FLUSH with reasons to promote awareness and the importance of access to quality public toilets, the Continence Foundation of Australia is again asking for help to find Australia’s best public toilets before Monday, June 19, 2023.

One in four people in Australia live with incontinence and 38 per cent of Australians live with a disability who also experience incontinence.

Coinciding with World Continence Week, the annual Great Dunny Hunt is the name given to the race to find the nation’s top three public toilets on The National Public Toilet Map.

Taken for granted by many, getting to decent public facilities is often a huge consideration for those living with incontinence who may find it difficult to leave their home due to the fear of not having access to appropriate conveniences.

The hunt involves Australians taking pictures of their favourite public dunny and uploading it to the National Public Toilet Map (NPTM) website or app.

Anyone who is travelling whether for work or going on holidays, is encouraged to take a moment to enter the competition.

Aside from the winner, honourable mention awards will also be given to the most colourful dunny and the dunny in the most unusual location.

Among the judging panel of public toilet experts will be Sean Burford who won the title of Australia’s Greatest Dunny Hunter in 2022, who entered 129 dunnies on The National Public Toilet Map.

“A good photo showing accessibility really is worth a thousand words,” he said.

“When you’re out and about, it’s a great opportunity to find nearby facilities and check that the information about accessibility is up to date on the map.”

While over 21,000 public toilets are listed on the national map, only 3000 facilities have photos currently listed.

With many locations still missing pictures, the photo entries for the country’s best dunnies will be extremely beneficial for Australians who experience incontinence.

The Continence Foundation of Australia chief executive, Rowan Cockerell, said the last two Great Dunny Hunts received fantastic nationwide support.

“We’re very excited to see the impact the updated pictures will have on the thousands of Australians experiencing incontinence by identifying nearby toilet facilities that suit their individual needs,” he said.

While also supporting individuals in need, Australians who enter photos of their favourite public toilets will go into the draw to win one of three $500 Eftpos gift vouchers.

Photos will be judged by how clearly they show the outside of the public toilet and available features and facilities such as:

•             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

 Visit continence.org.au/great-dunny-hunt and toiletmap.gov.au for more information.