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Apply now for the 2025 Healthier Smiles Community Grants

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Australian Dental Association
Australian Dental Association
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14 May 2025
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2 minute read
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  • Grants and awards
  • Foundations

If you’re an ADA member dentist or dental student with a passion for improving the oral health outcomes of disadvantaged groups throughout Australia, you can now apply for US$107,500 (approx. AU$121,386*) in funding.

Would you like to make a difference to the oral health of disadvantaged Australians?

If you’re an ADA member dentist or dental student with a passion for improving the oral health outcomes of disadvantaged groups throughout Australia, you can now apply for US$107,500 (approx. AU$121,386*) in funding.

Grants are open for applications from Thursday 15 May to Monday 30 June.

The Healthier Smiles Community Service Grants (the Grants), a joint initiative of the ADA Dental Health Foundation and Mars Wrigley Foundation, provide recipients with the funds to implement oral health community service, education, and preventative care in some of the highest risk and most in-need communities across Australia.

With more than US$1.1 million (approximately AU$1.77 million*) already invested over a decade in oral health screening, treatment and education, the Grants are offering 10 x US$8,450 grants (approx. AU$13,532*) this year for registered ADA member dentists or students.

The Grants have three main aims:

• To enable the delivery of oral health programs that provide sustained benefits – screening, treatment and education – for disadvantaged groups throughout Australia.

• To promote the work the dental community is doing to address oral health inequities faced by disadvantaged members of the Australian community; and

• To ensure Australia’s oral health outcomes continue to improve through better access, delivery and education.

2024 recipients included:

Digital Dentures (NSW) – Oral health education for the elderly

All elderly residents and visiting family members and carers at the Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) will receive oral health education on daily oral hygiene care (including denture care), healthy diet, changes to note and importance of regular dental visits, and information on where to access timely dental care. The project aims to provide 12 residents the following: scanning of existing dentures, cleaning of dentures, new dentures, and referrals as required.

Smile With Confidence (Vic) – Providing trauma-informed dental care for survivors of family violence and sexual assault

This project will provide, on average, a total of six sessions to each individual. The session layout may vary depending on the oral health needs and degree of clinical care identified by the dental professional, in collaboration with the client. The three main components will be: a full dental exam, clinical care/restorative treatment and oral health education delivered through trauma-informed practice.

TIMA Rural Outreach Volunteer Clinic (WA) – Treatment and oral health education for needy patients

TIMA outreach dental service treats patients in regional Kalgoorlie, allowing those with special needs, who are socially/socioeconomically disadvantaged, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, to receive critical dental treatment and oral hygiene education. This means that patients are able to address 
any occurring dental diseases before they progress to a more significant stage.

For a full list of past recipients and to apply for a grant, go to the ADA Dental Health Foundation’s dedicated web page.

* The exact amount distributed in AU$ may fluctuate with the exchange rate at the time of distribution