ADAQ’s Voice — Policy,
Regulation and the Profession’s Future
Updates from CEO Ben Stockwin and the advocacy team on the issues shaping Queensland dentistry.
Advocating for Better Oral Health Outcomes Across Queensland
Over the past several months, ADAQ has continued to champion the interests of both the dental profession and the patients we serve, engaging with government, policymakers and the media on a range of issues affecting oral health access across Queensland.
At the heart of our advocacy efforts has been a simple but important principle: where a Queenslander lives should not determine their ability to access essential dental care.
Pushing for Fair Access to Specialist Dental Care
One of ADAQ’s most significant recent advocacy initiatives has been our engagement with the Queensland Government’s review of the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS).
The PTSS assists eligible Queenslanders who must travel long distances to access specialist medical services. However, despite supporting more than 95,000 Queenslanders annually, the scheme currently excludes most specialist dental care. This means children requiring specialist paediatric dental treatment and patients with special health needs often receive no assistance with the significant travel and accommodation costs required to access care.
ADAQ has formally written to the Honourable Tim Nicholls MP, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, seeking a meeting to discuss this longstanding gap in the scheme. Our submission highlights the reality faced by regional and remote families who may need to travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometres to access specialist dental services concentrated in South East Queensland.
Queensland remains an outlier compared with New South Wales and Victoria, both of which already include specialist dental services within their patient travel assistance schemes. ADAQ is advocating for Queensland to adopt a similar approach by recognising referrals to registered paediatric dentists and Special Needs Dentistry specialists as eligible services under the PTSS.
Importantly, our advocacy has emphasised that access should not be limited to treatment under general anaesthetic. Many patients can be safely and effectively treated in specialist chair-based settings, avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions and reducing pressure on already stretched operating theatres.
Addressing Public Dental System Challenges
ADAQ has also been actively involved in discussions surrounding the proposed closure of the Noosa Public Dental Clinic and broader concerns regarding Queensland’s public dental system.
While recognising the significant workforce and funding pressures facing Queensland Health, ADAQ’s position has focused on ensuring that any transition of services protects patient access to care.
Our discussions with policymakers highlighted concerns regarding the current dental voucher system, which was originally designed to supplement public clinic capacity rather than replace it. Current voucher values often fail to reflect the real cost of delivering care in private practice, creating challenges for participating providers and potentially limiting access for vulnerable patients.
ADAQ has used the Noosa situation to advocate for broader reform of Queensland’s public dental funding model. Sustainable solutions must address workforce shortages, improve funding arrangements, and ensure that regional communities are not disproportionately affected by service changes.
Bringing Dentistry into the Budget Conversation
Advocacy is not limited to meetings and submissions. Ensuring oral health issues remain visible in public policy discussions is equally important.
Following the Federal Budget announcement, ADAQ President Dr Kelly Hennessy appeared on ABC Brisbane Radio to discuss the implications for dentistry and oral health care.
The interview provided an opportunity to highlight the ongoing challenges facing patients and practitioners, including affordability pressures, access to care, workforce issues and the need for greater recognition of oral health within broader health policy discussions.
Media engagement plays a critical role in ensuring dentistry has a voice in conversations that influence government decision-making. By participating in mainstream media coverage, ADAQ helps elevate oral health issues beyond the profession and into the public arena where policy priorities are often shaped.
Continuing the Conversation
These advocacy efforts reflect ADAQ’s broader commitment to representing the profession and advancing oral health outcomes for all Queenslanders.
Whether engaging directly with Ministers, providing evidence-based policy advice to elected representatives, contributing to public debate through the media, or advocating for practical reforms that improve patient access, ADAQ remains focused on delivering meaningful outcomes for members and the communities they serve.
As pressures on both the public and private dental sectors continue to evolve, ADAQ will continue to work constructively with government, stakeholders and the profession to ensure oral health remains firmly on the policy agenda and that Queenslanders, regardless of where they live, can access the dental care they need.
Footnote: ADAQ received confirmation post publication that Queensland Health Minister, The Hon Tim Nicholls, will provide the opening address at this year’s Brisbane Clinic Day.