DHSV is committed to Aboriginal health care initiatives to help Victorians in need and help close the gap between the health of indigenous and non-indigenous people.
Good oral health is actively promoted in Aboriginal communities and The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne offers emergency and general dental care treatment to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, regardless of whether a concession card is held.
 | Priority access and assistance to arrange and attend appointments is offered through our dedicated Aboriginal Community Development Workers at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne, who actively engage with and support members of the Aboriginal community in accessing oral health care. The decision to appoint a full-time Aboriginal Community Development Worker in 2009 has shown excellent results, with a significant increase in the number of indigenous patients accessing dental care at the Hospital. An Aboriginal Oral Health Reference Group is being convened by DHSV to gather perspectives on how oral health services can best be delivered to these communities. |
Contact our Aboriginal Community Development Workers on (03) 9341 1313.
Patient comments
“Thanks for all your wonderful help while Mark* had frequent visits to the Dental Hospital. Your kindness and willingness to help was a great help to mum and the rest of us.”
“Thanks very much for organising our appointments. The service we received was fantastic and we didn’t have to sit around waiting. The dentist and assistant were great. Thanks again for your assistance.”
“Thanks for organising my dental appointment - it was a long time overdue... I knew something had to be done. So, just thought I'd let you know. Thanks again.”
Traditional Ceremony at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne
 | Aunty Doreen Garvey Wandin is an elder of the Wurundjeri-Wandoon people. In June 2009 she conducted a Welcome to Country ceremony for The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne, giving it the blessing of the land’s traditional owners, the Wurundjeri people, and unveiling a plaque of recognition. DHSV Chief Executive, Felix Pintado, said the ceremony was an important sign of respect for the Wurundjeri people, and a message that DHSV is serious about working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to find ways of improving oral health in their communities. Read the article.
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