The Story Behind the Van: Bringing Top-Tier Dental Care to the Outback

The idea for North Queensland’s very first mobile dental practice began while Dr Garret Robles was teaching at James Cook University (JCU). Dental students at JCU are exposed to rural and remote dentistry early in their training through clinical placements across regional Queensland. By establishing a fully equipped mobile surgery, Dr Garret hoped to inspire these young graduates to stay, work, and make a difference in regional communities.

Our Clinic-on-Wheels

In the early days, our mobile dental trailer—affectionately known as "POD"—was towed by a Santorini Black 2013 Land Rover Defender, with the proud mission of "defending teeth from cavities in the back of beyond!" Today, the van is safely towed by a color-matched D350 New Defender 110.

From the outside, it looks like a standard 21-foot all-white dual-axle trailer, custom-built from a Jayco Basestation toy hauler. But step inside, and you’ll find a state-of-the-art dental clinic on wheels.

The van is fitted with a professional A-dec dental chair, a silent dental air compressor, a Cattani portable suction system, a portable Vatech handheld X-ray unit with a digital USB sensor, and a W&H Lisa steriliser in a dedicated compliance bay. All of our equipment was supplied and installed by Medical Dental Solutions—a local, family-owned Townsville company that is now part of Henry Schein Australia. To ensure absolute safety, the treatment room and X-ray unit consistently pass all strict radiation compliance testing and audits by Queensland Health.

On the Road Across Northwest Queensland

POD regularly hits the highway to service North West Queensland communities, including Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek, Greenvale, Balgal Beach, Rollingstone, Home Hill, and Ayr, and has travelled as far as Normanton and Barcaldine.

For over ten years, Project Outback Dental was also the trusted, outsourced dental provider for the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS). Today, the van proudly continues to provide on-site school dental services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at:

• St Patrick's College (The Strand)

• St Teresa's College (Abergowrie)

• NRL Cowboys House

Meeting a Vital National Need

Our mobile practice directly answers the call of Australia’s National Oral Health Plan by bringing high-quality care to four priority groups:

1. People who are socially disadvantaged or on low incomes.

2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

3. Families living in regional and remote Australia.

4. Individuals with additional or healthcare needs.

For his unwavering commitment to rural and remote communities, Dr Garret was incredibly humbled to receive the North Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) Dentist of the Year Award in 2018. The unique mobile practice has also caught the eye of both professional and popular media, featuring in the Australian Dental Association Qld Dental Mirror and R.M. Williams Outback Magazine.

When Are We Visiting Your Town?

If you would like to find out more about our mobile dental van visits, or to see when we will next be in your town or shire, we would love to hear from you.

• Call us: 0427 298 698

• Visit our website: www.projectoutbackdental.com.au