Category Archives: Uncategorized

Current waiting times for general public dental care If you are not one of the nominated priority groups for dental care, the average wait for public dental care is can range from 20 – 35 months. But it can be much longer if you are located in specific areas of Victoria. The below table highlightsContinue reading “New Waiting List data (January – June 2020)”

Oral health is fundamental to general health and wellbeing. But there continues to be a divide between the ‘have’ and ‘have nots’, which has certainly worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. With public dental waiting lists in some areas from three to four years, and delayed dental treatment due to dental practice restrictions throughout the secondContinue reading “Good Oral Health Beyond Reach For Many Australians “

We asked a few providers this month what impact COVID-19 has had on patients and services provided. What have dental services seen as their biggest challenges during this time? Doing treatment without producing aerosols – an area of high concern for practitioners and consumers, so we had to halt most treatment. Trying to provide adviceContinue reading “How has the pandemic impacted community dental care services?”

VOHA recently made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics for its Inquiry into Regional Inequality in Australia. The Terms of Reference for this Inquiry can be found HERE. VOHA’s submission addresses the following Terms of Reference: a. improved co-ordination of federal, state and local government policies,b. enhancing local workforce skills and;c. anyContinue reading “VOHA Submission – Inquiry into Regional Inequality in Australia”

VOHA recently made a submission to the Select Committee on Regional Australia for the Inquiry into Regional Australia. The Select Committee was appointed to inquire into and report on the following Terms of Reference: Examining the effectiveness of existing regional service delivery and development programs; Examining the contribution and role of regional Australia to ourContinue reading “VOHA Submission – Inquiry into Regional Australia”

‘Where to from here? The impact of COVID-19 on oral health in Victoria’ was a webinar hosted by VOHA on 7 Aug 2019. The Victorian Oral Health Alliance hosted a webinar during Dental Health Week, highlighting some of the key issues COVID-19 has and will have on Victorians oral health. Chaired by Mr Tony McBride,Continue reading “Dental Health Week Webinar 7 August 2020”

Public dental waiting time data. Long waiting times for dental care mean existing dental problems worsen. As a result, just over one-third of all courses of care are for emergency treatment rather than routine care.  People with poor oral health may experience pain and embarrassment, have trouble speaking and eating, miss school, have trouble getting aContinue reading “Public Dental Waiting Times”

VOHA developed and submitted a Victorian Budget submission in late June this year, aimed at influencing the October Budget. VOHA proposed a significant Catch-up program, in parallel with a recognition of the increased levels of both demand and of heightened costs of everyday care in new environment. In particular: Funding of a Catch-up program toContinue reading “VOHA 2020-21 Budget Submission”

Before the pandemic struck, VOHA had decided to focus in 2019-20 on advocating for increased access to public oral health care for adults. It was agreed that the Government had made a significant investment in children’s oral health at the November 2018 Victorian election through its promised School Dental Van Program the ‘Smile Squad’. ItContinue reading “VOHA Policy Position Statement 2020”

The smilesquad.vic.gov.au website (last updated August 2019) describes Smile Squad as: A Victorian Government program that will provide all Victorian public primary and secondary school students with free dental care. Dental vans start visiting a limited number of schools in the pilot phase from Term 3 2019, with the full Victorian roll-out commencing from TermContinue reading “Smile Squad”