08 September 2022
Victorian community health dentists prepare to take industrial action
Victoria’s public dental sector workforce is frustrated at a lack of recognition of the important work they do to improve the oral health of vulnerable Victorians.
The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) today 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. Despite negotiating in good faith for months, the Victorian Government is yet to make a formal offer to improve the pay and conditions of Australia’s lowest paid public sector dentists.
Key points:
- Public sector dentists have filed for industrial action in support of reducing long waiting times and increasing access to public dental care.
- Victorian public sector dentists are paid on average 20-30% less than their interstate counterparts.
- The Victorian Government is yet to make a formal offer to improve the pay and conditions of Australia’s lowest paid public sector dentists.
- The Victorian Government continues to stick to their draconian wage policy, offering a miserly 1.5% salary increase and 0.5% for additional changes to allowances or other conditions at a time when inflation is running at over 6%.
- The Victorian public dental system is in a state of decay, with average waiting times increasing to 26.7 months in June 2022.
Download the media release - 8 September 2022.
You can help make a difference.
Send an email to your local Member of Parliament and and tell them that it’s time to Respect Public Dentistry:
1. Express your support for your colleagues working in the public sector and request the Victorian Government to support your colleagues with a fair and reasonable outcome.
2. Tell the Victorian Government that access to dental care is important to you. Ask them to ensure that dental care is funded adequately so that people do not miss out on necessary dental treatment.
3. Encourage your colleagues and patients to get involved in the campaign.
Use our interactive map to find your state electorate and view the waiting times. Click on the electorate, and then click on the ‘Send email to Member of Parliament’ link for an auto-generated email. Add any personal information about issues that are of concern to you. Members of the public can also support the campaign by sending an email and describing the problems they might have experienced in accessing dental care and why they think it is important to properly fund the public dental system.
