It is a collaboration between the WA Government (Health, Education and Communities), Minderoo Foundation, the Australian Government (via Connected Beginnings), UWA Dental School, WA Country Health Service (WACHS), North Metropolitan Health Service’s Smiling Start Early Childhood Dental Program, Oral Health Centre of WA, Rural Health West, Southwest Aboriginal Medical Service, Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation, Smart Start, Amity Health, and local community organisations.

Challenge

Prior to the project, CGS had no dedicated dental services for children under five, resulting in significantly higher rates of preventable dental hospitalisations up to 2.85 times the state average in Katanning.

Solution

The project introduced:

  • Pediatric dental outreach services delivered three times a year to early childhood centres and community events
  • Local surgical dental services at Katanning Health Service, reducing the need for families to travel over 300km
  • Teledentistry and workforce training to build local capacity
  • Culturally safe practices and co-designed service delivery with Aboriginal and CaLD communities.

Impact

524 children accessed dental care, covering 85% of the eligible population across 9 week-long dental outreach visits since March 2023. Approximately 20% of these are ATSI children.

  • 83 children received local dental surgery since September 2023. 30% Aboriginal; 18% CaLD; 37% Children at Risk
  • Increased awareness and access to the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (have recouped $39 000 through this program)
  • Improved clinical outcomes and reduced fear of dental care among children.
  • Workforce development through immersive placements for UWA dental students, with some choosing to return to rural practice as dentists
  • Improved local allied health workforce capability to sustain oral health promotion and support for families.

Success Factors

The project’s success is because of strong partnerships and collaborative service delivery, achieved by:

  • Including health professionals, Aboriginal organisations, and government representatives in the working group
  • Responsive service design based on community feedback
  • Promotion and service delivery through cultural events like the Katanning Harmony Festival and Welcome Baby to Country built trust and reached previously disengaged families
  • Improving service access and empowerment by simplifying registration and paperwork

Sustainability

The WACHS EYP Health team are working on embedding the model of care in the Central Great Southern through:

  • Alignment to Smiling Start Early Childhood Dental Program statewide rollout
  • Sourcing sustained funding and creating a dental health coordinator position within WACHS (the first of its kind in WA)
  • Formalising service agreements with program collaborators.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet, work and live, and recognise their continuing connection and care to land, water and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.