Thursday, 16 November 2023

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:39): (565) Too many children living in my region suffer poor dental health because of a lack of state government action. Communities in my region, including many in the West Wimmera, do not have fluoridated drinking water, lack access to local dental services, have not yet been visited by Smile Squad and are stuck on huge waiting lists for under-resourced public dental services. Preventable oral health related hospital admissions and self-reported oral health status is lower for West Wimmera communities compared to wider Victoria. It is well known that delayed treatment leads to a whole range of adverse health outcomes and entrenched health disadvantages for kids growing up in the region. My question for the Minister for Health is: what is the government’s plan to improve the oral health of children in the West Wimmera?