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Medical, Health & Aged Care
ADA Victoria

Election dental pledges welcome, but those in greatest need must come first

Australian Dental Association

Key Facts:

PRIORITIES FOR A FAIR ORAL HEALTH SYSTEM:

  1. Reduce the cost of providing care: a payroll tax exemption for dental practices, matching relief proposed for general practitioners and allied health.
  2. Support the public sector workforce: paying specialist dentists in training (registrars), pay parity with interstate public dentists, and regional relocation subsidies paired with retention strategies.
  3. Reduce public dental waiting times: modernising Dental Voucher Schemes to make better use of local independent and private infrastructure and services.
  4. Strengthen prevention: making oral health a funded pillar of preventive health policy, anchored in extended water fluoridation.

Premier Carroll - Updated announcement

ADAVB welcomes the Labor Government’s updated commitment to a structural, ongoing investment, expanded regional reach and regional relocation support.

 

Getting the detail right

Opening free dental care to all Victorians is a significant and untested model. Expanding access must not further lengthen already long waiting times for people already in the system, reduce the number of dentists in areas of greatest need, or result in publicly eligible and underserved populations paying fees while others receive care for free. ADAVB stands ready to work with government to ensure public investment delivers quality care for the Victorians who need it most.

 

Dr Carolyn Ng, ADAVB President said:

"The test for every commitment is whether it reaches the people with the greatest need first, and whether there is a realistic and sustainable plan to staff it. ADAVB welcomes clarity on how pledges will meet the priorities for a fair oral health system before election day.”

 

Victoria’s public dental system by the numbers

  • 2.4+ million eligible Victorians
  • 1 in 6 eligible Victorians seen annually
  • 82,000+ on public dental waiting lists
  • 15.1 months average wait for general care, up 10.8% in six months
  • Almost 3 years: the longest regional wait (Bairnsdale)

 

PRIORITIES FOR A FAIR ORAL HEALTH SYSTEM:

  1. Reduce the cost of providing care: a payroll tax exemption for dental practices, matching relief proposed for general practitioners and allied health.
  2. Support the public sector workforce: paying specialist dentists in training (registrars), pay parity with interstate public dentists, and regional relocation subsidies paired with retention strategies.
  3. Reduce public dental waiting times: modernising Dental Voucher Schemes to make better use of local independent and private infrastructure and services.
  4. Strengthen prevention: making oral health a funded pillar of preventive health policy, anchored in extended water fluoridation.

 END

 

 


About us:

About the Australian Dental Association Victoria Branch (ADAVB)

The Australian Dental Association Victoria Branch (ADAVB) is the peak professional body for dentistry and oral health in Victoria, representing over 3,500 oral health clinicians. A not-for-profit membership association, ADAVB aims to improve the dental and oral health of all Victorians, promote the highest standards of professional dental care and enhance the professional lives of our members.


Contact details:

 

Media Contact: A/Prof Neil Hewson

03 8825 4600     (AH) 0419 344 587  [email protected]