Today (8 March) is International Women's Day and the NSW Government has gone where no government has gone before announcing free menstrual hygiene products will soon be made available in all the state's public schools. 

The program builds on a pilot at 31 pilot schools in South Western Sydney and the Dubbo region which began in 2021. 

It follows similar programs already rolled out in Victorian and South Australian schools and echoes an international trend where the products have been made freely available at schools in England and New Zealand. 

Scotland has also become the first country in the world to introduce a nation-wide scheme which made period products free to all people who need them. 

Providing free pads and tampons in schools has been heralded as a step towards ending 'period poverty', an as-yet unmeasured problem which sees girls and women skipping school and work for want of essential hygiene products. 

In 2020, Dr Ruth Knight based at the Queensland University of Technology Business School prepared a report about the issue in partnership with charity organisation, Share the Dignity. 

“Period poverty is a real issue that is under-researched,” Dr Knight said. “We have anecdotal evidence of teachers personally donating products but there is a lack of data about the level of need. 

“We’ve been told girls use socks or rolled up toilet paper with underwear left on the floor or in bins while toilets are only accessible at certain times of the day. 

“Unfortunately, what is a basic human right is often seen as a taboo topic.” 

The report suggested reducing period poverty could reduce school absenteeism, reduce shame and embarrassment, and improve physical and mental health for students and the NSW Government's own trial supported these claims. 

NSW Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the trial program has shown that providing sanitary items has a positive impact on educational engagement and attainment.

“Getting your period should not be a barrier to education,” Ms Mitchell said.  

“I want our young women to feel comfortable in knowing they have access to free sanitary products when they need.” 

Dispensing machines for the pads and tampons will be installed in each school commencing in June this year. 

The Department of Education say they will work with each school to discuss options for the location of the dispensers and facilitate installation through external contractors.  

Girls with a vending machine supplied to their school by Share the Dignity. PHOTO: Share the Dignity.

Australian women's charity Share the Dignity, who successfully campaigned  to axe the tampon tax in 2018 and has already installed 282 vending machines distributing free pads and tampons in schools around Australia. 

They are now focused on ensuring all public hospitals offer free sanitary items to those who need them through a campaign #PadUpPublicHealth. 

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” 

Providing free menstrual products in schools is a small practical step towards gender equality.