Terms of reference

The Select Committee into the Provision of and Access to Dental Services in Australia to inquire into and report on:

(a)the experience of children and adults in accessing and affording dental and related services;

(b)the adequacy and availability of public dental services in Australia, including in outer-metropolitan, rural, regional and remote areas;

(c)the interaction between Commonwealth, state and territory government legislation, strategies and programs in meeting community need for dental services;

(d)the provision of dental services under Medicare, including the Child Dental Benefits Schedule;

(e)the social and economic impact of improved dental healthcare;

(f)the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis on access to dental and related services;

(g)pathways to improve oral health outcomes in Australia, including a path to universal access to dental services;

(h)the adequacy of data collection, including access to dental care and oral health outcomes;

(i)workforce and training matters relevant to the provision of dental services;

(j)international best practice for, and consideration of the economic benefit of, access to dental services;

(k)any related matters.