Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Free dispensers ensure Canberrans can access period products with dignity.
In brief:
- Free pads and tampons are available in a range of community locations.
- Dispensers are installed in over 30 ACT public schools.
- This article gives an overview of free period products in the ACT.
Access to free period products is being expanded in the Territory.
Free pads and tampons are now available from community locations, including:
- libraries
- health and community services
- selected government facilities
- more than 30 public primary and secondary schools.
Free dispensers in ACT public schools
Free period product dispensers will be installed in participating ACT public schools.
These dispensers will contain:
- pads in primary schools
- pads and tampons in high schools, preschool to year 10 schools, and colleges.
Dispensers will be in student-friendly locations, including in girls’, gender-neutral and accessible bathrooms.
Students can also access free period products in other parts of the school, such as wellbeing spaces and classrooms.
Period products will still be freely available in public school front offices as they have been for some time.
Removing barriers
The new dispensers ensure every student can access period products with dignity, privacy and confidence.
This allows them to focus on their education and extracurricular activities.
The ACT Government aims to install dispensers in all ACT public schools.
Feedback from students and staff at participating schools, as well as product usage data, will be collected to inform this rollout.
Boosting awareness in schools
The ACT Government will also launch an awareness campaign in schools.
Posters and educational materials will tell students about the changes.
They will also communicate that access to period products is a necessity, not a privilege.
It’s hoped this will also help break down unhelpful stigmas about menstruation.
Guaranteed access for students
The ACT is the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce legislation that guarantees students free access to period products.
The new law requires that schools provide products in a way that upholds students’ dignity and privacy.
This acknowledges that menstruation should not be a barrier to full participation in school life.
It’s also a significant step towards ending period poverty.
More dispensers around Canberra
Beyond schools, dispensers are installed at:
- Canberra Hospital
- University of Canberra Hospital
- Community and health centres
- walk-in centres
- ACT libraries.
Find out more about free period products on the ACT Government website.
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