General News
8 December, 2025
Vending machines to improve access
Grampians Health has installed vending machines offering free pads and tampons, including at its Dimboola and Horsham campuses, to assist patients, staff, and visitors.
Chief Redevelopment and Infrastructure Officer Veronica Furnier said the project represented an essential step toward building a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment.
“We’re proud to support a program that helps create a more comfortable and equitable experience for everyone who visits our facilities,” Ms Furnier said.
“By offering free pads and tampons in convenient locations, we’re helping to normalise menstrual health, reduce stigma and ensure that no one is placed under unnecessary stress because they don’t have access to essential products.”
This initiative addresses the issue that approximately one in five people who menstruate face financial constraints, leading them to use makeshift alternatives such as paper or socks.
It has also been found through research that around half of individuals menstruating admit to wearing a pad or tampon for more than four hours due to insufficient access to products, including cost.
The initiative, delivered through the Victorian Government, ensures essential sanitary products are available when needed, helping reduce barriers to access and relieve the stress of being caught without them.
The machines are now located in non-gender bathrooms in Dimboola, Edenhope, Horsham and Stawell.