The Victorian Government is promoting its free Smile Squad dental programme as a way to reduce healthcare costs for families, with Premier Ben Carroll visiting Alphington Primary School to highlight the service ahead of the November state election.
Smile Squad provides free dental check-ups and treatment to students at Victorian government schools. Since 2026, the programme has also begun expanding to selected low-fee non-government schools, with 54 schools initially invited to participate. The government says the expansion will eventually reach all eligible low-fee non-government schools.
The service is delivered through mobile dental teams that operate at schools, helping students access care without families having to arrange separate appointments. Treatment can include examinations, X-rays, teeth cleaning, fluoride applications, dental sealants, fillings and, where required, root canals and extractions. Orthodontic and cosmetic treatment are not covered.
The government says almost 43 per cent of Victorian children aged between five and 10 experience tooth decay, describing it as one of the leading preventable causes of hospitalisation among children aged five to nine.
For families, the government argues that providing dental care at school can reduce both direct costs and the need for parents to take time away from work. Its latest figures show that Smile Squad has treated more than 175,000 public school students, visited more than 1,000 schools and distributed more than one million oral health packs since the programme began in 2019.
The programme also includes specialist services for children who need more complex care. Victoria has three regional paediatric specialist hubs in Bendigo, Geelong and the Latrobe Valley, which can provide treatment that may not be available through general dental services.
The government has positioned Smile Squad as part of its broader cost-of-living message, arguing that access to dental care should not depend on a family’s ability to pay. The programme is available to students enrolled in Victorian government primary, secondary and specialist schools, without requiring a healthcare card or Medicare card.
The announcement comes as Labor prepares for the November 28 Victorian election, with dental care emerging as one of the issues being used to distinguish the major parties. Carroll has separately announced a proposed $230 million plan to establish 10 free public dental clinics across the state if Labor is returned to government. The proposed clinics would provide free care to adults and children, with the government saying they could treat more than 100,000 patients each year once fully operational.
The Coalition has questioned Labor’s broader dental plans, with concerns raised about staffing and existing pressures on Victoria’s public dental system. The election is being contested against a backdrop of financial pressure on the state government, while One Nation is also seeking a larger role in Victorian politics.
Carroll used the school visit to argue that a future Labor government would protect programmes such as Smile Squad, while warning that a Liberal-One Nation government would put them at risk. Those claims are part of Labor’s election messaging and have not been independently established as a settled policy position of a future Coalition government.
Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said the programme would continue to support families by providing children with access to dental care without an out-of-pocket cost. Education Minister Gabrielle Williams said the school-based model also helps students develop habits that can support their oral health over time.
Smile Squad remains one of Victoria’s main publicly funded school dental services, with the government describing it as a programme designed to provide preventive care and treatment before dental problems become more serious.
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