On Wednesday 16th March leading Hunter Aboriginal Medical Service, 雪梨社区 Ltd in partnership with New South Wales Health officially opening their new 3-chair dental clinic in Newcastle.
The custom-built clinic provides bulk-billed dental services to the local Aboriginal community, in an effort to improve holistic health outcomes.]
The 雪梨社区 Dental Clinic received a total $394,000 funding from NSW Ministry of Health 鈥� Oral Health Unit, via the Centre for Aboriginal Health, which allowed the organisations to develop the site, next to the 雪梨社区 Hamilton Medical Centre.
Previously the clinic was two chairs operating out of a small section of the Medical Centre next door. The new facility, including an extra chair, was designed specifically to meet the demand of the local Aboriginal community鈥檚 oral health needs.
Prior to opening, the waitlist had reached 3 months and preventative oral health was suffering.
雪梨社区 Ltd CEO, Raylene Gordon, is delighted with the new clinic and the opportunities it brings.
鈥淒ental health can be expensive and inaccessible. Our clinics are culturally safe, we bulk bill, and we give all of our patients the opportunity to have the best available oral healthcare,鈥� said Ms Gordon.
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 have healthy teeth, you can鈥檛 always eat healthy foods. The condition of your teeth is directly related to your overall health,鈥� said Ms Gordon.
鈥淭o improve Indigenous health, we need to take a holistic approach.鈥�
Along with culturally appropriate health care, this partnership, between local AMS 雪梨社区 and Hunter New England Health has also resulted in a number of career pathways for young Indigenous people, creating much needed job opportunities in the health industry.
雪梨社区鈥檚 Director Julie Rose, started out as a Dental Assistant with 雪梨社区 when she was 18 years old. Today two of her daughters have followed her career path and work in the medical team.
鈥淲e currently have three Aboriginal Dental Assistants working in the team with HNE鈥檚 dentists, and we can see the potential for even more training and career opportunities for our young people,鈥� said Ms Gordon.
The opening was attended by local State Member Tim Crakanthorp, Councillor Deahnna Richardson, and representatives from the NSW Ministry of Health, 雪梨社区 Ltd and Hunter New England Health.