Netball Star Creates Period Shorts to Keep Girls in Sport

A professional athlete is using her platform to solve a problem that pushes too many girls out of sports: managing periods during competition.

Kiera Austin, a 28-year-old goal attack for the Melbourne Vixens and Australian Diamonds player, has partnered with Eltee Sydney to create the UnderAustin performance period undershort. The garment absorbs between 15 to 20 milliliters of liquid, equivalent to four regular sanitary pads, and comes in sizes from girls' 10 to women's 14.

Austin tested the shorts herself during preseason matches and launched them publicly last week. She's now wearing them in regular season games, proving they work under the intense physical demands of professional netball.

The timing matters more than ever. Research shows alarming rates of teenage girls dropping out of sports, with period concerns being a significant but often unspoken factor.

Why This Inspires

Austin remembers her own struggle learning to manage menstruation while playing competitive sports. "I still remember needing to learn to use a tampon probably earlier than I felt ready to just to play the game," she said.

Her motivation goes beyond product development. "The biggest thing we wanted to do was create something that young women and girls could wear whilst playing so that they could feel protected and comfortable," Austin explained.

The innovation addresses multiple needs, from girls expecting their first period to those with heavier flows who need extra protection. Austin wants to ensure no athlete faces the choice between playing the sport they love and feeling secure during their cycle.

Austin's commitment to the cause runs deep. "Sport has given me so much," she said. "I would never want a period to restrict girls from achieving their dreams."

The launch comes as Austin continues to excel on the court. She was named Most Valuable Player in last year's Super Netball Grand Final and just helped her team secure a dramatic overtime victory in the Melbourne Derby, where she hit five crucial two-point super shots.

Young athletes now have a champion fighting for them both on and off the court, creating real solutions to keep the next generation in the game.