State election 2018: Daniel Andrews promises free dental check-ups for kids
Every Victorian state school student will get free dental check-ups and treatments such as fillings, under a new $396 million scheme including roving dental vans if Daniel Andrews wins next weekend’s election.
Victoria State Election
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Every Victorian state school student will get free dental check-ups and treatments such as fillings, under a new $396 million scheme if Daniel Andrews wins Saturday’s election.
Under the massive pledge, 250 roving dental vans would crisscross the state with 500 dentists, oral health therapists and dental assistants on board.
Basic health checks and teeth cleaning would be part of the program, but children would also be able to receive fillings and even root canal treatments if needed.
The Premier said the plan would save families about $400 a year per child in dental costs.
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“As a parent, I know how important and expensive good oral hygiene is for young kids. Tooth decay is completely preventable, so we’re ensuring all Victorian students at government schools can get the dental care they deserve,” he said.
“The dental bill is something every parent dreads.
“Labor’s investment means kids will have a great, healthy smile without parents having to worry about the costs.”
At the moment, public dental care is available for children up to 12 years of age, but the government says fewer than 20 per cent of those eligible take it up.
Under Labor’s promise, all of Victoria’s 620,000 public school students would have access to the vans, which would also do sport mouth guard impressions and give them a free dental pack each year.
The scheme would also free up more than 100,000 places in the public dental care system each year.
Mr Andrews said a re-elected Labor government would also review the program within three years “with a view to expand it to low-fee Catholic and independent schools”.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy said $30 million of federal Liberal cuts to dental care have “created a significant backlog of Victorians needing dental care” — leading to more than 140,000 disadvantaged people waiting too long for care.
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Labor and the Coalition have bombarded voters with promises to ease cost-of-living pressures in the past month, with Mr Andrews also pledging to pay half the cost of solar panels on owner-occupier home rooftops if Labor is re-elected.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has promised to pay for school textbooks in state schools, and to give half-price TV sets and fridges to battling families to help reduce energy bills.
The government says that in Victoria, dental conditions are the highest single cause of preventable hospital admissions for children under 10.
“Only Labor will make it easier for children to access the very best dental care, cutting down on the hassle of organising family trips to the dentist,” Education Minister James Merlino said.