Leading not-for-profit health and wellness organisation St Lukes has teamed up with the Tasmania Jewels and Femmé Organic to make sanitary products free at sporting and community locations statewide.
The initiative aims to remove barriers to participation and encourage more young women to keep playing sport, recognising the important role access to period products can play in helping girls feel comfortable and confident.
Nikki Long, Head of Community Engagement at St Lukes, said no one should feel uncomfortable or miss out on sport because of lack of access to period products.
“We want young women to feel supported to participate fully and confidently in sport, including when they have their period,” Ms Long said.
“That’s why we’re partnering with the Tasmania Jewels and Femmé Organic to install free product dispensers in four sporting facilities across the state.
“It’s about dignity and comfort, starting important conversations about women’s health, and helping girls keep up their participation in sport. Supporting women and girls to feel confident, educated, and helping them stay active is an important part of St Lukes’ vision to make Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet.”
A 2025 Flinders University-led study[1] found that approximately 60 per cent of Australian girls aged 15 years and above drop out of organised sport, compared to 42 per cent of boys.
Reasons cited included period-related concerns, self-consciousness and body image issues, such as form-fitting uniforms while menstruating.
Tasmania Jewels Assistant General Manager Kayla Steindl hoped improving access to period products would also help more teens feel comfortable and confident to keep playing sport into adulthood.
“Women and girls should never feel that their period is a barrier to participating in sport,” Steindl said.
“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.
“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.
“We’re incredibly grateful to St Lukes and Femmé Organic for their support and for investing in something that genuinely makes sport more accessible for women and girls across Tasmania. We’re really proud to be part of an initiative that helps remove barriers and keeps more girls in the game.”
Femmé Organic is an Australian family-owned business that offers certified plastic-free organic period care products. The free dispensers are now available at the JackJumpers and Jewels High Performance Training Centre in Kingston, Elphin Sports Centre Launceston, Devonport Recreation Centre, and East Devonport Recreation Centre.
ENDS