You Bloody Beauty: The NSW Government Will Trial Free Tampons & Pads In All Public Schools

The NSW Department of Education will trail free tampons and pads at public schools, which is bloody good news isn’t it?

The move will address period poverty in schools, an issue that young Australia of the Year Isobel Marshall has pushed to be put on the national agenda. Marshall co-founded TABOO with her friend Eloise Hall to help break down the stigma around menstruation and provide better access to pads/tampons.

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At the moment the government initiative is just a trial, but hopefully it will flow on into the future…ok, ok, I’ll stop now.

“We are developing work on a pilot program around this and details will be emerging on that shortly,” the NSW Department of Education’s secretary Mark Scott said.

“We are looking to test how we could effectively roll this out.”

In October last year, Victoria became the first state in Australia to make pads and tampons free across government schools.

“We’re proud to be providing free sanitary items in all Victorian government schools to ensure that students – regardless of their background or circumstances – can focus and participate fully in their education,” Victorian Minister for Education James Merlino said.

The Vic Government rolled out the $20.7 million initiative to help eliminate some of the stigma around periods.

“Getting your period is a normal part of life and sanitary items are a basic necessity. We’re ensuring all girls in our public schools have access to pads and tampons when they need them, so they can focus on their studies,” Victorian Minister Gabriella Williams said.

In February, South Australia announced a similar initiative where they would provide free sanitary products for students above year 5 and above.

“We are committed to working with schools on improving student wellbeing and removing barriers to learning,” he said. “We want to ensure that no girl or young woman in South Australia is missing school because they don’t have access to sanitary products,” South Australian Education Minister John Gardner said.

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