The Minister for Education, Grace Grace has announced the first 62 schools selected to receive a Dignity Vending Machine to provide students access to free sanitary products at school.
Ms Grace said the Government had partnered with the Share the Dignity charity to provide 120 schools across Queensland with a Dignity Vending Machine.
“It’s great to be able to share this news with schools during Queensland Women’s Week (5-13 March),” Ms Grace said.
“Access to sanitary products and misplaced stigma around periods should never be barriers to learning,” she said.
“We want all students to be confident to attend school every day.
“Giving students access to free sanitary products can make a real difference, especially for students whose families are doing it tough, have unstable accommodation or are fleeing domestic and family violence.”
Ms Grace said the initiative supported Share the Dignity’s aim to distribute period products to women, girls and anyone who menstruated who needed support.
She said the partnership also meant that all Queensland schools had access to the Period Talk education program, which was designed to educate students in Years 5 to 8 about menstruation and the impact of periods.
Founder of Share the Dignity, Rochelle Courtenay said Period Talk would help “create long term change and guide us towards a future where period is not a taboo word”.
Ms Grace said that with applications received from more than 200 schools, 53 State, five Catholic, and four Independent schools had been selected to receive a vending machine.
“For those schools that missed out this time around, or didn’t get an EOI in, there will be another opportunity to apply for a further 58 machines later this year,” she said.
The list of schools selected for a Dignity Vending Machine can be accessed at this PS News link.
