The ACT government has rolled out a similar program, which it expanded this year to include health centres and hospitals. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of employers are providing free sanitary products in their office toilets for employees.
Victoria has now distributed more than 20,000 sanitary packs in the first few months of the free pads and tampons program, which represents savings of more than $120,000 for women who have made use of the items.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are typically the most in-demand days for the touchscreen kiosks. About 200 sanitary packs are distributed per day during the middle of the week.
The fact that Mondays and Fridays are less busy – days when office workers are more likely to work from home – suggests full-time workers are taking advantage of the free program.
Sunday is typically the quietist day for the kiosks when just 95 or so packs are dispensed across the city.
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The biggest demand so far has been from vending machines at the State Library of Victoria, the Royal Women’s Hospital and Broadmeadows Hospital, according to Department of Health data.
Seils-Owen says she isn’t surprised that the State Library is so popular.
“After work or after school, they can get depleted quite quickly.
“That’s probably where people are more curious. There’s always someone in there. Sometimes there will be families [seeing me go in before or after them with my trolley] and they’ll have a bit of a chitchat about it. It’s a conversation starter.”
Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins is expected to unveil hundreds of more dispensation sites in coming months. The government has committed to providing free vending machines at 700 sites across the state.
The Coalition has called on the minister to ensure there will be an acceptable number of sites in regional Victoria.
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