There's nothing worse than having the urge to do your business, only to find there's nowhere to go.
Thankfully, Australia's National Public Toilet Map exists, and the hunt is on to find new ones, or update data about existing ones.
Available as a website and an app, the map, which has more than 23,000 entries, offers people details of where public toilets are and what facilities they have. It's particularly useful for people with incontinence, who need to plan ahead and know where toilets are so they can be in public or travel with confidence.
'Dunny hunters' can upload their submissions to the map, and can update and add information on:
- Adult change facilities (including shower, BYO sling)
- Baby change
- Dump point (including wash out water, afterhours access)
- Ambulant facilities
- Drinking water
- Sharps disposal
- Showers
- Sanitary, incontinence product disposal
- Right and/or left transfer - important for those with one side of the body less able
- Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) The Master Locksmiths Access
- Male, Female, All gender
The 2024 Great Dunny Hunt is on from Friday, March 29 to Sunday, June 16 - the start of World Continence Week.
People who update details on the map are encouraged to fill out a short survey on how they use the map to make sure the valuable resource continues to support all Australians.
By completing the survey, respondents can go in the running to win one of three $500 EFTPOS vouchers.
More than five million people live with incontinence in Australia and it's expected to reach 6.5 million by 2030.
A survey of people living with incontinence found 49 per cent of respondents don't feel comfortable going on long trips without knowing where the first toilet stop will be.
It also proved incredibly isolating; 42 per cent said incontinence caused them to be reluctant to leave home; 25 percent were reluctant to go about their daily activities, and 22 per cent said it had even affected their relationship with family or friends.
Visit www.continence.org.au/great-dunny-hunt and www.toiletmap.gov.au for more information.
