Professor Ian Goulter, Vice-Chancellor of Charles Sturt University (CSU) today welcomed the endorsement of the Rural Dental Action Group (RDAG) for CSU’s bid to establish a School of Dentistry and Oral Health in inland NSW.

 

In a statement released last week, Mrs Marg Bollinger, co-founder of the RDAG, said the Group had been “calling for a project such as this since 2004”. The application by Charles Sturt University to the Australian Government is for the establishment of a School of Dentistry and Oral Health at its Orange and Wagga Wagga Campuses with training clinics at Bathurst, Dubbo and Albury.

 

“RDAG has been at the very forefront of raising awareness of the chronic shortage of dentists and oral health workers in rural NSW and how this impacts on the health and well-being of rural people,” said Professor Goulter.

 

“It is encouraging that CSU has received such a strong and considered endorsement from an organisation that has a demonstrated understanding of the problem and how it can be resolved,” he said.

 

Mrs Bollinger said: “This application by CSU to the Australian Government to establish a full scale School of Dentistry throughout rural NSW will be a real opportunity for both levels of Government to do something constructive about addressing this long overdue problem”.

 

“Congratulations CSU, we are with you all the way,” Mrs Bollinger said.

 

CSU last week submitted a proposal to the Deputy Prime Minister Mr Mark Vaile calling on the Australian Government to provide $54.4 million to fund the establishment of a School of Dentistry and Oral Health based in Orange and Wagga Wagga to address the chronic shortage of dentists and oral health workers in inland NSW.