Free Pads & Tampons in Public Schools

⁠⁠⁠The Victorian Government announced the provision of free pads and tampons to Victorian public schools as an election commitment in November 2018. There is currently no widespread free provision of pads and tampons to schools, and Victoria will be the first state and territory in Australia to ensure all public school students have universal access to free sanitary products.

The purpose of this procurement is to select an organisation with whom the Department of Education and Training can work with to implement this initiative across the school system.

The initiative will contribute to the Victorian Government’s aim to make Victoria the Education State. The provision of free sanitary pads and tampons in public schools will contribute to meeting the Education State targets of Happy, healthy and resilient kids by recognising the link between the health and wellbeing of students and their ability to learn, and Breaking the link to support more students to stay in education by breaking the link between disadvantage and student outcomes. Being able to access sanitary products should not be a barrier to getting a good education.