In an April 2024, a survey of 517 menstruating adults born after 1980, Plan International Australia found that 57% reported it was more difficult to pay for pads, tampons and reusable menstrual health items in 2022 than in previous years.
Although she eventually left midwifery, her passion for women’s health stayed with her. She then studied business and marketing at the University of Queensland, working as a marketing manager and later as an event producer for an LVMH supplier. She eventually launched her own marketing business, helping startups craft go-to-market strategies.
“I loved the vibe of the startup world and creating something new. The persistence and dedication these founders had inspired me to start something of my own,” says Remy.
Despite her achievements, Remy often felt unfulfilled by the constant focus on revenue and profits. She wanted to work on something that truly mattered.
Crowdfunding Campaign
“I always knew, ever since I was a kid, I was destined to help people and make a difference. It was the reason I went into midwifery. It became a subconscious thing that drove me forward. I just didn’t know what it was at the time,” says Remy. That opportunity came when she discovered a US company using the “advertising-for-good” model to make water free. Inspired by the concept, she realised she could apply the same idea to tackle period poverty in Australia.
In 2022, she founded On The House Group with a clear mission: make period products free for Women. Rejecting the stereotypical “feminine” branding, she aimed to create a company that represented the complexity of women. No pinks or purples. No butterflies or flowers. Remy wanted it to reflect the full spectrum of what girls and women are.
“We are messy and clean. We are kind and strong. We are crying on the floor and then laughing hysterically”.
“The group of women I intend to bring together on this mission is something that gets me out of bed in the morning. I am ride or die about it,” says Remy.
On the House Group is now launching a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. The objective of the capital raise is to install at least five period product dispensers in Brisbane community bathrooms with the long-term goal of scaling across Australia and eventually worldwide. This is just the beginning. The objective is to install 1500 period product dispensers across Australia within the next five years.