Dental care retention issues and pay disputes has spurred on public sector dentists across the Western Metropolitan region, including in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, to file for industrial action in support of reducing long waiting times and increasing access to public dental care.
The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch [ADAVB] lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission for a Protected Industrial Action Ballot in pursuit of their claims for a fair enterprise bargaining agreement for public sector dentists on Thursday, September 8.
ADAVB chief executive Associate Professor Matt Hopcraft said there was a 22 per cent decrease in dentist numbers across the Western Metropolitan region over the past four years.
“Recruitment and retention are a problem, and that’s definitely linked to pay,” he said.
“That’s making it harder for people to access services and contributing to the longer times.”
In May, formal bargaining discussions commenced between the state government and the Professionals Australia trade union to advocate for adequate pay.
“The Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association and the Australian Dental Association Victoria Branch continue to negotiate in good faith for a new enterprise agreement for public sector and specialist dentists,” a Victorian Government spokesperson said.
Mr Hopcraft said a salary increase would help ensure the sector would be strong and viable, so people could receive necessary care.
“Victorian dentists are paid on average 20 to 30 per cent less than their colleagues interstate, and that’s impacting on recruitment and retention,” he said.
“If the government doesn’t come to the table with a good deal for dentists, we’ll see more people leaving the sector and that can only mean that waiting lists will grow longer.”
Mr Hopcraft said ongoing impacts from long dental care wait times would have a “huge impact on people’s overall health and wellbeing”.
“Waiting for two years or three years for care means all of those problems get worse and people’s overall health suffers and gets worse.”
