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Box 5.5.2‘Things that work’ — ‘Filling the Gap’: Indigenous DentalProgramWuchopperen Indigenous Health Service provides care to approximately 20 000Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in and around Cairns (far northQueensland). Oral health is an important component of Wuchopperen’s services, withtwo fully equipped dental rooms at the clinic in Cairns plus a mobile dental van ready totravel to outlying communities. However, up until recently, there was a severe shortageof dentists, limiting Wuchopperen’s dental services (for example, there was a waitinglist of one year for basic care). This lack of access to dental care worsened thecontinuing poor standard of dental health amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeople in this region.The ‘Filling the Gap Indigenous Dental Program’ has partly alleviated this problem bymaking full use of the existing facilities by supplying volunteer dentists from aroundAustralia to assist the Wuchopperen clinic. This privately funded volunteer programprovides air fares to Cairns, accommodation and the cost of registration with theQueensland Dental Board in return for one to two weeks of a dentist’s time. With agenerous $10 000 donation from an anonymous donor and word-of-mouth promotion,Filling the Gap got off the ground in late 2005 and the first dentists flew to Cairns inJanuary 2006 (University of NSW 2006).Box 5.5.3‘Things that work’ — SA Dental Service Aboriginal LiaisonProgramIn February 2005, a dental therapist from the northern area of Adelaide commencedwork as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer for the SA Dental Service. The aim of her rolewas to develop a partnership with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islandercommunity through involvement with the Muna Paiendi Health Service and KaurnaPlains Primary School. She regularly attended community based events, including adiabetes luncheon and young mothers’ group, and provided clinical services for theschool children at the local school dental clinic.The Aboriginal Liaison Officer’s continued enthusiasm and genuine interest has sincegained her respect within the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community andincreased the community’s confidence and trust in mainstream dental services.Children are now transported via school bus to the dental clinic for examinations andtreatment twice a week. The dental clinic staff frequently attend Kaurna Plains Schoolto provide classroom education and oral health information resources. Increasedattendance at the school dental clinic has been the direct result of this more interactiveand flexible approach.(Continued next page)EARLY CHILDDEVELOPMENT ANDGROWTH5.35