Period-Care-Initiative-School-Clickable-Catalogue

A senate inquiry investigating poverty in Australia showed evidence that current welfare payments are insufficient to meet the cost of period products and other essential items. Period poverty is a real problem and can be detrimental to teenagers’ lives, even preventing them from going to school, or engaging in extra-curricular activities. It can also have lasting effects on their mental and emotional wellbeing. In April 2023, Plan International Australia commissioned YouGov to collect data on the cost-of-living crisis and period poverty. The report found that there is a need for greater education about periods in schools. By talking to students about period shame and stigma early on we can help to address period poverty. Period shame can be caused by limited access to period products or feeling anxious about leakage, this can have a huge impact on the wellbeing and educational opportunities of young Australians. – Greens Senator Larissa Waters JOIN US IN MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE TODAY. change cos.net.au education@cos.net.au 1300 79 27 85 AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS HAVE St epped up TO SUPPORT STUDENT WELLBEING “Providing free pads and tampons to every Australian public high and primary school is an easy and effective way to reduce period stigma, improve students’ health and wellbeing, and minimise school absences” – THIS INITIATIVE IS PART OF THE