Health Ministers agreed to establish National Oral Health Group

Today's announcement, made at a Health Ministers Meeting, builds on last month's Australian Dental Association’s Dentist on the Hill lobby event in Canberra, where the Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, announced that the National Oral Health Plan would begin in 2026. 

This reform reflects sustained pressure from ADA and a broad range of stakeholders across the health and community sector, who have called for national action on oral health for many years. 

"This is a significant moment for oral health in Australia," said Dr Chris Sanzaro, ADA President.

"For too long, dental has sat outside the national health reform conversation, even though it's one of the most common reasons people avoid care because of cost.

"The establishment of this Senior Officials Group shows Government is finally treating dental as the national priority it should be, and the ADA will be at the table making sure the plan delivers real change." 

The ADA has long advocated for the National Oral Health Plan, designed to run from 2026 to 2035, and will continue to work with Government as it progresses through the Senior Officials Group.

The ADA continues to call for the Plan to be released and funded in full. This includes measure to reduce Australia’s oral health burden, including measures to address equity and access for priority populations. The National Oral Health Plan must also address key workforce issues including maldistribution, specialist training pathways and recruitment and retention of public dentists.