Smile Squad
Luba GRIGOROVITCH (Kororoit) (19:02): (1252) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health. The action I seek is for the minister to provide an update on the rollout and reach of the Victorian government’s Smile Squad free dental school program across schools in the Kororoit electorate. Smile Squad is an outstanding initiative that is making a real difference to the lives of Victorian children by offering free dental check-ups and treatments to students at government schools. This program is helping ensure that every child, regardless of their background or household income, has access to quality oral health care. In a diverse and growing community like Kororoit, which includes suburbs such as Deer Park, Caroline Springs and Albanvale, the need for accessible preventative health care is especially important. Many families in my community face cost-of-living pressures and may delay or miss out on dental treatment for their children. Smile Squad is obviously helping close that gap. I have heard from parents and principals who are deeply appreciative of the support that this program brings. Mobile dental vans visiting schools have not only made it easier for families to access care but have also helped improve health outcomes and reduce stigma for kids who need treatment. I am therefore interested to know, as part of this update, how many students in Kororoit have accessed Smile Squad services to date and how many local schools have been visited by the Smile Squad team. Programs like Smile Squad show the real on-the-ground impact of the Labor government’s commitment to health equity and support for families.