Signing up is nice and easy. Just fill in your details on the sign up form, choose a fundraising goal and upload a pic of yourself so we know the face behind the name! Once you've completed the form, you'll be automatically logged in to your fundraising dashboard so you can get started.
You sure can! A team is a great way to fundraise with friends, family and coworkers. Create a team when you sign up, or afterwards from your fundraising dashboard. Bonus points for having help on hand to get your nail painted!
If it's your first time fundraising, asking for donations can be daunting. But fear not, friends and family want to support you! Just explain what you're doing and why you're doing it, then ask. If you don't get any donations the first time, you can always ask again later. You could even come up with a fun or interesting way of raising funds. You can check out our Polished Toolkit for more inspiration.
Getting donations is exciting, and it’s really important to say thanks! You can thank your sponsors by logging into your fundraising dashboard, scrolling down to your donation feed, and clicking the little heart icon. Write a message, and we'll send it to your sponsor on your behalf. You could also share a 'thanks for your support' message with your sponsors on social media (which might encourage others to give too!).
Can't log in? It's easy to reset your password. Head to the login page and click "Forgot your password?". It'll send you an email, then you'll be on your way. If you didn't receive the email, make sure you check your junk or spam folder. It might take a few minutes to arrive.
Anywhere! You can polish up with whatever nail polish or colour you like. If you want our signature blue and live in Australia, kickstart your fundraising with a $35+ donation to your own page upon registration and you’ll qualify for a Starter Kit which includes the official Polished Man blue nail polish, nail polish remover, and many more goodies! Head to your dashboard for more information.
While October has traditionally been our biggest fundraising push, the fight to end violence against women and children doesn't stop then. In 2024, we encourage everyone to "Paint a Nail, All Year Long!" meaning you can start fundraising and raising awareness any time.
Think of it as an exciting evolution – a journey towards a more consistent impact. We're building on the amazing legacy of Polished Man and expanding our reach to make a bigger difference, every single day.
Everyone should have the chance to live a happy, healthy and safe life. But the reality right now is very different. Sadly, 1 in 7 Australians have experienced childhood abuse, and in Australia, one woman is killed every four days.
The Polished Man campaign encourages everyone to take a stand and actively commit to helping end violence against women and children by painting one nail blue for the month of October. That one painted nail can start a conversation, which raises awareness and funds to ensure no woman or child has to live with violence.
ygap's co-founder Elliot Costello came up with the idea for Polished Man after a visit to campaign beneficiary Hagar International in Cambodia. One evening, he met a young girl named Thea, who after playing noughts and crosses for hours, drew a heart on Elliot's palm, and then painted all of his nails blue.
Later, Elliot learnt how Thea came to be in Hagar's care – she was physically and sexually assaulted on a daily basis for two years by her orphanage's director. Elliot made the decision then and there to paint one nail to remember Thea. When he later learned of the extent of child violence, the Polished Man movement was born.
Because violence against women and children mostly happens behind closed doors, it’s something we often don’t talk about, so there can be stigma attached. Painting a nail is about starting to have those difficult conversations, to raise awareness and bring the issue to light so that no woman or child has to live with violence.
If left untreated, the impact of violence can stay with people and deeply affect many aspects of their lives. That one painted nail could be the thing that encourages a survivor to seek help, or feel comfortable opening up about their story to someone they trust.
It is about so much more than just a painted nail.
In Australia, at least one woman a week loses her life to violence from a current or former partner. According to Destroy the Joint, this equated to the killing of at least 57 women in 2022 and at least 64 women in 2023 – statistics that paint a devastating picture, and one that sadly continues on in 2024.
This violence disproportionately affects women, with intimate partner homicides involving a female victim and a male perpetrator being the most common type of femicide*.
While most men do not use violence against women and children and believe it to be unacceptable, many stand by and do little to prevent it, allowing it to continue.
This is why Polished Man encourages men to step up, speak out and take a stand. As carers, leaders and protectors, men have a positive and vital role to play in helping to stop violence against women and children. We want men to say enough is enough and take action to create a safer world for all women and children.
We are called Polished ‘Man’, but we want to empower everyone to become part of the solution. We need as many hands (and nails) as we can get to tackle these global issues to make sure no woman or child has to live with violence.
*Source: Monash University: Securing Women’s Lives
Absolutely not! We encourage everyone to sign up, paint a nail and fundraise for Polished Man. This issue affects so many people and the Polished Man movement asks everyone to stand together in protecting society’s most vulnerable.
Polished Man is not about pointing the finger when it comes to violence, it’s about empowering everyone to become part of the solution.
Paint them Polished Man blue, pink, rainbow or glitter! You can decorate your digits with whatever polish you like. Paint one nail, or paint them all!
Polished Man is on a mission to supercharge the fight against violence against women and children. We're excited to announce a strategic shift in how we use your generous donations.
Get ready for a wider impact! By transitioning to a grants program, we aim to support a broader range of initiatives tackling different aspects of this critical issue. Think education, housing, financial empowerment, and more.
Transparency matters. Grant recipients will be held accountable for how they use the funds and the positive outcomes they achieve. This means you'll see exactly how your contribution is making a difference.
The power of stories. We'll share inspiring stories of how these grants are transforming communities. Get ready to be moved and motivated to keep the fight going!
Absolutely! You can even start a team, and invite your family and friends to sign up and join the team, to take part themselves.
Don't worry, it often happens. Just pay the money into your own bank account, then donate the same amount to your fundraising page. Be sure to use your sponsor's name and email address when filling in the donation form so they get a receipt.
That's ok, things come up! Just get in touch and we can remove your fundraising page from the campaign.
Donating to yourself is a great way to get started. It'll show sponsors that you're committed, and you've broken the ice by going first. In your dashboard just click "Sponsor myself" to chip in to your campaign. As an added bonus, if you kickstart your fundraising with a $35 self-donation, you’ll receive one of our Starter Kits complete with the official Polished Man blue nail polish, nail polish remover, and many more goodies!
When you're talking about why you are fundraising, make sure you speak personally. People are chipping in, because this cause is important to you. Tell a personal story about why you've taken this incredible step to fundraise for us.
Or, if you want to get creative, head to the Polished Toolkit page on our website for some fun ideas!
We know that not everyone is in a financial position to donate. But that doesn’t mean they can’t support you! Why not ask them to polish up with you? They could even sign up and you could create or join a team together! They could also reshare your social posts to encourage their network to support you.
Yes! Donations made to Polished Man over $2 are tax deductible. Anyone who donates will automatically receive a tax deductible receipt to their nominated email address.
In an emergency always contact your local emergency department:
In Australia, dial: 000
In the United States, dial: 911
In the UK, dial: 999
Click here for more information on helpline services available in your state, territory or country.