Yesterday the state government moved to take action against period poverty by making free pads and tampons available in all South Australian schools, allocating $450,000 worth of funding.
Each public school will receive a grant for sanitary products this school term based on the number of female students they have enrolled.
This follows a successful trial here and the Victorian Government granting over $20 million to put sanitary product dispensers in all public schools.
We know that even after the removal of the tampon tax, these products are still expensive but required in some form every month for most people with periods*.
This is why it’s so important to be providing these for young people in schools, not all students are employed, so how can they provide these for themselves if they’re not available at home?
The government funding has come from the perspective of not only wanting to irradicate period poverty but also ensure that no student has to miss out on any part of their education because they are menstruating.
SA Education Minister John Gardner has commented on the importance of meeting the needs of students requiring sanitary products, whether they have limited access or just don’t have any at that moment, that the focus is on making sure learning is the focus in school, not the stress or embarrassment those situations can bring.
The Impact of Periods on School Students in South Australia survey by the Commissioner for Children & Young People last year 26% of respondents reported having missed out on attending school due to not having a period product.
70% of respondents also reported having used something else as a period product such as toilet paper, tissues, socks, and even torn sheets, which encapsulates just how widespread this issue is and how important access to free products is.
*Gender inclusive language such as ‘people who have periods’ or ‘menstruators’ is important to note in this context because we recognise that not all people with periods are women, and not all women have periods. Read more about gender inclusive language from the United Nations here.
