Every Victorian government school, whether primary, secondary or specialist, has offered free pads and tampons since Term 3, 2019. The Victorian Department of Education explains why: without easy access to products, students may not be able to concentrate in class, may sit out sport or may miss school altogether.
This guide to education and periods in Australia and New Zealand covers what students learn about menstruation at school, which products schools hand out on both sides of the Tasman, and what every young person should know before a first period.
Quick answer: Periods are covered within puberty education, which both countries link to school health and physical education. Queensland's Ready, Set, Grow! program teaches menstrual cycles to Year 5 and 6 students, and New Zealand's Year 6 health learning names menstruation as a puberty change. Victorian government schools and schools in New Zealand's Ikura programme also stock free pads and tampons.
When do Australian students learn about periods at school?
In Queensland, a dedicated puberty program reaches students in Year 5 and Year 6. According to the Queensland Government, Ready, Set, Grow! was developed jointly by the state's Department of Education and Queensland Health, is delivered by trained health professionals and educators, and aligns with Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum for Health and Physical Education.
Students get clear information about menstrual cycles and learn how to manage periods and support others. The program also covers body changes, hygiene, emotions and brain development, boundaries and communication, and confidence.
What do New Zealand students learn about menstruation?
New Zealand teaches puberty within the Health and Physical Education learning area, and the Ministry of Education's parent guide to Year 6 health names menstruation among the physical changes students discuss. It also covers the emotional changes that can come with menstruation, such as mood swings and body image worries, and self-care strategies for handling them. Relationships and sexuality education is taught in the same learning area, and parents can ask the principal in writing to withdraw their child from its sexuality content.
Are period products free in schools in Australia and New Zealand?
They are in Victorian government schools and in New Zealand schools that join Ikura, and the products on offer are disposable. Victoria's school dispensers stock pads and tampons. Across the Tasman, the Ikura | Manaakitia te whare tangata initiative is open to any state, state-integrated or charter school and kura that chooses to join, and supplies pads, tampons and liners in different sizes.
The Ministry estimates 98% of menstruating students in those schools and kura can access period products, and says students can take them when they need them, not just in emergencies.
What should young people know before their first period?
healthdirect puts the average age for a first period at 12 or 13, with a range from as young as 9 to as late as 16. Periods usually arrive 21 to 35 days apart, and most people bleed for 3 to 7 days.
healthdirect suggests keeping a period kit in a school bag, and products worth talking through include pads, tampons, a menstrual cup and period underwear. It also helps to know what isn't typical. According to healthdirect's endometriosis guide, around 1 in 9 females in Australia develop the condition, some find the pain stops them studying or playing sport, and some wait several years for a diagnosis. For a step-by-step look at the first one, read what to expect when you get your first period.
When to see a doctor
healthdirect advises seeing a doctor if something doesn't feel right with your cycle, including when:
- you are 17 and your periods haven't started;
- periods become heavier than usual, or their pattern changes;
- bleeding lasts more than 8 days;
- periods come less than 3 weeks or more than 2 months apart;
- you bleed between periods or after sex;
- period pain is severe enough to disrupt daily activities.
If endometriosis seems possible, raise your symptoms with a GP. healthdirect's nurse line, 1800 022 222, is open 24 hours a day.
Frequently asked questions
Since when have Victorian government schools offered free pads and tampons?
Since Term 3, 2019. The Victorian Government provides pads and tampons through dispensers in all of its primary, secondary and specialist schools. The Department of Education says the initiative eases the cost of living for families and relieves students of the stigma, anxiety and discomfort that can come with menstruation, so they can focus on study.
Does New Zealand's Ikura programme include period cups?
No. Ikura supplies pads, tampons and liners in a range of sizes. A 2023 trial put period underwear and menstrual cups into seven schools, and the Ministry of Education reported some benefit, but it says reusables need extra school resources and has decided not to roll them out in schools at this time.
How common is endometriosis in Australia?
According to healthdirect, around 1 in 9 females in Australia develop endometriosis, and symptoms can continue after menopause. Common signs include pelvic pain with periods, sex or going to the toilet, heavy or irregular bleeding, bloating and fatigue. Diagnosis can take several years, so raise any symptoms with a GP if you suspect it.
Helping a teenager choose period products? Lunette recommends Size 1, its softer size, for teens and for a light to medium flow. The Lunette period cup is made in Finland from 100% medical-grade silicone; the period cup size guide sets both sizes side by side.
This article is general information, not medical advice; if you have questions about your own cycle, talk to your GP or call healthdirect.
