Year 12 VCAL students Rhiannon Shaw and Jasmine White donated 15 hygiene packs for women in need to WRISC Family Violence Support on Friday.

The pair raised $260 during a footy colours dress day held at the school last term and set up a collection drive to encourage staff to donate items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, hair ties, pads and tampons.

Each bag was decorated with a handmade poster and included basic hygiene essentials and a surprise gift like nail polish or perfume.

Ms White said the project helped raise awareness around the school about family violence and poverty.

"It made me think how sad it is a lot of people don't have these basic items," she said.

"If you don't have pads and tampons, what do you do? It made me realise how lucky I am to be able to have access to all of this stuff."

WRISC Family Violence Support communications and projects officer Alison, who asked her surname not be revealed, said access to basic hygiene items was a constant need for clients in crisis, when they have left an unsafe situation or were under financial stress.

"These are the sorts of things they don't have but they are things we take for granted every day," she said.

"The fact people at your school are talking about family violence openly and recognising it is a problem in our community goes a lot towards prevention. The other side of it is raising awareness by talking about things like periods and the fact there are basics women and girls in our community don't have access to."

Ms White and Ms Shaw students created the hygiene packs as part of their personal development skills senior project.

Members of the community can donate pads and tampons that are distributed to women in need in Ballarat through Share the Dignity's August campaign.

Pink box donation points are located at all Woolworths stores, all UFS pharmacies, Fernwood and Food is Free Laneway.

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