Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) determine wait times/priority access for public oral health services. A client who is eligible for public dental services, may also have no wait time/priority access.
No wait time/priority access means that the client is allocated the next available appointment for general dental care. Common/ideal practice is that the “next available appointment” is within a six week period from the time of the call/referral.
Priority clients are not placed on a general care waitlist.
Priority clients who need dentures, will be offered the next available appointment for denture care. If no appointment is available they are added to a priority denture list.
The following groups have no wait time/priority access to public dental services, if they meet the requirements/have the appropriate evidence:
Children (0-12 years): All children aged 0-12 who live in Victoria
Young people (13-17)
- Healthcare or pensioner concession card holders, or who are dependants of concession card holders or eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)
- Are in out-of-home care provided by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), up to 18 years of age (including kinship, foster care and residential care)
- Are in youth justice custodial care
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who self-identify.
Refugees and asylum seekers
Documentation that proves refugee or asylum seeker status:
- Evidence of immigration status card ImmiCard
- PTV Asylum Seeker ID
- SRSS payment card
- Protection visa application letter
- Judicial review – re-application for BVE letter
- International Health and Services (IHMS) card
- letter from a support provider from a health provider; charity or lawyer
People experiencing homeless or at risk of homelessness
Supported by a Specialist Homelessness Service and:
- Hold a Health Care Card issued by Centrelink or
- Hold a Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink or
- Hold a Veteran Gold Card issued by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA)
Registered client of a mental health service
- Requirements – current/active mental health case manager and
- Hold a Health Care Card issued by Centrelink or
- Hold a Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink or
- Hold a Veteran Gold Card issued by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA)
Person with an intellectual/cognitive disability
A current/active case manager or a letter from a special developmental school and:
- Hold a Health Care Card issued by Centrelink or
- Hold a Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink or
- Hold a Veteran Gold Card issued by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA)
Pregnant women
- Hold a Health Care Card issued by Centrelink or
- Hold a Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink or
- Hold a Veteran Gold Card issued by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA)
For everybody else there will be a wait time, which will depend on your level of need.
While you are waiting for your care, if an emergency occurs contact us for emergency dental services.