Tampon vending machines won’t solve period poverty: study
Victoria’s free pad and tampon vending machines are not the best way to get period products to those who need them most, according to the state government’s expert advice.
The government has committed to 700 venues or sites for the vending machines, according to documents released to The Age through freedom of information laws. However, most of the sites were redacted in the documents – just 30 locations, such as TAFEs, libraries, hospitals and cultural institutions, were not redacted when sent to The Age.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins unveil the first 30 venues for Victoria’s free pad and tampon vending machines in November. Credit: Facebook
All the unredacted sites were located within Greater Melbourne, making it unclear when the service would be available to people in the regions.
A ministerial brief from a few months earlier, prepared by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing for Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins and dated June 2023, shows the department had engaged the Burnet Institute to conduct interviews to inform the rollout of the vending machine model.
“The purpose of the research was to identify needs and access barriers for people in priority cohorts when trying to access pads and tampons, and ways to address these barriers,” the briefing said.
The Burnet Institute researchers found that vending machines were viewed positively, and they were convenient for the those experiencing “low product insecurity and the general population” – people on low-to-middle incomes who had run out of period products or forgotten to bring some with them on a particular day, or because pay day was a day or two away.
Vending machines were less appropriate and accessible for those experiencing “severe insecurity”, the researchers determined, referring to people on income support or experiencing homelessness. In these instances, the researchers recommended direct distribution through existing social services or even cash-back programs or prepaid cards to use in shops tied to Centrelink or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The ministerial briefing defended the government’s approach, saying: “While the research contains recommendations that vending machine are not the best model to reach people experiencing high levels of product insecurity, the free pads and tampons in public places program has a broader focus beyond period product insecurity, and seeks to address access for the whole population and normalise menstruation.”
