Women in our backyard are going without basic toiletries. Accessibility to simple items like deodorant, shampoo, and soap proves challenging for those living in remote communities across our sunburnt nation.

We’ve joined the Happy Boxes Project to provide 300 women with the enjoyment of life’s little luxuries that we regularly take for granted regardless of their location and situation.

Let’s peel back the cover on who the Happy Boxes Project are and how we can support our remote communities.

Who is the Happy Boxes Project?

They’re an Australian charity committed to empowering women by alleviating the barriers to accessing toiletries and beauty products, founded by Emma Sullings, who spent five years working, living and learning in remote communities in the Northern Territory as a teacher, youth mentor, family educator and leader in trauma-informed practice in the classroom. During this time, she realised how difficult it was to access basic needs such as food and toiletries. And so, the Happy Boxes was born and started to spread happiness out to other remote communities in need. It has now grown to support more than 70 communities, over five states.

Many Australians don’t realise that people living in remote communities face many social and economic disadvantages. The Market Basket Survey unveiled that it costs families living remotely 60% more to purchase ingredients than people shopping at district supermarkets. Another study found an average family receiving government allowances would use 34-84% of their income on food alone. One of our coordinators shared that her local store was selling half a cabbage for $21.

Young girls and women are regularly going without sanitary items. We want to send as many Happy Boxes filled with self-care products as possible. To provide women with the enjoyment of life’s little luxuries that we regularly take for granted regardless of their location and situation.

Women are the backbone of their communities. They are the ones who carry the heavy load of ensuring the needs of all children are met whilst facing adversities many of us will never understand.

What are you doing to support our communities?

Not only are we providing communities with access to basic necessities, we’re providing opportunities for women to come together, connect, and support each other. Happy Boxes have helped improve girls’ attendance at school and have helped encourage women to visit health clinics for more regular check-ups.

Where will your next box be sent?

The next community on the Happy Boxes list to spoil is Baniyala. This year alone, there have been 13 deaths related to the homeland, which only has a population of 75-100 people. This means that every woman has been affected by the loss of a loved one. The community is completely exhausted, and they want to ensure every woman receives a Happy Box. It may not seem like much, but if it can make someone smile for even a moment, it is worthwhile.

How can you get involved?

Build a Happy Box to send! All you have to do is grab as many items as you can afford to spare. This may include any of the following:

Essential Items
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Soap
- Face wash
- Deodorant
- Sanitary items
- Hairbrush
- Hair ties
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes

Luxury Items
- Nail polish
- Incense
- Lip balm
- Makeup
- Perfume
- Candles
- Body lotion
- Moisturiser
- Face masks
- Bath towels
- Shower gel
- Exfoliating gloves
- Notepads
- Diaries
- Mindfulness activities
- Hair accessories

Once it is ready to send, jump on the Happy Boxes Project website and head to the ‘Send a Happy Box’ page, where you will find the address to post it to, along with a form to fill out so that they can let you know once it has arrived. Or, if you’re feeling a little time poor, you can make a monetary contribution via their website or purchase a pre-pack Happy Box from one of their partners.