About us

Continence Foundation of Australia

The Continence Foundation of Australia is the national peak body for continence awareness, management, education, research and advocacy. The mission of the Foundation is to represent the interests of the one in four Australians affected by, or at risk of, bladder and bowel control problems, their carers, families and clinicians.

Our main aims are to:

• raise community awareness about bladder and bowel health and the prevention of incontinence
• educate people about treatment and management options for incontinence
• encourage people with bladder or bowel control problems to seek professional help – no matter how small their problem may be
• advocate for the development of accessible continence services across Australia, and
• facilitate and/or fund continence-related research.

The Continence Foundation is supported by the Australian Government under the National Continence Program. We also rely on the generous support of our members and corporate partners to carry out our work.

Pelvic Floor First 

Pelvic Floor First is an initiative of the Continence Foundation of Australia and aims to reduce the number of men and women who experience pelvic floor dysfunction as a result of inappropriate exercise regimes.

The aim is supported by the following objectives:

• • strengthen the relationship between the continence and fitness industry

• • increase awareness of the link between certain types of exercise and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, and

• • promote pelvic floor safe exercises.

This will support people to remain active without the fear and anxiety related to incontinence.

The primary target audience of the Pelvic Floor First campaign are women and men at increased risk of pelvic floor problems who exercise, play sport or participate in some form of physical activity. These people include:

• • pregnant women

• • women who have recently, or ever, had a baby

• • women who are going through, or have gone through, menopause

• • women who have undergone gynaecological surgery, and

• • men who have undergone surgery for prostate cancer.

The secondary target audience of the Pelvic Floor First campaign include:

• • fitness professionals, and

• • health professionals (including continence professionals and other health professionals such as midwives, practice nurses, maternal and child health nurses and GPs).

These professionals are ideally placed to raise awareness of this issue, refer clients for help and support, and promote pelvic floor safe exercise.