Charles Sturt University’s plans for a new dental clinic at Dubbo received a boost yesterday with the announcement by Mr John Della Bosca, MP, NSW Minister for Health, of a $4.1 million funding package for the project.

 

The Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University, Professor Ian Goulter, welcomed news of the funding for the Dubbo Clinic to be developed jointly by Charles Sturt University, the University of Sydney and the Greater Western Area Health Service.

 

“It is an exciting development to be working with NSW Health to achieve the common aim of providing a sustainable oral health workforce and increased public dental services in inland NSW,” Professor Goulter said.

 

“Since Charles Sturt University received federal government funding in 2007 to establish a new School of Dentistry and Health Sciences , we have been exploring ways to ensure that clinical dental services are provided to the people of inland Australia. This is very good news for the residents of western NSW.”

 

Professor Mark Burton, Director, Dentistry (Implementation) at Charles Sturt University, said the new facility will be a unique blend of public dentistry, private dentistry and dental services associated with the education of dentistry and oral health students.

 

“The clinic will be known as the University Dental and Oral Health Centre and will complement existing dental services in the Dubbo region. We expect to work closely with existing practitioners and the public dental system to expand the depth and breadth of dental services to the community’s advantage.

 

“This will be achieved through the collaboration of Charles Sturt University with the Greater Western Area Health Service and the University of Sydney. The end result will be more dental practitioners across the region and better oral health for rural communities.”