Statement of Acknowledgement

We acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians on whose ancestral lands we provide dental services.

We acknowledge the deep feeling of attachment and relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to Country.

We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people attending our services.

We are committed to improving the oral health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of people who have passed away.

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Aboriginal Oral Health Program (AOHP)

Aboriginal Oral Health Program promotion

About the program

The Aboriginal Oral Health Program (AOHP) aims to improve the oral health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by increasing oral health knowledge in the community and by improving access to dental services through:

  • Increasing the number of children accessing dental services.
  • Providing free priority dental services for eligible adults.
  • Partnerships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and health services to increase oral health knowledge and to raise awareness of pathways to dental services.
  • A range of culturally appropriate oral health resources promoting key oral health messages.
  • Supporting and attending community events to promote oral health.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients who hold a current interstate concession card and who are temporarily staying in South Australia are eligible for Emergency Dental Services only

Children

Everyone under 18 years who either lives in or goes to school in South Australia can attend one of our clinics.

There are no out-of-pocket costs for children who:

We recommend children have a dental check-up at around 12 months of age.

Adults

Eligible adults can access free priority general and emergency dental care at our clinics.

To be eligible clients need to be:

  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
  • the holder of a current Centrelink Concession Card.
  • aged 18 years and older.

Pregnant women may be more at risk of dental problems such as gum disease, erosion and tooth decay.

To be eligible for one course of dental care per pregnancy, women need to:

  • be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or pregnant with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child.
  • be the holder of a current Centrelink concession card.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients who hold a current interstate concession card and who are temporarily staying in South Australia are eligible for Emergency Dental Services only.

Regional or Remote services

We provide services in Regional and Remote areas of South Australia.

We have clinics in the following regions:

  • Eyre & Western.
  • Far North.
  • Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island.
  • Limestone Coast.
  • Yorke & Mid North.

To find the closest clinic in your region, visit Find a Clinic.

In Regional and Remote areas without a SA Dental clinic nearby, government-funded schemes are available at participating private dental clinics.

Ineligible clients

Clients who are not eligible for SA Dental can contact the following Aboriginal Community Controlled Health services for dental services.

Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc.

182 - 190 Wakefield Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000

Aboriginal Language Interpreting Service

Interpreting and Translating Centre (ITC) in conjunction with Aboriginal Language Interpreting Service (ALIS) can provide a range of Aboriginal language services to clients in the following Aboriginal languages:

  • Alyawarr
  • Arrernte Central
  • Arrernte Eastern
  • Arrernte Southern (Pertame)
  • Arrernte Western
  • Pintupi-Luritja
  • Pitjantjatjara
  • Warlpiri
  • Yankunytjatjara

Booking requests can be made by:

Oral health resources

To order Aboriginal Oral Health Program resources please complete the below order form and email a copy to Health.SADSAOHP@sa.gov.au

Further information

For more information about the program please contact the team