Thursday, 20 February 2020

Ministers statements: gender equality in schools

Ms WILLIAMS (Dandenong—Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women, Minister for Youth) (11:30): Today I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s commitment to gender equality in schools, something I know that the Minister for Education is also very passionate about. At the 2018 election we made a commitment to the Victorian people that we would roll out pads and tampons in every state school free of charge. We did this to reduce the stigma of periods, to make schools more inclusive of girls and to save families money. This commitment extends to every primary school, every secondary school and every specialist school, and I am pleased to say, once again, that the Andrews Labor government has delivered on our promise.

Since term 3 last year we have installed 1373 dispensers across some 623 schools. That is 47 regional schools and 576 metro schools. By the end of term 2 this year each and every government school will be benefiting from this very important initiative. Getting your period is a normal part of life for women and girls. Pads and tampons are a necessity—they are not a luxury—and this initiative will support hundreds of thousands of girls and young women across our state. This initiative provides students with the confidence that they will always have access to the products that they need, but perhaps most importantly I hope that it will break down the stigma associated with menstruation and it will ultimately enable students to focus on their studies, which is exactly what we want them doing. This initiative is making it easier for girls and young women, it is making it cheaper for their parents, it is supporting schools to look after their students and it is creating more inclusive educational environments. Periods are natural and normal, and girls should not be missing out on school or on socialising or on participating in sport just because they are menstruating. It is a simple as that, full stop—period.