Tuesday 15 September 2026
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Theft of sanitary items highlights desperation of period poverty in South Australia

Social workers and teachers report women and girls using socks as pads, stealing products, as cost-of-living crisis deepens

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By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
Women and girls in South Australia are resorting to using socks as sanitary pads, wearing tampons for more than two days and stealing products from supermarkets, according to social workers and teachers who say the problem is widespread but largely invisible. With 66 per cent of people who menstruate struggling to afford period products in the state at some point, frontline workers are calling for systemic change.

Cate Sherlock, an Adelaide-based social worker, said young women stealing products from supermarkets is a recurring issue she hears about. "They are wearing period products for a long period of time and then getting asked about their hygiene because they start to smell," she said. "There is stigma and shame about having poor self-care, when in reality they can't afford multiple period products in a day."

The ABC spoke to five government workers, including teachers, who said they witness period poverty first-hand. Three spoke on condition of anonymity due to their public sector roles. One wellbeing teacher said year 6 teachers buy products and leave them in classroom drawers so girls can access them. Another public high school teacher said social justice budgets are often used to purchase sanitary products.

"My site purchases supplies from our wellbeing budget so teachers don't feel they have to, [just] to ensure students have access to a range of products if they need them," that teacher said.

The issue persists despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures, with one teacher noting many families are struggling to put food on the table and pay for expensive period products. Ms Sherlock said psycho-social assessments should include period product affordability to better address the problem.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Period poverty affects health, hygiene, and dignity, forcing people into unsafe practices like prolonged use of products.
  • The problem is exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, with teachers and social workers filling gaps left by inadequate support.
  • Without systemic intervention, the invisible struggle will continue, particularly affecting young women and girls in schools.

Background

Period poverty refers to the lack of access to affordable menstrual products. In South Australia, advocacy groups have long called for free products in schools and public spaces. The federal government has introduced some initiatives, but state-level action remains limited. The 66 per cent figure from Share the Dignity's Bloody Big Survey underscores the scale of the issue.

Key Perspectives

Social workers (Cate Sherlock): See period poverty as an invisible struggle causing shame and stigma; want psycho-social assessments to include affordability checks. Teachers (anonymous): Witness students lacking products; many buy supplies out of their own pockets or divert wellbeing budgets, highlighting a systemic failure. Women and girls experiencing period poverty: Forced into desperate measures like wearing products too long or stealing, which carries legal and health risks.

What to Watch

  • Whether the South Australian government introduces free period product schemes in schools or public facilities.
  • Updates to psycho-social assessment frameworks to include period product affordability.
  • Further advocacy or research from groups like Share the Dignity tracking the issue.

Sources

newspaper

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Articles published under the Zotpaper byline are synthesized from multiple source publications by our AI editor and reviewed by our editorial process. Each story combines reporting from credible outlets to give readers a balanced, comprehensive view.

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