The Allan Labor Government is saving families time and money with free dental care for kids.

Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards MP announced today that Victoria’s Smile Squad free dental program is expanding.

“We’re making dental care easy for more families in Bendigo – saving time and money.” Said Ms Edwards

“When a basic check-up can cost hundreds each year, this program takes real pressure off household budgets.”

Students at low-fee, non-government schools in Bendigo and Long Gully will soon get access to the service.

Smile Squad will initially be available to 54 schools across the state who have been invited to participate, including Doxa School and St Peter’s School.

A phased roll out to all low-fee non-government schools will follow. With Smile Squad, Labor is putting money straight back into household budgets to ease cost of living pressures.

Regular dental checkups can cost up to $400 a year per child.

With Smile Squad, it’s free.

Smile Squad provides checkups, treatment and follow up care by mobile teams of dedicated oral health clinicians, including oral health therapists, dental therapists, oral health educators, dental assistants, dentists and specialists.

Since 2019, Smile Squad has visited more than 1,000 public schools, seen more than 160,000 students and delivered more than one million oral health packs.

Labor is continuing to grow Smile Squad so that no Victorian child or family misses out.

Only a Labor Government will deliver free dental for our kids.