Community
5 November, 2025
Free sanitary products now available
CORANGAMITE Moyne Library Service branch users now have access to free pad and tampon packs to support the dignity of our community and visitors across the region.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows more than 1000 women across Corangamite and Moyne Shires can’t afford the period products they need every month.
Corangamite Shire Council mayor councillor Kate Makin said periods are a normal part of life, with access to free sanitary products being essential to health and wellbeing.
“Many of our Corangamite libraries have had sanitary product vending machines installed as part of the State Government’s Free Pads and Tampons in Public Places program,” she said.
“We’re very pleased to be providing access to the free sanitary products, when people need them most, in familiar safe spaces like our libraries.”
Cr Makin said pads and tampons weren’t a luxury and Victorians should be able to access them whenever and wherever they need.
“That’s why we’re incredibly happy to support this discreet new service – so women don’t have to miss school, work, social activities or other aspects of community life,” she said.
“This program, which is now in its state-wide rollout phase, has filtered out to the regions making pads and tampons even more accessible at locations such as public hospitals, TAFEs and staffed train stations along with our public libraries.”
Products will be dispensed in ‘packs’, allowing users to access ‘one for now and at least one for later’.
The machines feature a time-out period, to ensure fair access, prevent excessive sampling and allow everyone to access products when they need them.
Vending machines will be available at the Camperdown Library (212 Manifold Street) and the Timboon Library (Wark Street).
Machines are also available at the Terang, Derrinallum and Mortlake libraries.
To find more vending machine locations and to learn about to program, visit freepadsandtampons.vic.gov.au.