Hindmarsh Shire Council will install condom vending machine in major towns.

At a meeting on Wednesday, council agreed to place eight vending machines in male and female public toilets at Jeparit, Nhill, Rainbow and Dimboola. 

Youth and early years officer Meg Hall said sexual education and health were identified as priority areas by youth councillors, who proposed the idea in September. 

“Sexual health in adolescence is vital as they are at a higher risk of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections,” she said.

“It was discussed the most difficult issue relating to access to contraception was the social stigma and embarrassment.

“While the supermarket and pharmacies stock condoms, youth are reluctant to buy from these providers for fear of being seen by someone they know.”

Department of education and early childhood development research shows teenagers in the Grampians are more sexually active than the average Victoria teen, but less likely to use condoms.

The research found in the Grampians region 7.5 per cent of 12 to 14 year olds report being sexually active compared with the state average of 4.7 per cent.

One in four 15 to 17 year olds in the region reported being sexually active.

Only 57.7 per cent of sexually active adolescents in the Grampians reported using condoms, lower than the rural Victoria average of 59.9 per cent.

West Wimmera Health Service chief executive John Smith said the service fully supported the vending machine installation and would continue to deliver sexual education.

He said the machines would encourage the whole community, young and old, to practice safe sex.

“At the present time it is not possible to buy condoms outside of normal shop hours in many Hindmarsh Shire towns, severely limiting the opportunity for people living in these towns to practice safer sex,” he said.

“Condom vending machines are widely available throughout most Australian towns.

“Installing them in accessible locations in Hindmarsh towns will bring us into line with other towns, large and small.”

The Hindmarsh Shire trial will run for two years and cost $2880. 

Council heard a similar scheme saw 1153 condoms sold in a year, with majority sold in the second half of the year once word spread.

Council said the scheme was not about the promotion of teenage sex, but to give everyone accessible protection from pregnancy and disease.