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Live updates: Are you struggling to access basic health care? Australians share their stories
Posted Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:33amTue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:33amTue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:33amSkip to timeline
Whether you are battling high costs, long distances or stretching waitlists, many Australians have told us that accessing health care is becoming harder than ever.
We want to hear your stories and experiences in our live blog below, where you can also put your questions to the Grattan Institute’s Peter Breadon and ABC health reporters Stephanie Dalzell and Lauren Roberts.
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Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 12:12pmTue 8 Sep 2026 at 12:12pm
‘Heavily privatised’ dental industry needs a shake-up, oral health expert says
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By Annabel Bowles
On the topic of dental health, Matt Hopcraft is one of dozens of Australians who reached out to the ABC as part of our Your Say campaign, where he shared his concerns about access to oral health services.
Matt has more than 30 years’ experience as a dentist and is currently the Associate Professor of Professional Practice at the Melbourne Dental School.
He says there’s a need to “reform dental funding and tackle this significant health issue”.
“The health focus of the current and previous governments continues to ignore the critical issue of oral health, despite the well-recognised links between poor oral health and general health,” Matt said.
“The statistics are damning; one in three children experience tooth decay by the age of five to six years.
“Poor oral health is the leading cause of preventable hospitalisation amongst Australian children, costing the healthcare system over $100 million.”
Matt said the “heavily privatised” industry was a significant cost barrier for many people.
“In 2023-24, 71 per cent of all recurrent health expenditure was funded by governments, with only 17 per cent from individuals out-of-pocket.
“In contrast, individuals directly funded 60 per cent of dental expenditure and indirectly funded a further 20 per cent via health insurance. Governments funded only 19 per cent.”
Do you have a story about an expensive dental bill or treatment you had to turn down? Let us know in the comments above.
Key Event
Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 12:06pmTue 8 Sep 2026 at 12:06pm
Why isn’t dental in Medicare?
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By Annabel Bowles
I never understood why dental wasn’t included in Medicare whilst other forms of healthcare are. Is there a particularly reason why this is the case?
– Lucas
Thanks for the question, Lucas! Steph has answered it below.
The former Whitlam government originally did want to include dental in Medibank in the 1970s (Medibank was the OG Medicare, if you will), but because negotiations with doctors consumed so much time, Gough Whitlam didn’t want to bite off more than he could chew (sorry, an obvious pun to use) with dentists too.
There are, of course, public dental clinics now run by the states, but typically only children and concession card holders are eligible for free basics, and there are huge waiting lists.
Money is now the biggest hurdle standing in front of a universal dental scheme, particularly when you consider the state of the federal budget bottom line.
Overall, more than $13 billion was spent on dental services in 2023-24 according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, with most of it coming from non-government sources (like people paying out-of-pocket and health insurance funds). So given health is already a huge pressure point for the budget, the government is very reluctant to spend billions more on dental.
Federal Labor says it has a “long-term” goal of expanding Medicare to dental health services, but it hasn’t specified a timeframe.
But it’s worth noting experts have long argued not properly funding dental care also comes at a cost. Poor oral health is associated with several chronic diseases, and the absence of a universal scheme has meant there is a growing oral health divide in Australia between the rich and poor.
Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:57amTue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:57am
How life expectancy changes across postcodes in Queensland
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By Annabel Bowles
Across rural Queensland, where adequate health services are lacking, data shows your postcode is directly linked to life expectancy.
The most recent figures from Queensland Health show a sliding scale of mortality rates, with 75.2 years the median age of death in very remote areas, compared to 81.7 years in major cities.
People in the most disadvantaged areas, the green part of the graph, are also likely to die three years earlier than those in higher socio-economic areas.
The leading cause of death is coronary heart disease, which is largely preventable, followed by dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
You can read more on this story by the ABC’s Jessica Ross and Grace Nakamura.
Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:51amTue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:51am
Some early thoughts from you
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By Tessa Flemming
Already, quite a few of you have shared your challenges accessing health care.
Here are a few early stories:
From Kay in WA:
Live in kalbarri Wa our only drs surgery closed earlier this year leaving us with no dr and a four hour round trip into geraldton to see a dr!
From Natasha:
I was referred to public neurology in Jan 2024 after a spontaneous seizure. After my second and subsequent, I used my private health to access admission, diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management. I still haven’t had my public referral actioned, almost 3 years later.
From DrJerry in NSW:
Today I’m waiting for a telehealth consult with my ‘regular’ GP in Rutherford, regional NSW. Face to face was not an option for the next few weeks which is not ideal. Getting an appointment within a week is virtually impossible, again not ideal when you are sick. The surgery has signs up saying “one patient, one problem” and appointments are booked for every 15mins. My appointment today was for 47 mins ago and still I wait.
Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:45amTue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:45am
Meet health reporter Lauren Roberts
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By Annabel Bowles
We also have Lauren Roberts, the online health reporter for ABC Science, here to answer your questions today.
She covers new research news about a range of subjects, including cannabis use and psychosis, heatwaves, hantavirus and “pharmacy deserts”.
Passionate about women’s health, Lauren has recently written about the gynaecological side effects of cancer treatment, pelvic floor dysfunction, HRT menopause patch shortages and the science behind IVF add-ons.
Previously, Lauren was the acting digital editor with ABC Darwin. She’s lived on Larrakia land for more than 10 years.
Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:41amTue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:41am
Our in-house experts answering your questions today
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By Annabel Bowles
We have not one but two of our own health reporters joining the blog today to answer your questions.
First up is Stephanie Dalzell, the ABC’s national health reporter, based at Parliament House in Canberra.
Before taking on the national health reporter role, Steph worked in the press gallery for almost a decade specialising in health policy.
Recently she’s covered issues like the thousands of aged care patients stranded in public hospitals across the country and PBS pricing stoushes.
Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:36amTue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:36am
Introducing our guest expert Peter Breadon
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By Annabel Bowles
Alongside our own health reporters, Stephanie Dalzell and Lauren Roberts, we have the Grattan Institute’s health program director, Peter Breadon, on board to answer your questions.
Based in Melbourne, Peter was previously a health fellow at the institute, where he co-authored reports on hospital efficiency, pharmaceutical pricing and the health workforce.
He has also worked in a variety of senior policy and operational roles in government. He holds a Master of Public Policy from the London School of Economics and a Master of Public Administration from the Hertie School of Governance.
Peter has a wealth of knowledge on all things health policy and is with us for the next couple of hours to answer your questions — which you can submit in the field above.
Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:30amTue 8 Sep 2026 at 11:30am
Let’s talk all things access to health care
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By Annabel Bowles
Have you been waiting for months on end for a specialist appointment? Maybe you can’t even get in to see a regular GP?
We’ve also heard many of you are concerned about incoming changes to the NDIS, the decline of private maternity services across the country and the high cost of dental, just to name a few issues.
We’re opening up a live Q&A today with Peter Breadon from the Grattan Institute, as well as ABC health reporters Stephanie Dalzell and Lauren Roberts.
For the next couple of hours, you can submit your questions in the field above.
We also want to hear your stories, experiences and challenges on all things related to access to health care.
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