More than 500 Queensland government schools have applied to have period product vending machines installed in bathrooms as cost-of-living pressures weigh heavily on families.
The government announced last week it had distributed 100,000 free period product packs to students and installed 147 Dignity Vending Machines in schools in partnership with charity Share the Dignitysince the scheme began last year.
The original program promised vending machines for 120 Queensland government schools, but was later expanded to include all schools wanting one, at a cost of more than $35 million over six years.
Under the latest registration round, 393 schools applied, including 235 primary schools.
Period products can pose a significant expense – up to hundreds of dollars a year per person – particularly for those in financial hardship, unstable accommodation, or those escaping domestic and family violence.
As a result, some women and girls are forced to forego or improvise period products in order to afford food and other essentials and this can have serious health implications.
Share the Dignity’s founder Rochelle Courtenay said she was “thrilled” to see the government had committed to ensuring kids weren’t missing school due to being unable to afford period products.
“I am also elated that our Dignity Vending Machines are being rolled out into primary schools as well as secondary schools, a first in Australia,” she said.
She said a 2021 survey by the charity found more than 30,000 kids got their first period at the age of 11 or younger.
As part of the partnership, the charity also provides access to an educational program “Period Talk” to help remove stigma around menstruation.
All states and territories across the country now have programs in place to provide free period products to students who require them from at least grade 7 upwards after Western Australia became the last state to implement such a scheme at the start of the year.
In some states, products are made available from dispensers, while in others, schools are provided with funding that allows them to choose how they provide the products to students.
In Queensland, the vending machine initiative is open to all state schools, outdoor and environmental centres and student residential facilities.
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Schools that have not yet registered for a machine will be able to do so in future rounds and private schools are also able to leverage the scheme provided they fund it themselves.
”Some schools may not register as their student profile may not require it, particularly in very small schools,” the department said in a statement.
“They may already have other supports in place for students, such as providing free period products via an alternative method.
“These arrangements are determined at a local level.”
Principal Justin Harris from Toolooa State High School in Gladstone said the vending machine had “truly resonated” with students.
“The response from students towards the vending machine has been overwhelmingly positive, with genuine appreciation,” he said.
Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace said the machines removed barriers to learning and provided cost-of-living relief.
“Access to period products should never be a barrier to learning, and I am thrilled we have hit this milestone – 100,000 period product packs have been given to thousands of students right across our state,” Grace said.
“That’s 100,000 times students didn’t have to worry about sorting out tampons and pads and could concentrate on being at school instead.”
The rollout of machines from the current round of registrations will begin in September.
