Free period products
If you have periods, you can get free period products (like pads and tampons) in the ACT. Find out where you can get them and health support for periods.
Where to get free period products
These ACT Government public places have free period products available:
- ACT public schools for students: sanitary napkins available in primary schools, sanitary napkins and tampons available in high schools and colleges
- Child and Family Centres (West Belconnen, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong): sanitary napkins and tampons available in the unisex and women’s bathrooms
- Child Development Service: sanitary napkins and tampons available in the unisex and women’s bathrooms
How these places make period products available:
About periods and period products
Learn more about periods on the Health Direct website. This website is funded by Australian Governments so you can be sure it has health information you can trust.
ACT public schools give information to their students that is age and stage appropriate.
Health support for period pain
It’s common to have some mood changes, cramps, and other symptoms before and during your period. If you have severe pain that interferes with your life you should see a doctor.
If you are concerned about your periods you should talk to a doctor, called a GP, or general practitioner. They can give you advice and refer you to a specialist if you need one.
You should also see a doctor if:
- you're 16 years or older and haven't started to have periods
- your periods get heavier or stop coming regularly
- you have any bleeding after menopause.
Find a GP near you using the Health Direct service finder.
Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT clinic
You could make an appointment with the Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT clinic. They charge fees for all their services (they don’t bulk bill).
Contact Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT.
Period pain, pelvic pain and endometriosis
The Canberra Endometriosis Centre cares for people (including teenagers and adults) with period pain, pelvic pain and endometriosis. You will need a referral from your GP to use this service.
Learn more from the Canberra Endometriosis Centre.
Period pain assessment
It can be hard to know what's normal pain to have with a period and what's worth getting checked out. The Canberra Endometriosis Centre has an online screening tool to help you decide.
The tool is an online form you can fill in anonymously (we don’t ask your name). After you’ve answered some questions about your symptoms, you get advice about how best to manage them.
Take the Period ImPact and Pain Assessment.
Menstruation leave
There is no law that says employers in the ACT must give menstrual leave. However, some employers have made it a policy that their employees can take leave when they are affected by their periods.
Talk to your employer or human resources team in your organisation about whether this leave is available.
Provide free period products at your location
Your community organisation can let us know it wants to provide free period products.
Fill in the form to provide period products
Contact us
Contact the Office of Women for more information.
Call
02 6205 5681
Email
women@act.gov.au
You can find information about places which will have period products in the future.