Ms Cleeland is leading the charge for immediate action.
Ms Cleeland has penned a letter to the health minister, urging the extension of these vital services to non-government schools in her electorate.
She argues that many of these institutions are far from the privileged private schools often associated with Melbourne.
“Labor has acknowledged the need for expanding these crucial services, however had decided to withhold it from communities that need it until an election year,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Many of the region’s non-government schools are not privileged private schools like those in Melbourne, with the majority of students recorded as being disadvantaged by criteria used by our own education department.”
Ms Cleeland's concerns are backed by compelling data.
Several non-government schools in towns such as Heathcote, Rushworth, Benalla, Seymour, Nagambie, and Euroa have a significant proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
St Mary's in Rushworth, for instance, has a staggering 86 per cent of its students falling within the bottom two quartiles of the socio-educational advantage (SEA) system used by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
Other local schools show similarly high percentages of students in the bottom two SEA quartiles.
Holy Rosary in Heathcote sits at 74 per cent, St Mary's College in Seymour at 71 per cent, and St Joseph's Nagambie at 60 per cent.
FCJ Benalla, St Joseph's Benalla, and St John's Euroa also have significant proportions at 57 per cent, 52 per cent, and 51 per cent respectively.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said its track record of backing public dental speaks for itself, including the Smile Squad program which is delivering free dental care for all Victorian government school students.
“During the 2022 Victorian election, we said we would expand our Smile Squad program, offering it to low-fee Catholic and Independent schools commencing in 2025-26 and work to deliver this commitment is under way,” they said.
“The previous Federal Coalition Government cut public dental funding to Victoria by 30 per cent in 2016-17 and had this not happened – Victoria’s public dental system would be nearly $100 million better off today and be delivering treatment for 14,000 more people each year.
“We will always back public dental, but we can't do it alone - we are continuing to advocate to the Commonwealth to properly fund public dental services and establish long-term, sustainable funding arrangements.”
Ms Cleeland emphasised the urgency of expanding free dental programs for students.
“Delayed treatment of dental issues leads to a whole range of adverse health outcomes and entrenched health disadvantages for kids growing up in our towns, and this needs to be addressed absolutely immediately,” Ms Cleeland said.
“For the sake of children in the region, addressing the dental health of all students in our region is something that must be looked at immediately by this government.”
Ms Cleeland's campaign extends beyond dental health.
She's also advocating for increased access to the $400 school saving bonus and eye care services for families attending low-fee Catholic and Independent schools across the region.
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