Providing Free Period Products in Australia: The ACT Leads the Way
In a landmark move, Suzanne Orr MLA has introduced the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill to provide free period products for the first time throughout the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), putting an end to period poverty for many women and girls. The bill, which is expected to pass on June 7, 2023, is set to revolutionize menstrual hygiene and tackle the stigma associated with periods.
Title: What the ACT’s Free Period Products Bill Means for Australian Women
Introduction
Period poverty is a serious issue affecting millions of girls and women globally, including in Australia. Despite this being a common issue, there is still a significant social stigma attached to menstruation, which makes it difficult for many women and girls to speak openly about it. These issues have led to a gap in services relating to menstrual hygiene, with many unable to afford or access essential sanitary products.
As a result, the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill is due to pass in the ACT, which will provide free period products throughout the territory, making it the first jurisdiction in Australia to take this step.
Section 1: The ACT and Period Poverty
Period poverty affects hundreds of thousands of Australians every month, with many unable to afford even basic sanitary products. In the ACT, research by Share the Dignity found that 15% of respondents could not afford sanitary products at some point in their lives. However, the situation is worse in rural and remote areas of Australia, where access to these essential products is even more difficult.
Section 2: The Importance of Free Period Products
The introduction of free period products in the ACT is a significant step in addressing the issue of period poverty. The bill will ensure that sanitary products are freely available to those who need them, which will have a major impact on the lives of many women and girls.
Moreover, the provision of these products will enable young girls to continue their education without interruption and assist many women to continue to work and attend their daily routine with dignity. This move from the ACT is the first of its kind in Australia, and could set a precedent for other states and territories to follow suit.
Section 3: The Stigma Associated with Periods
Despite being a natural bodily function, the stigma attached to menstrual health means that periods are often a taboo subject. Many women and girls report feeling embarrassed or ashamed, leading to a lack of conversation and even the avoidance of seeking advice or assistance.
The Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill aims to address this stigma by providing public information about menstrual hygiene and providing free products – making it easier for women to manage periods and have the confidence to seek help.
Additional Piece: Breaking the Stigma and Improving Menstrual Health
While the introduction of free period products is a significant step towards ending period poverty, further steps can be taken to improve menstrual hygiene and break the social stigma surrounding periods. Education and awareness programs, for example, can play a key role in empowering women and girls to understand and manage their periods, in addition to creating more open conversations about this natural function.
Another important step that can be taken is providing access to reusable period products, such as menstrual cups, which are more sustainable and can be used for long periods, making them more cost-effective than disposable products. Such steps would not only provide women and girls with access to sustainable solutions, but also reduce their impact on the environment, an important consideration as the world looks for more environmentally friendly practices.
One way to foster greater awareness could be to engage more men and boys in conversations about periods, making the topic of menstrual health less taboo and increasing support for women and girls who need it. Menstrual health should not be considered just a women’s issue, but one that affects everyone – a reality that would be in everyone’s interest for society to get behind.
Summary
The Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill is set to bring much needed relief to many women and girls living in poverty in the ACT. The move to provide free period products is long overdue in Australia, but is now a significant step towards addressing the issue of period poverty and improving menstrual hygiene. The provision of free sanitary products will mean a better quality of life for many Australian women, and reducing stigma and increasing education are important ways to further improve menstrual equity and empower all who experience periods.
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For the first time in Australia, free period products will soon be available across the ACT, as the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill is expected to pass today.
Introduced by Suzanne Orr MLA, this legislation in the ACT is a step to ensure that period products are provided. free throughout the country.
“I am pleased that here at ACT we are the first government to offer menstruation products free of charge and to ensure that crucial menstrual hygiene information is available to the community,” Orr said.
“ACT is the first jurisdiction in Australia to pass this nation-leading reform, and I would encourage all other states and territories to take inspiration from my bill to make menstruating in need.”
An exposure bill was first published in December 2021, followed by the bill’s introduction to the Assembly in August 2022. The bill is now being debated and the legislation is expected to pass on June 7, 2023.
Orr said a key focus of the bill was to help address the stigma associated with periods on the ACT.
“Canberra is rich in different cultures, which can lead to different views on menstruation, as it is often a ‘taboo’ subject,” Orr said. “Access to menstrual hygiene is vital to the community because of these cultural differences and it will be available in many languages.”
In addition to providing free menstruation products, the ACT government will also ensure that menstrual hygiene information is publicly available.
“Menstruation is a normal bodily function, but it is still heavily stigmatized in society, making people uncomfortable talking about menstruation. Asking your friends when you need a tampon or asking your boss for a break due to period pain are common actions that are often associated with nervousness due to stigma,” Orr said.
“It shouldn’t be like this, no one should be ostracized because they don’t have access to the products, facilities and understanding they need to respond to normal bodily function.”
According to Share the Dignity’s Period Pride Report – ‘Bloody Big Survey’, 15 per cent of ACT respondents have not been able to afford menstrual products at some point in their lives.
An Australian charity, Share the Dignity, has been campaigning and advocating for change in the menstrual fairness space for 8 years, saying they are “elated by the news”.
Share the Dignity Founding Director and Managing Director Rochelle Courtenay said: “After working tirelessly to end period poverty in Australia for the past 8 years, it is incredible to see this bill, the first of its kind in Australia , is approved in the ACT. .”
“No one should have to make do with toilet paper, socks or newspaper for their period and this legislation will ensure women, girls and menstruating women don’t have to. I look forward to seeing more states and territories follow in the ACT’s footsteps so we can ensure menstrual equity for all menstruating Australians.”
Free period products to be available across the ACT as new legislation passes
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