Share the Dignity in schools
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 1, 16 February, page no. 10
For many women and girls, access to period products or advice about menstruation is simple enough – you purchase what you need at the grocery store or ask a parent or loved one for information. But for a number of students across Queensland, it is not that simple.
For some it could be a lack of money in testing times, for others a prevailing shame or stigma in simply asking for what they need.
Thankfully, Share the Dignity, a national charity that describes itself as working to end period poverty in Australia, has partnered with the Queensland Government to install dignity vending machines (DVMs) in Queensland schools. DVMs provide students with access to free period products on demand.
All Queensland state schools, outdoor and environmental education centres, and student residential facilities can register for a DVM. The machines contribute to addressing period poverty, decreasing the shame and stigma associated with periods, and supporting students’ wellbeing and engagement with school.
There are requirements, such as wall and floor space and access to electricity. However, schools should not be deterred by thinking their bathroom spaces are not fit for purpose. It may be that an alternative location will have to be considered.
The machines dispense a free period pack, with six tampons and two pads, and have a programmed delivery delay of three minutes to ensure no packs are wasted. The packs are purchased and supplied through Share the Dignity.
Currently, around 40 per cent of Queensland state schools have a DVM installed. Feedback from schools has been positive, with the large majority reporting that students take only what they need, and vandalism or misuse has not been a problem.
To register for a DVM or to find out more about the location requirements, school leaders or their delegates should search Share the Dignity on OnePortal or email DVMenquiries@qed.qld.gov.au.
In addition to DVMs, every school has free access to Period Talk. This program provides resources to help inform and support students in Years 5–8 to be at ease when talking about periods. The class materials, which are aligned to the Australian Curriculum, explore a range of topics, including menstrual cycles, types of period products, managing periods, nutrition, period pain and when to seek help from the doctor, cultural factors, and the impact of periods from a human rights and environmental impact perspective. To request access, school leaders or their delegates should email dvm@sharethedignity.org.au