Students at Kurri Kurri High School now have access to free sanitary items at the press of a button.
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The school is the first in NSW to receive a ‘Dignity Vending Machine’, which dispenses free packs of pads and tampons.
The vending machines have been developed by Share the Dignity, an Australian charity that aims to ensure that women and girls across the nation can access sanitary items when they need them.
Share the Dignity founder Rochelle Courtenay visited Kurri Kurri High School on Friday to unveil the machine.
“Access to sanitary items has been declared a human right by the United Nations. Yet, we know that in Australia there are thousands of women who don’t have access to pads, tampons, menstrual cups or period-proof underwear,” Ms Courtenay said.
“Our goal is to provide the dignity that all women deserve by improving access to sanitary items.”
Installing the machines into schools is a priority for Share the Dignity, as research has shown that girls are skipping school because they can’t afford basic sanitary products.
“No girl should have to miss school because she has her period,” Ms Courtenay said.
Kurri Kurri High School’s head teacher of wellbeing, Michelle Weir said the vending machine is a valuable addition to the school.
“It means the world to them (the girls), to be able to look after themselves and be in control,” Ms Weir said.
“It’s also making students aware of what’s going on in the wider community.”
The school’s female student ambassadors attended the unveiling and agreed the machine was a great idea.
“It will save a lot of trouble,” Year 11 student Jess Heath said.
Year 10 student Emily Holmes said it will give girls “peace of mind”.
Share the Dignity intends to have 50 vending machines installed in schools and community centres around Australia by the end of the year.
Each machine holds 60 ‘Period Packs’ containing two pads and six tampons. Packs are dispensed at the touch of a button once every ten minutes (to prevent wastage).
Each vending machine costs $9000 to manufacture, deliver, install and stock with 1000 Period Packs (which cost $2.50 per pack).
Share the Dignity pays for the machines, via fundraising initiatives, grants, donations and corporate sponsorship.
The organisation will hold its Yoga 4 Dignity fundraiser on Saturday, September 2 at 8am at more than 300 locations across Australia.
Local venues include Genesis Fitness Cessnock and Yoga Brave in Maitland. Entry is $20.
Meanwhile, Share the Dignity’s next Dignity Drive will take place in August. The organisation calls on the public to donate packets of pads or tampons that will be passed onto women in need, including homeless women and those fleeing domestic violence.
Local collection points include Joblink Plus Cessnock and Kurri Kurri.
Find out more at www.sharethedignity.com.au.
