Financial incentives announced for eligible regional dentists and dental therapists

Dentists and dental therapists working in rural and remote areas of Western Australia will receive financial incentives from next month, following an announcement by the State Government.

The incentives aim to attract and retain oral health staff and help enhance services for people living in regional communities.

The incentive package applies to existing regional dental officers and therapists working in regional areas and new staff that are employed up to 31 January 2025.

Eligible staff who have been working in these areas as of 18 September 2024 will automatically receive the additional payments from November 2024.

The incentives will be paid in three instalments over a 12-month period on completion of the eligibility requirements. These attraction and retention incentives will be payable on a pro-rata basis for part time staff.

Eligible dentists will receive up to:

• $17,000 in the Goldfields, Pilbara, Kimberley and Midwest
• $11,000 in the South-West, Great Southern and Wheatbelt

Eligible dental therapists will receive up to:

• $10,000 in the Goldfields, Pilbara, Kimberley and Midwest
• $6,000 in the South-West, Great Southern and Wheatbelt

These incentives are great news for our staff and the community and will help us to continue to deliver world-class dental services, especially to remote and regional areas.

For more information about the financial incentives read the Minister’s media statement (external site) or visit our website if you’re interested in working with the Dental Health Service (external site).