Sanitary products made available to South Australian female students to improve attendance, wellbeing
One of the sanitary products vending machines installed by E4WSA (Essentials 4 Women South Australia) in the 2017 trial at two Adelaide metropolitan high schools.
Sanitary products were available for female students who needed them in all South Australian public schools from 2021. Each public school got a state government grant, based on female enrolments in Year 5 and above, to ensure access to sanitary products wasn’t a barrier to learning.
The program of around $450,000 over three years boosted programmes most schools were already offering students through partnerships with charities or local businesses.
The move came after a trial at 15 schools in 2020 that showed, while many schools already provide sanitary products if needed, some students didn’t feel comfortable accessing them, putting their attendance at risk. Trial schools worked with students to determine how they would prefer to access the products, with some opting for a basket or box in a particular bathroom, or a discreet bag and code word for staff.
The funding supported the state government’s strategy to improve attendance and achieve higher standards of learning, achievement, health, wellbeing and safety for South Australian children.
Vending machines at Ocean View College and Woodview High School were stocked with free pads and tampons in a 2017 six-month pilot program by Essentials 4 Women South Australia (E4WSA), with support from the state education department. Amy Rust, a founder of E4WSA, said it found it was becoming more common that girls were missing school because they didn’t have sanitary items.
E4WSA hoped to provide universal access to sanitary items to young at-risk women or from low socioeconomic families. The vending machines could be used by students tapping their student card.