Pads and tampons will soon be free for all public school students in NSW

Period products for all.

The shame women have been conditioned to feel around periods and their associated products is obviously a huge issue, but an even bigger one is period poverty. Period poverty disproportionately affects marginalised groups and around Australia, there are many students who are forced to improvise on period products due to the cost.

Thankfully, over the last few years states around Australia have begun to introduce free period products in public schools. On March 6 2022, the NSW government announced its plan to roll out free period products in public schools across the state, joining Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania in the movement.

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The decision was made following the successful trial of the program in 30 schools in NSW’s West and in Dubbo and is estimated to cost $30 million to implement. Making pads and tampons free in schools has long been a top priority for women’s health advocates in Australia, so the rollout of this initiative is an important step forward. It will help students in need and play a part in dismantling the taboo around women’s health issues.

When announcing the program, NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell told AAP, “I want our young women to feel comfortable in knowing they have access to free sanitary products when they need. We have seen through the pilot program that providing sanitary items has a positive impact on educational engagement and attainment.” The program’s rollout will be completed by June 2022.

For more information on period poverty in Australia, head here.