In South Australia, educators, social workers, and wellbeing leaders are increasingly spending their own money to provide menstrual products for those in need. A recent survey revealed that over 60% of menstruating individuals in the state faced challenges in affording sanitary items at some point during 2024.
Former lawmakers and non-profit organizations assert that South Australia lags behind other regions in terms of menstrual equity, highlighting the urgent need for legislative reforms. Women and girls are resorting to desperate measures, such as using socks as makeshift pads, prolonging the use of tampons, or even stealing hygiene products from stores to manage their menstrual health.
Cate Sherlock, a social worker based in Adelaide, emphasized that this issue is often overlooked in communities throughout the state. She noted, “I frequently hear about young women resorting to theft of these products just to get by for the month.” She also pointed out that many are forced to wear menstrual products for extended periods, leading to concerns about personal hygiene, which in turn fosters stigma and shame associated with inadequate self-care, a situation that arises primarily from financial constraints.
With 66% of menstruating individuals in South Australia reporting difficulties in accessing period products, advocates argue that the state must take decisive action to tackle this inequality.
Several government workers, including teachers, have reported witnessing the effects of period poverty firsthand. Three of them preferred to remain anonymous due to their public sector roles. One wellbeing teacher mentioned that sixth-grade instructors often purchase sanitary products to keep in their classrooms for students in need. “Many families are struggling to meet their basic needs,” she said. “The financial burden of these essential products is only set to increase in the current economic climate.”
Another teacher from a public high school stated that social justice budgets were often allocated to purchase menstrual supplies. “We use our wellbeing budget to ensure that teachers do not have to bear this responsibility alone, providing students access to various products as needed,” the educator added.
A social worker in the public sector shared her experiences discussing period poverty regularly, revealing that many homeless women resort to using items like socks instead of sanitary products due to their high costs. She recounted a poignant situation where a woman escaping domestic violence had to choose between buying petrol for her car or purchasing menstrual products for her escape.
According to a survey conducted by the non-profit organization Share the Dignity, which included responses from over 150,000 menstruating Australians, 66% of participants from South Australia have experienced difficulties in affording period products. Chief Executive Rochelle Courtenay highlighted that period poverty is a growing national concern, noting that their organization has distributed 6.2 million packets of menstrual products since its inception in 2015.
Courtenay pointed out that the number of Australians living below the poverty line has surged from 3.3 million in 2024 to 5.5 million currently. She remarked that the only regions lagging behind in addressing this issue are South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory. Meanwhile, the Australian Capital Territory has made significant strides by passing legislation that mandates the provision of menstrual products in educational institutions, hospitals, libraries, and other public venues.
Victoria has also made progress by deploying 1,400 free vending machines for menstrual products, while Queensland ensures that these products are available in all primary and secondary schools, along with similar initiatives in Western Australia and New South Wales.
In March 2025, former South Australian Legislative Council member Connie Bonaros introduced the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill, inspired by the successful legislation in the ACT. Although the bill did not pass in the Lower House, Bonaros remains committed to advocating for necessary legislative changes. “We had a chance to lead the charge against period poverty in South Australia, but now we find ourselves in a position of having to catch up,” she stated.
The state government previously allocated $564,000 in 2023 over a three-year period to provide free period products in select public schools, a move that Bonaros believes has only reached approximately 1,250 students. She contrasted this with Victoria’s approach, which involved a substantial $23 million investment in a similar program.
Bonaros, who supports the non-profit organization Kickstart for Kids, noted that they distribute over 2,000 menstrual products each month to 200 public schools in South Australia. “Sadly, we are still far from where we need to be,” she lamented.
Education Minister Lucy Hood declined an interview request, and a department representative did not confirm whether future legislative reforms would be considered. However, the department stated that it currently provides period products to more than 500 public schools, helping around 50,000 students each year. “All public schools in South Australia with Year 5 and above students receive funding to offer period products, with additional support aimed at schools facing greater challenges,” the statement read.
Bonaros stressed the need for change, insisting, “If we truly want to ensure universal access to menstrual products in South Australia, we must follow the lead of other jurisdictions and embed this commitment into our legislation.”
