Access to free sanitary items at Stawell Library

Published on 15 August 2025

Northern Grampians Shire residents now have access to free sanitary items at Stawell Library, thanks to program based on the premises that pads and tampons are not a luxury, but a necessity.

According to A Share the Dignity survey released in 2024, 64 per cent of Australians who menstruate have found it difficult to afford period products in the past 12 months.

Following the success of the Pads and Tampons in Schools program, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing is rolling out the Free Pads and Tampons in Public Places program.

The program involves the installation of 1500 free pad and tampon machines – which contain packets of pads and tampons with a mix of pack sizes – at up to 700 sites, including Stawell Library.

Machines have also been installed in public hospitals, courts, TAFEs, staffed train stations and major cultural institutions such as the State Library and the National Gallery of Victoria.

Mayor Karen Hyslop said she was pleased to see Northern Grampians Shire included in the program roll-out.

“According to figures in the Share the Dignity survey, more than half of respondents, 56 per cent, said they have had to miss work because of their period, while 63 per cent said they had missed school, and 68 per cent said they had missed sport,” she said.

“Pads and tampons are not a luxury – they are essential to health and wellbeing. This program is so beneficial to people who are struggling to afford essential items due to cost-of-living pressures and I’m glad we are providing our residents with access to free sanitary products.”

The free pad and tampon machine is located in the women’s all-abilities toilet at Stawell Library.

The library is open Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, Saturdays from 10am to noon, and Sundays from 2pm to 5pm.

People can click here for more information about the program and to discover more vending machine locations.