Victorians will soon find free pads and tampons in vending machines at shopping centres across Melbourne, part of the Allan Labor Government’s push to ease cost-of-living pressures and improve public access to essential hygiene products.
Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins confirmed 90 new locations for the smart dispensers, expanding a program that has already seen more than 25,000 sanitary packs distributed in just six months. Among the new venues are some of Melbourne’s busiest hubs, including Chadstone, Highpoint, Pacific Werribee, and Northland Shopping Centre.
“Shopping centres are places people visit regularly—it makes sense to place period products where they’re easy to access, without stigma or embarrassment,” Minister Hutchins said. “We’re making sure no one has to choose between groceries and hygiene.”
The expanded rollout includes shopping centres, libraries, hospitals, staffed train stations, cultural venues, and TAFEs. All machines are battery-operated, with automatic tracking to ensure they remain stocked. Once complete, the program will see 1,500 dispensers across 700 sites in both metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Victoria remains the only state or territory in Australia to provide free sanitary products in all government schools—a measure credited with improving school attendance and normalising menstruation as part of everyday life. Building on that, the public access rollout is aimed at helping those doing it tough, with one in five women and girls still reporting they struggle to afford period products.
Insights from earlier trials across 30 sites—including Sydenham Library—highlighted not just the practical benefits but the broader psychological impact. For many, the machines offer a sense of dignity and inclusion.
“There’s a quiet shame that often surrounds this issue. Being able to walk into a shopping centre and access pads or tampons without having to ask, without feeling judged—that matters,” said one trial participant.
As cost-of-living pressures continue to hit households, especially single parents, students, and young workers, this initiative offers small but meaningful relief.
The government says it is listening to local councils and community groups to ensure machine locations reflect real usage patterns and population needs. It is also working with service providers to improve signage and visibility so people know where to find the dispensers.
Machines will be clearly marked, regularly maintained and free to use—no tokens, no registration, no questions asked. The approach is simple: universal access without barriers.
“We want people to go to work, school, or the footy without having to worry about whether they’ve packed a pad or tampon,” Minister Hutchins said. “It’s a basic thing, and now it’s free.”
The first shopping centres to receive machines are:
- Greensborough Plaza
- Pacific Epping
- Pacific Werribee
- Bayside
- Westfield Knox
- Broadmeadows Central
- Chadstone
- Northland Shopping Centre
- Highpoint
- Watergardens Shopping Centre
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