The vending machine dispenses period packs consisting of two pads and six tampons free of charge. 

The dispenser, located in the bathrooms of the Katherine Doorways Hub, is breaking down barriers and ensuring women and girls who might be experiencing homelessness always have access to sanitary products. 

“Women can come [to the Hub] without any interaction,” Hub coordinator Harley Dannatt said.

“They can walk in the door and access the machine without talking to anyone.

“We are a resource centre, so we try to provide as many resources as we can for the community,” Mr Dannatt said. 

The vending machines are an initiative of Share the Dignity, an Australian charity founded by Rochelle Courtenay.

The machines have been installed across Australia in poverty-stricken schools, homeless shelters and domestic violence refuges. 

Share the Dignity supports a number of organisations in Katherine to assist homeless women and girls and those fleeing domestic violence.  

“Remote places like Katherine are often forgotten about,” Ms Courtenay said. 

“It was important to make sure every women no matter where they are have access,” she said. 

The charity, which is supporting thousands of underprivileged women, also supports organisations carrying out menstrual health programmes in indigenous communities and supplies handbags filled with personal items to those in need.