Pad Up Public Health

We believe in free and dignified access to period products for everyone, especially our most vulnerable.
This includes those in hospital.

Our 2024 Bloody Big Survey found that 12% of respondents have needed period products in hospital and not received them. Not all hospitals are mandated to supply period products.

No one should have to use gauze, towels or toilet paper to manage their period in hospital.

When you're in hospital—sick, vulnerable, or recovering from childbirth—you expect the basics to be covered. Yet unlike bandages, pain relief, or incontinence aids, pads and tampons aren’t guaranteed to be available in public hospitals.

At Share the Dignity, we heard countless stories from menstruators forced to use incontinence pads, adult nappies, or even dressings when they couldn’t access period products during their stay.

Menstruation isn’t a choice - dignified care shouldn’t be either.

When we asked our community to share their hospital experiences, thousands responded. Despite some hospitals having policies to provide period products, the reality is many women are left without. Some wait hours for help. Others rely on kind nurses sharing from their own supply.

This is not okay.

SIGN OUR PETITION

The best way to raise awareness and request our government to take action is by collecting as many signatures as possible on our petition in favour of change.

*Our petition received 53,259 signatures and is now closed.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL MP

If you agree that no one should have to worry about how they manage their period while sick and vulnerable in hospital, send a letter asking the government to make a change!

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

As we continue in our mission to #PADUP Public Health, sharing stories keeps the conversation going and helps encourage others to speak out about their own experience. Your story matters!

Our petition to #PADUP Public Health is now closed and received 53,259 signatures!

In 2022 we petitioned for a Federal policy mandating the provision of free pads, upon request, to all patients being cared for in public hospitals nationally.

In response, the importance of patient’s dignity and privacy being maintained during health care provision was recognised, however, decisions regarding the free provision of period products were said to ultimately rest with state governments and individual hospitals.

In response to our petition and advocacy letter, Former Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said,

“We need your help to influence the decision-makers in the Australian Government AND your local area and implore them to make a change for good.”

While our petition brought the issue to the attention of government, it requires several loud voices to incite action. Therefore we ask that you contact your local, state and federal MP's and implore them to make a change for good.

Contact your local, state and federal MP's

We need your help to influence the decision-makers in the Australian Government AND your local area and implore them to make a change for good.

Please download the template letters below to send to the Prime Minister, your local and federal MP, and state/territory Health Minister. Your voice can have a big impact on the lives of women, girls and those who menstruate all around Australia.

Template letter - Prime Minister 2022

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Template letter - Federal MPs 2022

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Template letter - State Health Ministers 2022

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Template letter - Local MPs 2022

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Have you ever been unable to access period products while in hospital? We want to hear from you!

Your story could join hundreds of others in convincing our government that change is needed. As we try to #PAD UP Public Health, sharing your story keeps the conversation going and to encourages others to speak out about their own experience.

What is your name? (please note this is optional)

What was your experience with period products in hospital? *

Contact number or email

Are you happy for us to contact you? *

Would you be happy to share your story with the media? *

Do you give permission for us to share your story publicly? *

“I was admitted to hospital in WA last year in an emergency situation & had my period at the time. You would think I was asking for their bank account details when I asked for sanitary products! It’s not like I had time to pack… How can hospitals be so unprepared for something 50% of the population requires on a daily basis 25% of the time??”

Christine

“I’m a paediatric nurse. It’s not uncommon to be caring for a young adolescent on their first period. You would think that we would be supplied with pads for patients and for parents with young children who can’t leave the ward, but this usually isn’t the case. How can we expect minors admitted to hospital to just go and get pads or to have to ask a relative to buy some for them It’s honestly a disgrace.”

Melissa

“I had a miscarriage and had to stay in hospital and I had to wear an adult diaper until my hubby went and bought me supplies but still spent the night in a nappy. The weird thing was in emergency they gave me pads. So sad.”

Jo-ann

“My waters spontaneously burst in hospital at 33 weeks, and the hospital had nothing to offer me so I had to wait 12 hours until family could bring me items, meanwhile leaking amniotic fluid everywhere. There was no dignity in it during an already stressful situation. I was just given towels and some disposable bed protectors to sit on.”

Rachel

“I was 20 weeks pregnant and 20 years old. I had a bleed, went to ED in a scared rush, I waited for a long time and was given a combine (wadded dressing) after having to ask the administrator for something and being told they don’t supply pads to anyone.”

Rachelle

“When I was in hospital after giving birth they gave me one giant pad, and when I told the nurse I needed to change it she did a big eye roll and said I have to use my own. Had to get my husband to go get some because I just assumed they would be provided, especially for patients having to stay days after birth like I had to.”

Shona

Overview of success of PADUP Public Health campaign by State/Territory

As of June 2025, the provision of free period products in public hospitals across Australia varies by jurisdiction, with only a few implementing formal mandates. See a brief overview below of what has been achieved in your home state/territory and what more is to be done.

ACT

The ACT is the first and only jurisdiction in Australia to legislate the provision of free period products in public hospitals. The Period Products and Facilities (Access) Act 2023 mandates that free menstrual products be available in designated public places, including hospitals, schools, universities, and community centres

NSW

NSW Health issued an Information Bulletin in April 2022 requiring all NSW Health services—including public hospitals, affiliated health organisations, and community health centres—to provide free sanitary pads and/or tampons to patients unable to supply their own . While this directive ensures access, it is implemented through policy rather than legislation.

VIC

Victoria has initiated programs to increase access to free period products in public places, including hospitals. In November 2024, the state government announced the installation of Dignity Vending Machines offering free pads and tampons at various locations, such as the Royal Women's Hospital in Parkville and other public facilities . However, this initiative is part of a broader policy effort and not underpinned by specific legislation mandating free period products in all public hospitals.

TAS

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QLD

No one should have to use gauze, towels or toilet paper to manage their period in hospital.

Template letter - Prime Minister 2022

Template letter - Federal MPs 2022

Template letter - State Health Ministers 2022

Template letter - Local MPs 2022

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