DHS Annual Report 2005/06

The Department of Human Services Annual Report for 2005/06 contains the following summary comments about dental services:

"Increases in funding for dental health care services have resulted in improved access to services. From June 2005 to June 2006 waiting times for dentures decreased by 20 per cent from 28 to 22.4 months and for general care the waiting time fell by 16 per cent from 28 to 23.5 months. 53,000 or 12.5 per cent more visits were made to community dental clinics in 2005–06 compared to 2004–05, and emergency assessments were seen within 24 hours.

Support for the education of dental professionals was extended in 2005–06 by providing undergraduate students with better exposure to public dentistry, expanding rural scholarships and supporting the establishment of the Bachelor of Oral Health Science at La Trobe, Bendigo, including the provision of 10 bonded scholarships."