Many Victorians Still Waiting, Waiting, Waiting for Timely Access to Public Dental Care on World Oral Health Day
“With no action yet by the Federal Government to extend Medicare to oral health care, and the Victorian Government funding enabling less than 20% of eligible Victorians to access timely public care, the Victorian Oral Health Alliance (VOHA – voha.org.au) marks World Oral Health Day again with continued exasperation”, says Tony McBride, Spokesperson for over 20 professional, service and community organisations passionate about oral care.
Shockingly, the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare data indicates that annually 7,400 Victorian children aged 0-9 years require hospital admissions (often involving general anaesthesia) for potentially preventable conditions. These admissions negatively impact those children, their families and hospitals. Almost 70,000 eligible Victorians were on waiting lists at December 2024. Published average waiting times for general public dental treatment was still way too long at 12.6 months, yet in many areas they are much, much longer: 39 months at Sunraysia Community Health, West Wimmera 34, Latrobe 26, Swan Hill 25, Central Gippsland 20, Merri Health 22, healthability (NE metro) 19 and Monash Health 18. And of course, 50% of people wait longer than the average time. This means tens of thousands of Victorians, especially in rural Victoria, are being left in pain and discomfort and without access to essential, timely oral healthcare.
“No one should have to wait years for basic care, especially so in rural Victoria where access to services is more restricted and broader social determinants of health are typically more impactful,” said Associate Professor Virginia Dickson-Swift, Principal Research Fellow at the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research, La Trobe University. “The government’s investment in the school-based dental van program, Smile Squad, won’t prevent these hospitalisations because by the time these kids get to school, sadly, it’s too late,” commented Ilsa Hampton, CEO, Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch.
“Oral health is a necessity — it’s not a luxury. The longer people are forced to wait, the worse their conditions become (preventable infections, difficulties in eating and speaking), often resulting in more complex and costly treatment down the track,” commented Tony McBride, VOHA Spokesperson.
This World Oral Health Day, VOHA calls on all Victorians to take action by writing to their local MP and demanding greater public investment in dental services.
To find out how you can contact your local State and Federal MP and advocate for better funding for dental care, visit https://findelectorate.parliament.vic.gov.au/?internal=1
For media inquiries, please contact:
Tony McBride
Spokesperson VOHA
0407 531 468
Victorian Oral Health Alliance 