11 October 2023
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) has teamed up with the Continence Foundation of Australia’s BINS4Blokes campaign to help get more continence product disposal bins in male public toilets across Australia.
The BINS4Blokes campaign launched three years ago, with many organisations across Australia now installing bins, including local councils, businesses, retail outlets, health services and recreation facilities.
Around 1.34 million Australian males are living with urinary and/or bowel continence, including many men impacted by prostate cancer.
PCFA Head of Supportive Care Programs, Bernard Riley, said there is currently a lack of public facilities to dispose of continence products used by men.
“For men using continence products, including pads, there are limited places for them to dispose of these while out. This can lead to significant stress on individuals and discourage men from leaving the house,” Mr Riley said.
“Over 25,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and many of them will experience temporary or long-term continence issues after treatment and need to be supported.
“We’re proud to partner with BINS4Blokes to help raise awareness of the need for continence product disposal bins and encourage more councils, businesses and shopping centres to include these bins in male public toilets”, he said.
Prostate cancer survivor Bob Corney and leader of the NSW Northern Rivers Prostate Cancer Support Group is a strong advocate of the program and is enlisting the help of the Ballina Shire Council to get more continence product disposal bins installed locally.
“I saw the need for more continence product disposal bins in public toilets to help fellow survivors and other males with continence to get out and about,” Mr Corney said.
As a prostate cancer survivor who has experienced continence, Bob said that going into a bathroom without a bin can be difficult when there is nowhere to dispose of continence products.
“It’s a challenging situation many men face, but if we can improve their quality of life by installing bins and giving them confidence to get out and about, then it’s a no-brainer,” he said.
Mr Corney encourages all councils, businesses and organisations to get on board with the BINS4Blokes initiative, to make a difference.
“Around 70 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every day in Australia – and for those who experience continence after treatment, BINS4Blokes is a game changer,” Mr Corney said.
Any business, shopping centre or council can reach out to BINS4Blokes via info@BINS4blokes.org.au or visit www.bins4blokes.org.au to find out how they can install continence product disposal bins.
For more information about prostate cancer and support for managing continence issues, reach out to PCFA on 1800 22 00 99 to speak with a nurse or visit www.pcfa.org.au.
Men can also contact the Continence Foundation of Australia’s National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 to speak to a nurse continence specialist or visit www.continence.org.au
