#Pinkbox combats period poverty

Published on 12 September 2019

Free sanitary products are now available in a central Hobart location to help combat period poverty.

The City of Hobart has partnered with Share the Dignity, an organisation that makes pads and tampons available for free to those who need them via vending machines, to commence a three-month trial program.

Cr Holly Ewin, who initiated the program, said a free vending machine – known as a #Pinkbox – had been installed at the newly upgraded Kemp Street amenities building.

“This location was chosen because it is convenient and safe, has high visitation and is regularly used by the homeless community and young people,” Cr Ewin said. 

“The provision of free menstrual products in a public place goes a long way toward eradicating period poverty – that is where women are having to make a choice between buying expensive menstrual products or buying food or other essential items.”

Share the Dignity’s Tasmania Team Leader Tania Watson said she was pleased to see the placement of the first #Pinkbox in a public council space.

“Our vending machines dispense period packs that contain two pads and six tampons, allowing girls and women access to free sanitary products to manage their period with dignity,” she said.

“Not every woman using this service is using homelessness services or has fled domestic violence. We are also there to support the women who can’t afford to put food on the table, fuel in their car or pay their electricity bills – those women experiencing what we call ‘period poverty’.”

The #Pinkbox has been installed in the accessible toilet on level 1 of the Kemp Street amenities building at the Argyle Street carpark and is now available for use.