The National Dental Foundation Lack of Funding Won’t Keep Them Down!

The National Dental Foundation (NDF) was founded in 2004. It is a dentist initiated registered charity, acting as a focal point for charity work in the Australian dental industry. The Foundation has been incorporated and has received ATO Endorsement as a Public Benevolent Institution.

The NDF aims to provide dental treatment to Australians who do not have access to care. It also gives dentists who would like to volunteer a vehicle to be able to do so without leaving the comfort of their own practice. Since 2004 the NDF has continued to grow and in 2014 the dental treatment provided hit $467,339.50!

Previously, the Federal Government realised how important organisations like NDF are, they had the foresight to see that people being treated were alleviating an issue in Australia where people who cannot afford to see a dentist just go without. The NDF received government funding between 2012 and 2015. This funding sadly came to an end in June and the NDF is now needing to raise money to keep the Foundation running at the current level. They have been networking across Australia and hope to privately fund the Foundation.

Henry Schein Halas through the Henry Schein Cares Foundation has always supported the NDF and the dentists who take part in the volunteer days. In May, we held a sale day where a percentage of sales were donated to the NDF. We were so happy to be able to hand over a cheque for $14,000! Thank you for supporting us during our sale day and therefore allowing us to support the NDF in their plight to better the dental situation for all Australians.

Would you like to become a volunteer? Contact the NDF national coordinator by emailing headoffice@nationaldentalfoundation.org.au.