Dispensers are being installed at all ACT public schools.
12 August 2026
In brief:
- Free period product dispensers will be installed across all ACT public schools.
- The rollout of these dispensers will support students’ health, wellbeing and learning.
- It is an important step towards ending period poverty.
Free period product dispensers are being rolled out across all public schools in the ACT.
Dispensers will be installed in student-friendly locations, including in girls’, gender-neutral and accessible bathrooms.
The dispensers contain:
- pads in primary schools
- pads and tampons in high schools, preschool to year 10 schools, and colleges.
Students can still access free period products in other parts of the school, such as wellbeing spaces, classrooms and front offices.
The program is part of the ACT Government campaign to end period poverty, while supporting students’ health, wellbeing and learning.
The ACT is the first state or territory in Australia to introduce legislation guaranteeing free period products to students.
The new law requires that schools provide products in a way that upholds students’ dignity and privacy.
The rollout will help public schools meet that commitment and allow students to focus on their education and extracurricular activities.
It follows a successful trial of period product dispensers in 31 ACT public schools.
The dispenser rollout is expected to be complete across all ACT public schools in the coming weeks.
More dispensers around Canberra
Beyond schools, dispensers are installed at:
- Canberra Hospital
- University of Canberra Hospital
- community and health centres
- walk-in centres
- ACT courts
- ACT libraries.
Find out more about free period products on the ACT Government website.
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