ACT expands period poverty initiative to more than 30 schools as part of national-first program
Posted on
Free period products are now available in more than 30 ACT public schools as part of a groundbreaking initiative to tackle period poverty, marking a major expansion of the territory’s nation-leading program.
It means free pads and tampons are now available at hospitals, community health centres, courts, libraries, 31 public primary and secondary schools, and selected government buildings with further expansion anticipated in 2026.
It’s part of a landmark moment in Australian history when the ACT became the first Australian jurisdiction to guarantee free access to period products in 2023.
As part of the bill, the ACT Government will also ensure information on menstrual hygiene is publicly available thanks to the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill, which was introduced by Suzanne Orr in August 2023 and was passed in June of the same year, with unanimous support from the ACT Greens and Liberal Party.
Suzanne says she is proud that the ACT continues to lead the way by providing period products free of charge and ensuring that crucial information on menstrual hygiene is available to the community.
“The pilot program for free, dignified, and accessible period products and information in schools realises a cause I’ve championed for several years. Broader school-based access through dispensers ensures no one is held back from learning, working, or living fully because they don’t have access to basic essentials,” she says.
“Period poverty is a stigmatised and deeply impactful issue – I’m proud the ACT continues to lead nationally in responding with empathy, dignity, and practical action.”
Aiming to eradicate period poverty while addressing the huge social stigma associated with menstruation, the free period product dispensers will be installed in student-friendly locations in participating ACT public schools, including in girls’, gender-neutral, and accessible bathrooms.
These dispensers will make pads available in primary schools, and pads and tampons in high schools, P–10 schools, and colleges.
To progress the broader rollout across all ACT public schools, the ACT Government will also collect feedback from students and staff at participating schools, as well as product usage data.
According to Share the Dignity’s 2024 Period Pride Report – ‘Bloody Big Survey’ , five per cent of respondents in the ACT have been unable to afford period products in the last 12 months. And while the ACT has the lowest instance of period poverty in Australia, Minister for Women, Dr. Marisa Paterson MLA says the pilot program is a vital step in dismantling the barriers that menstruating people face every day.
“The ACT is leading the nation in the fight to end period poverty. It’s unacceptable that menstruation should ever be a barrier to full participation in school life,” she says.
“By installing free dispensers in school bathrooms, we ensure students can access period products with dignity and confidence. This means they can focus on their education and extracurricular activities without unnecessary obstacles.”
In addition to schools, the pilot program will also include Canberra Hospital, University of Canberra Hospital, Community Health Centres and Walk-in Centres. Dispensers in Canberra Health Services locations are expected to be fully operational by the end of August.
“The rollout of this pilot program is a vital step in dismantling the barriers that menstruating people face every day. Access to pads and tampons should never be a privilege; it is a basic necessity,” says Marisa.
“By providing free and easy access across schools, hospitals, and health centres, we are not just meeting a need; we are affirming dignity, equality, and the right for everyone to thrive without shame or obstacles.”
