About us

Friends of Really Excellent Dentistry (FRED) is a national health promotion charity working towards a future where all Australians enjoy good oral health and the many benefits it brings.

When people have good oral health, they have better overall health and wellbeing.

Maintaining good oral health requires access to trusted information and lifelong support, which isn’t available to all Australians. This is due to cost, lack of access to appropriate services, and a system that treats oral health as separate from the rest of health care.

Every year, over 80,000 Australians end up in hospital with preventable dental conditions. Tooth decay remains one of the most common chronic diseases in the country - affecting one in three adults and one in four kids aged 5 to 10.

People on low incomes, people living outside cities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are more likely to experience avoidable pain, infection, and complications.

We believe that everyone should have access to evidence-based preventive oral health information and support, to help maintain their oral health throughout their lives.

That's why we work collaboratively with people with lived expertise, health professionals, community organisations, researchers, and governments to:

  • Leverage new technologies to enable and empower communities to improve their oral health.

  • Build the capacity of health and community service professionals to provide simple and effective oral health supports.

  • Engage in advocacy to strengthen systems to prioritise prevention and equity in oral health care.

In all that we do we have a strong focus on prevention and equity in health outcomes.

Our mission

To ensure everyone has access to the information and support they need to improve and maintain their oral health.

Our values

Our values guide the way we work.

  • We create a safe, welcoming space, free from judgement. We understand that everyone’s oral health journey is different, and we treat people with kindness, respect and care.

  • We recognise that social, economic, political, and environmental factors impact people’s health. We prioritise reaching people who do not have access the oral health information and care they need and deserve.

  • We explore new ideas and technologies to create practical, future-focused solutions. We make preventive oral health support more engaging, accessible, and effective.

  • We are guided by the best available research and science on oral health. Our solutions are grounded in a combination of evidence-based information, internationally recognised health promotion principles, and lived expertise.

  • We evaluate and refine our approach to maximise the positive difference we can make in people’s lives.

Our priorities

We are working towards three key priorities.

Priority 1

Communities have access to evidence-based information and support to look after their oral health.

Priority 2

Health and community service professionals have the skills, knowledge and confidence to provide preventive oral health support to people who need it most.

Priority 3

Governments implement policies, laws and programs that prevent oral disease and improve health equity in Australia.