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Western Australia Now Requires Free Period Products In Public Schools

Western Australia Now Requires Free Period Products In Public Schools!

August 30, 2022

G’day, WA! In a massive win for menstrual equity, Western Australia will require public schools to provide free period products for students in years 7-12. That’s how they FLOW, down under!

While the state government is still working out the fine details on how students will access products in more than 225 schools, some students hope for a dispensing machine for added discretion and convenience. Member of the Western Australia Legislative Assembly Simone McGurk says she hopes the initiative will help to end the stigma surrounding periods as the government looks at the options currently in place in other Australian states before making a final decision.

Simone McGurk Quote

Australia’s Commitment to Ending Period Poverty

Western Australia is the last state to implement a free period product program. Victoria became the first state in the country to provide free products in 2020. Following Victoria’s success, South Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania implemented public school-focused plans between 2021 and 2022. The Australian Capital Territory already offers free period products in schools and recently introduced a bill to provide free pads and tampons to ANYONE who needs them. This is an incredible effort to alleviate period poverty and make Australia better for people with periods!

Period Poverty in Australia

In a 2021 survey from Share the Dignity, 1 in 5 Australians use toilet paper or other unsuitable alternatives because they cannot afford proper period products such as tampons, pads, or menstrual cups. Additionally, almost half of all 125,000 survey participants said they missed at least one day of class because of their period.

What’s Next?

Starting in October, the government and schools will start the process to find a proper provider for the estimated 225 schools that will gain access to products, and the program will go live in the first term of next year, in January 2023. 

We want to commend Western Australia and its dedication to doing its part in changing the world, one cycle at a time!

Curious about other Menstruation Legislation? Check out our most recent Monthly Legislation Update and read about Scotland’s Groundbreaking New Law!

If you’re inspired to get period products of your own, check out Aunt Flow’s complete collection.

Stay in the flow — we’ll send you period positivity + timely updates on the menstrual movement.

claire coder,founder + ceo

claire coder,
founder + ceo

Hi! I’m Claire. I founded Aunt Flow after getting my period in public without the supplies needed.

Founded in 2016, Aunt Flow is a certified WBENC women-owned company based in Columbus, Ohio. At 18 years old, I dedicated my life to developing a solution to ensure businesses and schools could sustainably provide quality period products, for free, in bathrooms. Our products are made with organic cotton (no weird stuff) and we are constantly working to reduce our environmental impact! For every 10 tampons and pads we sell, we donate 1 to a menstruator in need. I call this people helping people. PERIOD.®

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