Table 2.

Key issues and challenges identified through informal interviews.

Key issue/challenges	Associated issues/barriers identified
Difficulty contacting patients	Frequent change of address
	Irregular use of letterboxes
	Appointment cards returned to sender
	Patients moving towns at a high rate, sometimes leaving Pt Augusta and returning months later—clinic not notified
	Patients not on telephone or frequent change of number
	Children changing schools
	Nonattendance at school
	Schools unable to release contact details
	Patients may use more than one surname
High rate of failure to attend appointments	Difficulties with transport
	Priority placed on oral health in combination with other physical, social, and emotional well-being issues of individuals and families
	Wednesdays and Thursdays are “money days” when pensions are paid, bringing with it other priorities for adults
	Lack of understanding of the importance of dental care
Attendance patterns	Attend for relief of pain
	Nonattendance for routine and preventative care
	Lack of understanding of the importance of preventative care in contrast to relief of pain
Consent issues	Patient may be residing with someone who is not parent or legal guardian
	Difficulty contacting parent or guardian when treatment decision needs to be made
	Cultural differences and rules in regard to consent not understood and accepted by mainstream policies
Difficulty communicating with parents and guardians	Parents and guardians often seem uncomfortable in the dental clinic
	Parents seem uncomfortable communicating with dental service staff
	Lack of understanding of dental disease, prevention and importance of dental care
	Different approach to and understandings of treatment decision making (different between staff and patients/parents)
	Lack of Aboriginal staff in the mainstream dental clinic