Tampon vending machines convenient but won’t solve period poverty, researchers say

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 under 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.

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 in Melbourne, making it unclear when the service will be available to people in the regions.

A brief 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 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 who were a day or two away from pay day.

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 machines 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.”

When asked about the research, a state government spokesperson said the Burnet Institute’s alternative options were considered impractical because they required access to an Australia Post outlet or the filling out of an online form.

“Pads and tampons are not a luxury – they’re a necessity, which is why we’re delivering free period products in public places,” the spokesperson said.

“We were the first in Australia to make pads and tampons available for free in public schools in 2020, and we are going further with free pads and tampons in public places.

“The Burnet research shows that there’s no single solution to providing period products to those who need them, but machines in public places let Victorians access products easily and quickly.”

A free pad and tampon vending machine at the State Library of Victoria.

Then-premier Daniel Andrews promised to make tampons free at train stations and other public places, a fortnight before the November 2022 state election. The idea was to spend $23 million to expand an existing program in state schools.

In November, Premier Jacinta Allan – Andrews’ successor – joined Hutchins at the State Library of Victoria to announce the first 30 venues where 50 free period product machines would be installed.

Among the sites were well-known venues like the Melbourne Museum and Sidney Myer Music Bowl, but also smaller venues like the Bendigo Kangan Institute in Broadmeadows and Newport Library in Melbourne’s west.

The Coalition’s spokeswoman for the women’s portfolio, Eildon MP Cindy McLeish, said she hoped the government would soon announce an acceptable number of sites for regional Victoria.

“The government must focus on ways to ensure free pads and tampons are fairly accessible to all, which means they need to be available beyond the tram tracks and into regional Victoria.”

Allan said on Monday that there would be at least four period product machines in every Victorian council area.

“We are progressively rolling them out at the hundreds of different locations.”

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