Council & Politics
13 August, 2025
Free pads and tampons have arrived in Pyrenees Shire
PYRENEES Shire women are set to benefit from the rollout of free pad and tampon vending machines – helping remove barriers to work, education and community life.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett told the Pyrenees Advocate that machines have been installed and are operational at the Avoca and Beaufort Libraries, Lexton Community Centre and at the Beaufort and
Skipton campuses of the Beaufort Skipton Health Service as part of the Government’s rollout of free pads and tampons across Victoria.
Women and girls across Victoria have already saved thousands of dollars, with more than 85,000 packs of pads and tampons dispensed in the first six months of the program.
Once the rollout is complete, up to 1,500 free pad and tampon machines – both smart and battery-operated – will be available at more than 700 public locations across Victoria.
Lack of access to period products is a real issue for women and girls in regional areas, where local services may be limited. It can affect health and wellbeing, school and work attendance, and social participation.
Councils across Victoria were invited to nominate sites for the machines – ensuring the rollout reflects the needs of communities right across the state.
Ms Haylett said access to pads and tampons is a basic need, but one in five women reported struggling to afford period products.
“The Labor Government’s free pads and tampons in public places program builds on our work delivering free menstrual products in government schools, as well as pelvic pain education,” she said.
A full list of locations is available at freepadsandtampons.vic.gov.au.