The Cook Labor Government is extending provision of free period products to WA public primary schools, as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting student health and wellbeing.
- Cook Government extending access to free period products to public primary schools
- Students will have access to free period products across all public schools in Western Australia in Term 3, 2024
- Improving access to period products will help keep students engaged in school
- Free period products already available at more than 220 secondary schools and all WA TAFE colleges
The Cook Labor Government is extending provision of free period products to WA public primary schools, as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting student health and wellbeing.
More than 570 public primary schools will be provided with free period products in Term 3 this year as part of the extended program.
Period products are a fundamental health necessity, but the cost and associated stigma can mean students do not have access to the items they need while at school.
This initiative will improve access to period products and is designed to help keep students engaged in their learning.
All public schools with primary students throughout the State will have access to period products at no cost to the school or students.
Schools will receive an initial supply of products during Term 3, 2024. As with the secondary program that has already been rolled out to 220 public schools, schools can order additional products via the online portal to ensure products are always available for students.
Comments attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
“It is important we do everything we can to support students while they are at school.
“Following the success of this initiative in public schools with students from Years 7 to 12, I’m pleased all public schools with primary students will soon be able to access free period products.
“No student should miss out on attending class or feel like they can’t participate in school if they do not have the products they need.”
Comments attributed to Women’s Interests Minister Sue Ellery:
“We know for some students, periods can arrive before they’re of high school age, that’s why we’re expanding the program into public primary schools.
“The expansion of free period products into public primary schools is important for promoting student health and wellbeing.
“We want all students to be able to reach their full potential, and we want to ensure that having your period is not a barrier for school participation.”
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM is the Immediate Past President of the AFMW (2020-2023), former President of VMWS (2013 & 2017-2020) and current AFMW National Coordinator (2024-2026). She is a full time clinician who also holds positions on several not for profit organisations, driven by her passion for bridging gaps across the health sector. She is a leading women’s health expert, keynote speaker, climate change and gender equity advocate and government advisor. Magda is member of The Australian Health Team contributing monthly articles.
Magdalena was awarded a lifetime membership of the RACGP for her contributions which include past chair of Women in General Practice, longstanding contribution to the RACGP Expert Committee Quality Care, the RACGP eHealth Expert Committee. She is regularly invited to comment on primary care research though mainstream and medical media and contributes articles on various health issues through newsGP and other publications.
Magdalena has represented the RACGP at senate enquiries and has worked on several National Health Framework reviews. She is author of the RACGP Guide on Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery and co-reviewer of the RACGP Red Book Women’s Health Chapter, and reviewer of the RACGP White book
Both an RACGP examiner and University examiner, she undertakes general practice research and is a GP Educator with the Safer Families Centre of Research Excellence, which develops education tools to assist the primary care sector identify, respond to and manage family violence . Roles outside of RACGP include the Strategy and Policy Committee for Breast Cancer Network Australia, Board Director of the Melbourne University Teaching Health Clinics and the elected GP representative to the AMA Federal Council. In 2022. she was award the AMA (Vic) Patrick Pritzwald-Steggman Award 2022, which celebrates a doctor who has made an exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of their colleagues and the community and was listed as Women’s Agenda 2022 finalist for Emerging Leader in Health.
Magdalena has presented at the United Nations as part of the Australian Assembly and was appointed the Australian representative to the World Health Organisation, World Assembly on COVID 19, by the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) in 2021. In 2023, A/Professor Simonis was included on the King’s COVID-19 Champion’s list and was also awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division for significant service to medicine through a range of roles and to women’s health.
