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Vending machines supplying free period products are being rolled out public bathrooms across Victoria, including in libraries, museums and hospitals.

The first phase will see 50 machines installed at 30 venues across Melbourne, before the scheme is rolled out across the state in women’s, gender neutral and accessible toilets.

“Pads and tampons are not a luxury – they’re a necessity. And women and girls should be able to access them whenever and wherever they need them,” Premier Jacinta Allan said.

Sites in the first rollout include the State Library, Bendigo Kangan Broadmeadows, Northern Health Broadmeadows, Lalor Library, Coburg Library, Diamond Valley Library, the Arts Centre, Immigration Museum, Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building.

Initially the vending machines will include:

  • 2 pack regular pads
  • 2 pack super pads
  • 8 pack regular tampons
  • 8 pack super tampons

Eventually 700 sites will have vending machines, with more products available.

“Women spend thousands of dollars over their lifetime on these basic necessities – this nation-leading program provides cost-of-living relief for women while providing them the basic dignity they deserve,” said Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins.

Dignity Vending Machine

While the initiative is welcome, it’s not the first of its kind. Charity organisation Share the Dignity has been working to end period poverty for almost a decade, and has installed 950 Dignity Vending Machines across Australia, providing free access to period products.

This includes 40 vending machines in Victoria, with one machine in a hospital dispensing 18,000 period products since 2019.

You can search for your closest Dignity Vending Machine here and your nearest state government vending machine here

  • Love this. I’m lucky enough to have this at work and I’ve used a few times. Unfortunately I feel like it will get vandalized and removed but I really hope not, cos I love the idea

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  • Looks like a good idea. I hope they are safe and not vandalised. I’d certainly be interested to see the statistics on how often they are used.

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  • A great idea I’d like to see chemists and supermarkets not charging either. That way people won’t stack up there bag with the vending machine items

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  • What a great idea. I wonder if all states will do the same thing. This should have come about a long time ago by the states. Why are they doing this all of a sudden. What ever the reason I’m glad they’re finally doing the right thing for females at last.

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  • This is a really great initiative. So far, I have noticed 2 in Launceston that have been around for a little while now. There is one in the public library toilet and there was also Libra pads available at the blood bank, which is great. There is nothing worse than getting caught out when you can’t easily access one. I’ve even had instances where I have bled through my period undies and haven’t had a back up.

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  • This is awesome I hope they come to NSW soon and I also think they should put them in the schools as well.

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  • Now this is a great idea just wish other States would follow them

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  • I think it’s amazing if they have them accessible everywhere! I have PCOS and can get a period 0-2 times a year and obviously very unexpectedly. Currently I’m a breastfeeding mum so when I got my period while away on holidays I was completely shocked. I still had a pad left in the nappy bag but the shops were closed and I couldn’t access anymore.. unless if I wanted to pay $4 for 1 tampon in the bathrooms at a restaurant I was staying across from.
    The shopping centre I used to work at trialled free sanitary products but soon took them away due to woman basically stealing them instead of taking 1 at a time, when they need it. Spoiling it for those who are desperate.

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  • These are fantastic! They have these at Australia zoo and I popped a pack in my bag as I was on my period when we went. I like the idea especially as I have 2 teenage girls who are still getting used to their periods and it’s a hard time to navigate. This makes it a little easier.

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  • Great initiative! We really do spend too much on this necessity

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  • I love this. It’s important for so many people, for so many reasons. I hope they spread further.

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  • Tghe fact that we see still a lot of charity boxes out there for donations of brand new sanitary and period products including pads, tampons, maternity pads, incontinence pads, reusable pads, period-proof underwear, shows that there is certainly a need. Sadly there is a large group out there who experience homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or doing it tough.


    • I agree; there are many groups that are already disadvantaged and leading very difficult lives and any extra support for girls and women is very much needed. Communities should indeed respect and encourage this service and let girls and women in their circles and networks know about this truly fantastic initiative.

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  • This is an incredible program and congratulations and thanks to those that set it up and fund it. Well done. Definitely a must for young teenage girls out there who may be too embarrassed to buy products.

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  • I really do love this initiative and have been places on travels where there have been free menstrual products available for girls and women to use when needed. This is such an important program to roll out across the nation and everyone girl and woman deserves to have access to menstrual products.

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  • Seeing is believing but I walked out of Northern Hospital in Broadmeadows and much to my disbelief was a woman cleaning the windscreen on her car and guess what she was using mmm?

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  • This is a great initiative but I have heard at some schools the expereience with this machine is not a positive one since the girls / students were wasting them and not actually using them so they had to remove it. Which is sad and shows very little respect for properties.

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  • This is a great incentive and a basic human right so I hope the roll out goes well is further implemented throughout the country. I have also noticed that sanitary prices in the supermarket seemed to have dropped as well? Which is another step in the right direction in my opinion.

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  • I can’t wait for this to be rolled out everywhere. We see so many people in need of the basics that things like personal hygiene get pushed aside in order to have the funds to pay a bill or put food on the table for the kids. Well done for getting this initiative up and running.

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  • I heard this on the radio this morning and am so thrilled for Victorians! First Melbourne, soon the whole state! Then hopefully the entire country!! It would be so helpful to do many to have free access to these products. Lucky you if you’ve never been caught empty handed when aunt flow comes knocking. Great step, well done gov.

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  • This is such a great idea. They should be in schools, too.

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