Eligibility
Public Patients The Oral Health Centre provides subsidised general and specialist dental services to members of the WA public who meet the tests for eligibility determined by the WA Government. Where services are provided by qualified dentists, patients make a co-payment depending on their level of eligibility. Prospective patients should telephone 9346 4400 for information about eligibility as the criteria are complex, but a brief summary follows: 100% subsidy: in-patients of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (subject to additional criteria for treatment) 75% subsidy: holders of full Australian pensions and their “low income” partners (as determined under Commonwealth policy); recipients of the following Commonwealth Allowances - Newstart, Parenting Payment Partnered, Austudy Payment, Partner Allowance, Sickness Allowance, Widow Allowance, Mature Age Allowance (granted after 1 July 1996), Special Benefit, Abstudy, and Youth Allowance in excess of $230 per fortnight; dependant children of parents eligible for 100% or 75% subsidies 50% subsidy: all Health Care Card and Pensioner Concession Card holders not eligible under the above categories; low income partners and dependants of Health Care Card and Pensioner Concession Card recipients. Patients are required to either sign a consent form to allow the Oral Health Centre to access their Centrelink benefit details when attending the Centre so that their eligibility and subsidy can be confirmed, or bring a Statement of Benefit from Centrelink. The Oral Health Centre is the exclusive provider of specialist dental services to eligible patients in Western Australia. All specialist treatment is by formal referral from a general dentist. The Centre also provides general dental services to public patients living within the Centre’s designated catchment area. The area incorporates the following postcodes: 6005, 6007, 6008, 6009, 6010, 6011, 6012, 6014, 6015, 6016, 6018 and 6019. Subject to waiting times the Centre will often accept eligible patients from outside this catchment area. Income Support Patients Persons who are not eligible for Government-subsidised treatment but who are deemed "low income" under criteria established by the Oral Health Centre are entitled to low cost treatment by Pre-graduation Interns, general dentists and specialist dentists (subject to availability). The Interns are in the final year of their dental training, and are closely supervised by experienced qualified dentists. Private Patients A number of general and specialist dentists run private clinics within the Oral Health Centre. Persons wishing to enquire regarding these services should telephone 9346 7500. | 
