Dental practitioners across regional Australia have welcomed Commonwealth Government funding of $65.1 million for the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Dentistry and Oral Health announced in last week’s Federal Budget. A dentist practising in the NSW inland city of Wagga Wagga, Dr Kathleen Matthews has congratulated the University for “deservedly winning the funding for the CSU dental school. As a local practitioner I am personally excited at the prospect … and see this as a unique opportunity for a regionally based ‘community of practice’ to be formed, not only for the benefit of local and visiting health professionals and educators, but for the oral and systemic health of our population”. CSU Vice Chancellor Ian Goulter says, “Our plan for dental education in inland NSW will rely heavily on the participation of existing dental practitioners in our regional communities in the clinical education program”.