MEDIA RELEASE
20 June 2013
DENTISTRY AND ORAL HEALTH RECEIVES $15 MILLION
THE Federal Government has today announced $15 million for Charles Sturt University to
expand community oral health services and training at Taree, Port Macquarie and Kempsey.
Independent Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott said the funding would deliver 24 more teaching
dentistry chairs over the three locations.
“Today’s announcement expands community dental services on the Mid-North Coast, and
makes the Mid-North Coast a centre for the training of dental and oral health students from
Charles Sturt University,” he said.
“This is a massive move at so many levels.
“It continues our rapid expansion of higher education opportunities within our local
communities, and shows we are serious about the education and economic benefits of
providing local course offerings.
“One hundred jobs are created for every 1000 students undertaking higher education
courses in a community, so the faster Charles Sturt University achieves its 5000-student
target, the better for our entire region.
“CSU will now be able to provide an opportunity for year 4 and 5 dentistry students to do
their final clinical years on the Mid-North Coast. It is the first step in the long-term goal of a
full school of dentistry for the Mid-North Coast,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“I congratulate Charles Sturt University for its clear and growing commitment to our region,
and I thank the federal Health Minister for agreeing to invest in our community.
“With a full medical degree at the federally funded Joint Health Education Facility to be
delivered by the new University of NSW offerings from 2015, our region is now able to offer
clinical placements in a range of disciplines, including medicine and dentistry.
“This is a very rapid turnaround for our region in higher education fortunes – from laggard
to leader.”
Mr Oakeshott said the commitment from both the federal government and Charles Sturt
University would also start to address some of the shocking oral health statistics on the MidNorth Coast.
“We have shocking waiting lists, particularly for elective public procedures, and this
announcement will now provide an opportunity for the Mid-North Coast Local Health
Network to work with Charles Sturt University in strategies to address broader population
health issues concerning oral health,” he said.
“This makes for broader benefits than just education,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“I am also pleased that Charles Sturt University is now demonstrating its commitment to the
entire region, by promoting the three sites of Taree, Port Macquarie, and Kempsey,” Mr
Oakeshott said.
“The Taree Aboriginal Medical Service has been raising issues of oral health for some time,
and I took them and Charles Sturt University to Canberra last year to lobby together for this
funding.
“I have also had a brief discussion with the CEO of the Durri Aboriginal Medical Service in
Kempsey, and look forward to the best partnership model developing between CSU and the
broader Macleay Valley.
“I am confident an agreement will be reached between the two to expand Taree-based
services, as I am confident the Kempsey-based services will expand with the existing local
health network,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“These outcomes do not come easily, said Mr Oakeshott.
“A lot of work has gone into this from a lot of people, and I thank them all for their work.
“I particularly acknowledge the Federal Health Minister for listening to these concerns a year
ago, and working with our community to come to this exciting announcement today.
“It will make a big difference to our region, and it will make a big difference in many local
people’s lives,” Mr Oakeshott said.
ENDS
Media contact: Sharon Fuller – 0429 787320
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