Statewide Aboriginal Dental Scheme | Return to Our Services

Dental hygiene and oral health remain a significant health issue for Aboriginal people and communities. There is a direct correlation between poor oral/dental health and chronic disease.

Some communities in South Australia still do not have dentists and suffer from lack of transport to access dental services in other towns.

However, funding remains an issue for the Statewide Aboriginal Dental Scheme - Oral Hygiene Awareness and Prevention program. Meetings continue with the Department of Health in order to secure a recurrent contribution to the program and AHCSA continues to lobby state and commonwealth governments for increased funding.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AHCSA and the SA Dental Service (SADS) has been implemented, which includes a quarterly payment of funds to SADS from AHCSA, based on the provision of progress and financial reports.