Free sanitary products are now available at four sporting centres across Tasmania, as part of a push to stop teenage girls dropping out of sport.
Health and wellness not-for-profit St Lukes has teamed up with the Tasmania Jewels and Australian family-owned business Femmé Organic, which supplies the certified plastic-free organic products.
The dispensers have been installed at the JackJumpers and Jewels High Performance Training Centre in Kingston, Elphin Sports Centre in Launceston and the Devonport and East Devonport recreation centres.
St Lukes head of community engagement Nikki Long said no one should feel uncomfortable or miss out on sport because they could not get products they need.
“We want young women to feel supported to participate fully and confidently in sport, including when they have their period,” she said.
“It’s about dignity and comfort, starting important conversations about women’s health and helping girls keep up their participation in sport.”
A 2025 study led by Flinders University found around 60% of Australian girls aged 15 and over drop out of organised sport, compared with 42% of boys.
Reasons cited in the study included period-related concerns, self-consciousness and body image issues such as wearing form-fitting uniforms while menstruating.
Long said the dispensers would “give girls the confidence to continue to play sport”.
Tasmania Jewels assistant general manager Kayla Steindl said women and girls “should never feel that their period is a barrier to participating in sport”.
“Having free, high-quality products available when and where they’re needed might seem like a small thing, but it can make a huge difference to a young person’s confidence and their ability to simply get on with playing the sport they love,” she said.
The products have been in the Jewels’ own facility for the past few months. Steindl said the dispensers needed refilling often and staff and players had given good feedback.
“At the Tasmania Jewels, we want young girls to see that there is a place for them in sport, from grassroots participation right through to the elite level,” she said.
