The City of Melbourne has announced that the provision of free pads and tampons in vending machines across the city will be extended until 30 June 2023.
Since the launch of the trial in September 2021 more than 6,700 period care products were dispensed from vending machines across six Council-owned facilities, located at:
- Library at the Dock
- City Library
- Carlton Baths
- Melbourne Town Hall public toilets (on Collins Street)
- North Melbourne Community Centre
- Kathleen Syme Community Centre
Around 15 per cent of Victorian people who menstruate have been unable to afford period products at some stage in their lives, due to challenges such as poverty, homelessness, domestic violence and inflation.
The free service aims to reduce the stigma of managing periods and is available to anyone who menstruates including girls, women, and transgender and gender diverse people.
By providing pads and tampons free of charge, Council hopes to improve the health, comfort, dignity and inclusion of Melburnians.
City of Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, said, “We’re doing what we can to make managing periods easier and more accessible for all Melburnian girls, women and people who menstruate.”
Over the 12-month pilot program, the City provided more than 6,700 pads and tampons to Melburnians.
City of Melbourne will continue to investigate options to expand the program across additional sites, working collaboratively with the State Government to accelerate the roll out within the municipality.
“By providing free access to pads and tampons at six of our libraries, recreation centres and other Council-owned facilities, we hope to reduce the social, financial and personal impacts affecting the one in five Australians who face period poverty,” Mayor Capp said.
“We hope to continue to extend and expand the program – to create a greater sense of menstrual equity in Melbourne.”
