Vignette 88: Young Australian of the year

Medical student Isobel Marshall made waves in 2021 when she was named Young Australian of the Year. At just 18, Marshall and business partner Eloise Hall founded TABOO, a social enterprise addressing the universal taboo of menstruation. This innovative venture provides high-quality organic cotton pads and tampons to the Australian market. It allocates 100% of its net profit to sustainable projects supporting menstrual health and education in Sierra Leone and Uganda. 

Through this initiative, Marshall and Hall fostered positive conversations about menstruation and advocated for education about menstruation in schools. TABOO partnered with local organisations to provide free menstrual products to women in emergency accommodation through Vinnies Women’s Crisis Centre and support for First Nations communities via the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council.

The University’s business incubator, ThincLab, was pivotal in supporting TABOO’s growth, providing a space for collaboration and mentorship. 

Marshall’s recognition as Young Australian of the Year reflects the ongoing impact that our students, graduates and staff have on communities around the world.

The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History.  Leading for the future. p.122