Girls in remote Indigenous communities are stealing sanitary pads and skipping school for several days during their periods, a Queensland report finds.

Key points: UQ research team set out to evaluate water quality, feminine hygiene issues unexpected

UQ research team set out to evaluate water quality, feminine hygiene issues unexpected Some schools had no sanitary bins, others had clogged toilets or lacked soap

Some schools had no sanitary bins, others had clogged toilets or lacked soap Researchers found menstruating was still a source of shame for girls

The University of Queensland's Global Change Institute report found girls who were normally law-abiding felt forced to steal sanitary pads from local stores, because packets could cost up to $10 each.

Schools in some areas had no sanitary bins in bathrooms, others had no soap, or the toilets clogged up, the report found after speaking to 17 organisations in Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia and NSW.

One representative said sometimes there were bins outside the toilet, but it is too "embarrassing" to use.

Lead researcher Doctor Nina Hall said they set out to evaluate drinking water quality and the issue of feminine hygiene was unexpected.

They found menstruating was still a source of shame for girls, and it was not talked about.

"Access to pads can be really expensive at local shops, $10 a packet," one representative told the researchers.

"There are cases of women stealing who would never normally steal.

"They're just so embarrassed that they steal pads ... depending on how it's located in the store."

Mothers and grandmothers told report authors girls are missing school when they have their periods. ( ABC News )

Excerpts of interviews with students revealed hygiene standards in some places were not acceptable in modern day Australia.

The report found women were also using underwear instead of buying sanitary pads.

"The local plumbing services say there are a lot of problems with not just tampons being flushed but various piece of clothing," Dr Hall said.

"Mothers and grandmothers have said that girls are missing school when they have their periods.

"It shocks me as an Australian.

"When we as women and girls manage our menstruation it shouldn't be a barrier to daily life.

"Girls are potentially missing school every month which is not a story you expect to hear in Australia."

Obligation to fix hygiene challenges

In 2011, there were about 116,000 people living in remote, discrete Indigenous communities.

The report said hygiene challenges such as poor water quality contributed to ongoing health disparities.

Dr Hall said no one organisation or government body was to blame for the sub-standard conditions.

She said Australia was a signatory to the United Nations' sustainable development goals overseas, but needed to look closer to home.

"At an international level we've got that responsibility," Dr Hall said.

"Before Australia just focuses overseas where we provide our aid dollar, have we got everything sorted out here?"