Access to free sanitary items now available at local libraries

Published on 15 October 2025

Community members in the Glenelg Shire now have access to free sanitary products thanks to a new initiative funded at Glenelg Library branches.

Sanitary product (pads and tampon) machines have been installed at the Portland, Heywood and Casterton libraries as part of the State Government’s Free Pads and Tampons in Public Places program.

Located in or just outside the toilets, the machines provide access to sanitary products free of charge, ensuring dignity and access for those who need them.

“Pads and tampons are a necessity, not a luxury. Yet a 2024 Share the Dignity survey found that 64 per cent of Australians who need period products struggled to afford them in the past year,” explained Manager Libraries and Arts Tanya Flockhart.

“Thanks to the Free Pads and Tampons in Public Places program, Glenelg Shire residents can now access these vital products at a familiar and welcoming community space when they need it most.”

More than 1,500 free pads and tampons machines will be installed across 700 sites across Victoria. This includes facilities such as public hospitals, courts, TAFEs, staffed train stations and major cultural institutions such as the State Library of Victoria and the National Gallery of Victoria.

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. 

Glenelg Library branches can be located as follows:

• Casterton Library, 67 Henty Street, Casterton
• Heywood Library, 77 Edgar Street, Heywood
• Portland Library, 32 Bentinck Street, Portland