Access to Dental Services in Australia
Let your Government know how easy or hard it is to access Dental Care
On 8 March 2023, the Senate resolved that the Select Committee into the Provision of and Access to Dental Services in Australia be established.
The Senate Select Committee into the Provision of and Access to Dental Services in Australia was formed to inquire into and report on:
a. experience of children and adults in accessing and affording dental and related services;
b. the adequacy and availability of public dental services in Australia, including in outer-metropolitan, rural, regional and remote areas;
c. the interaction between Commonwealth, state and territory government legislation, strategies and programs in meeting community need for dental services;
d. the provision of dental services under Medicare, including the Child Dental Benefits Schedule;
e. the social and economic impact of improved dental healthcare;
f. the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis on access to dental and related services;
g. pathways to improve oral health outcomes in Australia, including a path to universal access to dental services;
h. the adequacy of data collection, including access to dental care and oral health outcomes;
i. workforce and training matters relevant to the provision of dental services;
j. international best practice for, and consideration of the economic benefit of, access to dental services;
k. any related matters.
The committee would like to know more about people’s experiences with accessing dental services in Australia. The survey is anonymous and asks a series of questions about:
- who you are and where you live (state/territory, urban/regional) – the survey is aimed at those who reside in Australia
- your oral health and dental concerns, and
- your level of access to dental services.
The survey is one way you can engage with the inquiry. You are also welcome to make a submission outlining more about your experiences and/or responding to one or more of the terms of reference.
For further details on making a submission to a Senate committee, see: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/How_to_make_a_submission
How long will the survey take?
The survey will take around 10 minutes to complete.
Do I have to identify myself?
We will ask you for your name and email address at the end of the survey, but this is only to ensure responses are genuine – these will not be published or retained.
How will your responses be used?
The data generated from responses to the survey will be used to inform the committee’s understanding of the issues around access to dental services in Australia. Any data published will be general and will not identify anyone.
Contact details
If you have any questions about this survey or the committee's inquiry, please contact the Committee Secretariat on dental.services.sen@aph.gov.au or call 02 6277 3511.
