Free period products

Have you ever had to leave campus with blood-stained pants and nowhere to find period products?

Have you ever had to walk 20 minutes to find the nearest store that sells period products, only to discover they cost $7?

If yes, you're not alone.

The Free Period Products campaign is focused on making sure that all students have access to essential menstrual products. When these products aren’t affordable or readily available, it can affect a student's ability to focus on their studies and fully participate in university life. According to the report on the period products on Unimelb Campus (2025),

“85% of female-identifying students (or menstruating students) agree that they have struggled to find period products on campus”

This is a significant concern, as the inability to access basic menstrual products directly impacts students' ability to fully engage in their academic and campus life.

With living costs rising, period products are increasingly seen as luxuries rather than necessities, pushing already struggling individuals further into financial insecurity. A lack of access to affordable period products creates disparities in education—students may miss classes or experience embarrassment during their cycles. 

“50% agree that the cost of period products affects academic performance"

The report also underscores the University's role in improving the situation:

“99% support the initiative that the University installs period products dispensers in all bathrooms on campus”

Our aim is to keep period products more accessible across campus and raise awareness about the importance of ending period poverty. These actions are part of a bigger mission to push for funding from the university so all campus bathrooms are stocked with free period products, making sure that no student ever has to choose between their health and their education.

It also advocates for dedicated funding for UMSU Welfare and UMSU Women’s departments to ensure a consistent supply of products for students.

The UMSU Women’s Department is committed to reducing period poverty and advocating for the University of Melbourne to provide these essential products. To make period products more accessible, we’ve teamed up with “Pixxie” to install period product dispensers in Building 168 (from the ground floor to level 3) plus supplying the UMSU Info Desk and Women's Space with period products. We’ve also collaborated with the Welfare Department, providing them with $4,000 for the distribution of period products through Union Mart. 

YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS IN THE WOMEN'S SPACE (B168 Lv 3, Room 306), IN B168 BATHROOMS ON LEVELS G-3, UMSU INFO DESK AND UNION MART!

 

You can find the report here