Big smiles for ACT’s most vulnerable

A multimillion dollar federal government investment in the Australian Capital Territory’s public dental system aims to reduce waiting lists and provide better access to dental care for Territorians, including those who are elderly.

The new agreement, between the federal and ACT governments, is a $5.5 million investment in the territory’s public dental system over the next two and a half years.

Federal Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, said the funding would enable almost 4,000 more ACT residents to receive low cost dental care.

“People eligible for public dental care are often from lower income households and families, which tend to have the most significant risk of poor oral health,” Ms Plibersek said.

“I am delighted to be able to deliver these health dollars to improve dental care where it is most needed,” she added.

The ACT government has earmarked the funding to fast track several dental care initiatives. These will result in recruitment of more dental professionals including dentists, oral health therapists, dental assistants and prosthetics; the use of the private dental sector to provide general dental and prosthetic services; and more general anaesthetic sessions for people with special needs.

The announcement forms part of an estimated $55 million in new federal government funding over the next six years to improve the ACT’s public dental services.

Ms Plibersek congratulated the ACT government for taking the lead ahead of other state and territory governments in entering into the new National Partnership Agreement on Treating More Dental Patients.

“Nationally, an estimated 400,000 Australians – comparable to the combined total population of Canberra and Queanbeyan – are on public dental waiting lists,” Ms Plibersek said.

ACT chief minister, Katy Gallagher, said the federal and ACT government partnership will alleviate pressure on public dental waiting lists.

“The additional federal funding will allow the ACT to expand the public dental workforce capacity available in Canberra and increase the support services and supplies that are available to facilitate delivery of additional dental services.

“It will also help avoid the need for emergency care and alleviate pain and suffering among some of the most vulnerable members of our community and improve how patients on dental waiting lists are managed,” Ms Gallagher said.

The new funding complements the ACT Labor election commitment to run a mobile dental clinic providing dental care to residential aged care facilities and special schools.

“This new funding, along with ACT Labor’s mobile dental clinic will work to give more members of our community access to regular dental care,” Ms Gallagher said.

The new partnership agreement provides $344 million to state and territory governments over three years to get dental care to older Australians, children, adolescents and adults on waiting lists around Australia.

This funding will enable states and territories to supplement existing public dental services, including through the purchase of private dental