Head of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor David Wilson, has welcomed the federal government’s $4 billion dental reform package but says training new dentists and oral health professionals will be crucial to its success.

 

Professor Wilson said the package shows a commitment to improving the oral health for low income families and children, particularly in rural and remote Australia.

 

“Access to dental care in rural and regional areas continues to lag behind major capital cities,” he said.

 

The federal government plans to spend $2.7 billion to provide subsidised treatment for children and $1.3 billion on expanding public dental care for low income adults. Dental infrastructure to support expanded services for people living in rural and remote areas will also be funded.

 

“A major challenge for the delivery of this new program will be the lack of dentists and oral health professionals to provide the services in rural and remote communities,” said Professor Wilson. “As many people in regional areas know, it can take months to see a dentist for a routine check up.”

 

The establishment of Charles Sturt University’s Dental and Oral Health program in 2009 was a direct response to the chronic shortage of dentists and oral health practitioners in rural and remote Australia.

 

“Our first dental graduates will finish next year,” said Professor Wilson.” The timing of this announcement is very welcome, as we expect to see the first group of new dentists taking up positions where they are needed most, in rural communities.”

 

"The University recently submitted a major application to expand our dental program in Orange, NSW to accommodate additional students.

 

“Funding for this application will be critical to ensure there are enough dentists and oral health professionals to deliver on the federal government’s $4 billion program in rural Australia,” he said. 

 

CSU is now operating five state-of-the-art Dental and Oral Health Clinics in Orange, Bathurst, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga.

 

“These clinics have been overwhelmed by people who have been struggling to get access to high quality dental services over many years.

 

“Reflecting the quality of services our senior students and staff are able to provide, the University now works closely with the NSW Department of Community Services to provide dental services to children in foster homes and their families.

 

“This provides wonderful opportunities for our senior dental students to practice their skills while delivering real benefits to rural communities,” said Professor Wilson.

 

CSU has recently partnered with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to help provide dental and oral health services to people in remote communities.

 

“This engagement is what Charles Sturt University is all about.” said Professor Wilson. “Our staff and students are out in the community delivering practical services that prepare them to become highly experienced rural health professionals while improving the health outcomes of local people.”

 

“We will be talking to the Department of Health and Ageing over the coming month to see how our Community Dental and Oral Health Clinics across rural and regional NSW could be used to make services more accessible to people our communities,” said Professor Wilson.