Dentist & Doctor

Dentist

No one loves going to the dentist, but it’s really important to look after your teeth. Not only is it painful if you don’t, it can look bad, can give your really bad breath, and be really expensive to fix!
You have two main options when it comes to looking after your teeth:

• Private dental services
• Public dental services

Private dental services

If you are over 18 and do not have a Health care card or Pensioner concession card, you have to go to a private dental clinic. To find your nearest dentist, Google dentists in your local area or you can look up ‘dentist’ in the Yellow Pages.

Public dental services

Public dental services are dentists that are subsidised by the state government to offer basic care to children and adults holding a Health care card or pension card. They may charge a small fee, depending on the treatment, but overall, they are much cheaper than a private dentist. Public dental services differ in each state. Some universities have dental schools where dental students (supervised by a Dentist) are able to treat people with little or no cost. To find one, try: http://www.ada.org.au/dentalprofessionals/dentalschools.aspx

Doctor

It’s important to have a doctor that you can see and feel comfortable with when you are unwell or have questions about your health. It is important that you go to a doctor if you think you are experiencing symptoms of an illness or injury. Your caseworker or carer can assist you with finding a doctor, as you may have had a regular doctor while you were in care that has your medical and immunisation records. You can contact your local Medicare office to find out what immunisations you have had under the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). The ‘Immunise Australia Program’ provides free vaccinations for young people, which can protect you from diseases.

See website for more information:
www.immunise.health.gov.au