Local girls and women have access to free sanitary products at the Tenterfield Social Development Committee office in Manners Street, thanks to the service's collaboration with the Share the Dignity initiative.
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While schools are also equipped with emergency supplies, the challenge of getting girls to school when they don't have ready access to the tampons and pads when their period arrives can interrupt their schooling.
Share the Dignity is aiming to combat that, as well has helping other struggling women.
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Share the Dignity supplied the vending machine for free, and keeps it stocked also at no change. The machine delivers a period pack containing two pads and six tampons.
The machines are programmed with a delivery delay of 10 minutes to ensure the packs aren't wasted.
TSDC volunteered to become a site of a Share the Dignity machine when expressions of interest were called for, and since its installation in April it's had steady use.
The committee's Kellie Townsend said it is obviously meeting a need, and not only with school girls. She said a broad range of ages are accessing the machine.
A it's located in the office (to avoid the potential for vandalism in an outside location) the machine is accessible during office hours, from 9am to 5pm (or thereabouts) Monday to Friday.
"It's good that there's a pack, and you get a couple of days' supply," Kellie said.
It's all free, and discreet.
