Every Victorian government primary, secondary and specialist school has provided free pads and tampons since Term 3, 2019, according to the Victorian Department of Education's policy guidance on the initiative. The department says access to period products should not stand in the way of a student's education and calls them a necessity, not a luxury.
New South Wales has since rolled out free products in its public schools, with more than 4600 dispensers installed in time for the 2023 school year. This guide explains what period poverty is, how it affects students and what you can do in your own community.
Quick answer: Period poverty is when someone can't afford or easily reach the pads, tampons, period cups or other products they need each month. In Australia, Victorian and NSW government schools now supply free period products, partly because limited access can affect concentration, sport and attendance. Donating, speaking up and talking openly about periods all help.
What does period poverty actually involve?
Period poverty is the gap between what someone needs to manage a period and what they can actually get. The World Health Organization's 2022 statement on menstrual health says good menstrual health depends on information and education, suitable products, water, sanitation and disposal facilities, and surroundings where periods carry no shame. That means the problem can involve any of these, not only the cost of pads.
How does period poverty affect students?
Missing out on products can follow a student into the classroom and onto the sports field. The Victorian guidance lists the effects of limited access:
- less participation in sport;
- poorer concentration and comfort;
- lower attendance, including missed days of school.
It also warns that using unsuitable products, or using products for too long, can cause toxic shock syndrome and reproductive tract infections. The initiative aims to reduce the stigma, anxiety and discomfort linked to menstruation, and to ease the cost of living for families.
What are Australian governments doing about period poverty?
Victoria: free pads and tampons in all government schools since 2019, supporting what the department describes as tens of thousands of students. Schools can request extra dispensers or refills outside the usual schedule through an online form.
New South Wales: the state's School Infrastructure announcement says students at public schools returned in 2023 with access to free menstrual hygiene products. The minister said getting your period should not be a barrier to education, and cited evidence that providing sanitary items has a very positive impact on educational engagement and attainment. Select schools are also delivering the PPEP-Talk education program.
WHO notes that governments elsewhere have taken similar steps, from removing taxes on menstrual products to supplying people who are homeless or in prison.
What can you do about period poverty in Australia?
- Ask your school, or your child's school, where free products are kept and whether dispensers are regularly restocked.
- Donate unopened pads, tampons or other products to a local pantry, refuge or community centre after checking what they need.
- Talk about periods at home in a plain, matter-of-fact way so young people feel comfortable asking.
- Raise it at work: WHO wants schools, workplaces and public institutions to be supportive of people who menstruate.
Our article on periods and homelessness in Australia looks at the challenges faced by people without a stable home.
Frequently asked questions
Are pads and tampons free in Victorian government schools?
Yes. The Victorian Department of Education says free period products have been available in every government primary, secondary and specialist school since Term 3, 2019, and the products provided are pads and tampons. If a dispenser is empty, schools can ask the department's supplier for refills outside the usual schedule.
Do NSW public schools offer free period products?
Yes. NSW School Infrastructure announced that public school students would start the 2023 school year with access to free menstrual hygiene products, with more than 4600 dispensers installed across the state. The stated goal was to help young women overcome barriers to getting these products so periods don't disrupt learning.
Can using period products for too long be harmful?
It can be. Victoria's education department warns that using unsuitable products, or keeping products in for too long, can cause toxic shock syndrome and reproductive tract infections. Follow the instructions that come with your pads, tampons or period cup, and check with a GP if you have any concerns.
Is period poverty just about money?
Not only. Cost matters, and Victoria's initiative explicitly aims to ease the cost of living for families, but WHO also lists information, water, toilets, disposal and freedom from shame as parts of menstrual health. Victoria's guidance also names stigma, anxiety and discomfort as problems the initiative sets out to reduce.
If a reusable product suits you, the Lunette period cup is a menstrual cup made in Finland from 100% medical-grade silicone, free from BPA, PFAS, rubber and latex, and it lasts up to 10 years with proper care. Our guide on how to clean a period cup explains the simple routine between uses.
This page shares general information, not medical advice. School programs differ between states, so check with your school or state education department for current details.
