A Ballarat advocate for improved access to sanitary products says she was ecstatic to hear Daniel Andrews’ promise that free pads and tampons will be provided in all Victorian government schools if the Labor party is re-elected.
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Andrea Whimpenny, who volunteers for charity Share the Dignity, sent a letter to the Minister for Health in September calling for free sanitary items for all Victorian secondary school students.
“Girls are missing school because they have their period,” she said.
“We can't stop the pain some girls have at this time, but we can normalise getting your period by eliminating the cost and fear of not having products available.”
Pads and tampons would be stocked in all female, unisex and accessible bathrooms at government schools from the third term of the coming school year, if the Labor party was successful at the November 24 election.
The Department of Education and Training would work with schools to determine the best method to dispense the items, Labor said in a statement.
Under the promise, Victoria would become the first Australian state or territory to provide sanitary products in government schools.
Ms Whimpenny said the change would be a show of respect to young women.
“For a girl to go to school at any time and not have to worry about access to pads and tampons will make a huge difference to her self confidence and self esteem.”
In a statement, Labor said the party believed tampons and pads were as basic and necessary as toilet paper and soap.
‘We know that students who do not have access to sanitary products often cannot concentrate in class, may not feel comfortable doing physical activity, or may miss school altogether,’ the statement said.
‘It can create unnecessary stress for students trying to navigate finding a tampon or pad, and that may delay regularly changing them, placing them at greater risk of toxic shock or cervical cancer.’
“Young women and girls at school shouldn’t have to worry about having access to a basic necessity like tampons and pads,” Health Minister Jill Hennessy said.
“We want to break down the stigma of menstruation and ensure it does not impact on a student’s ability to be comfortable at school and ready to learn.
“This is about giving female students the dignity they deserve, and helping families with the cost of living along the way.”