Oral health is one of the greatest areas of health inequity in NSW. Disadvantaged and low income people have significantly worse oral health and the most difficulty accessing services. Yet, NSW has the lowest funding per capita for public dental services of any state or territory.

In the last few weeks, the NSW Oral Health Alliance has met with the major parties to discuss their oral health policies. Neither the ALP or Coalition would commit to a policy on oral health or funding to address existing inequities. Both parties indicated they are currently considering their election priorities and will develop policies over the next few weeks. It is therefore essential that we demonstrate the strong level of community concern about this issue and put pressure on the parties to commit to funding and reform.

NCOSS and the NSW Oral Health Alliance are asking members and supporters to participate in an email/letter campaign of action over the next two weeks. We need to show our politicians that the community cares about oral health - but we need to do it NOW. We are asking you to:

1. Send an email or letter to the major parties (you can either use our template or draft your own)

• Template letter to NSW Labor Party
• Template to the NSW Liberal/National Coalition

2. Send a letter or email to the MP's with portfolio responsibility for your client group (e.g. older people)

Aboriginal people:

• Template letter for Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Paul Lynch) 
• Template letter for Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Kevin Humphries)

Children and young people:

• Minister for Youth (Peter Primrose)
• Minister for Community Services (Linda Burney)
• Shadow Minister for Community Services (Pru Goward)
• Shadow Minister for Education, Skills and Youth Affairs (Adrian Piccoli) 

Homeless people:

• Template letter for Minister for Housing (Frank Terenzini)
• Template letter for Shadow Minister for Financial Management and Housing Strategy (Gregory Pearce)

Older people:

• template letter to Minister for Ageing (The Hon. Peter Primrose, MLC)
• template letter to Shadow Minister for Ageing and Disability Services (Andrew Constance)

People with a disability:

• template letter to Minister for Disability (The Hon. Peter Primrose, MLC)
• Shadow Minister for Disability Services (Andrew Constance) 

People with mental health issues:

• Template letter for Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) (Barbara Perry)
• Template letter for Shadow Minister for Health (Jillian Skinner)

People in rural and remote areas:

• Template letter for Minister for Rural Affairs (Steve Whan);
• Template letter for the Leader of The Nationals (Andrew Stoner)

People with special needs (chronic conditions, substance use, blood borne viruses):

• Template letter for the Minister for Health (Carmel Tebbutt)
• Template letter for Shadow Minister for Health (Jillian Skinner)

3. Send a letter or email to your local candidates

• Template letter to contact your local MP
• You can find out who your local State MP is at: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/V3ListCurrentMembers

4. Distribute this email to your members or through your networks

5. Raise oral health in any meetings you have with politicians or the media

6.  Let NCOSS know about what actions you have taken (if possible).

Resources

If you would like some more information about oral health issues in NSW, please see:

• Oral Health Election Factsheet (NCOSS)
• State and Territory Oral Health Budgets 2009/10 (ADA NSW)
• Issues in oral health for low income and disadvantaged people in NSW – An Advocacy Kit for NGO's (NSWOHA)

Information

• Solange Frost, Senior Policy Officer (Health)
  Email: s This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   
  Ph: 02 9211 2599, ext 130