An Adamstown-based charity has received integral funding to expand its dental program for vulnerable primary school students, ensuring all children get the dental treatment they need and deserve.
LIVEfree Project provides families who have experienced severe hardship through family violence, drug abuse or poverty with a range of practical, emotional and wellness support programs.
The organisation’s Smile and Thrive program helps vulnerable Newcastle school kids receive regular dental check-ups and treatment.
Due to a donation of $44,000 from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation last year, the program can now support three times as many children, bringing the total number of students enrolled up to 140.
LIVEfree Project founder and director, Chris Jones, met with Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation chair, Jennifer Leslie, and Merewether Primary School principal, Greg Culhane, at the organisation’s Adamstown hub on April 27 to hear about the expanded program’s impact since the awarding of the grant.
“Chris has told me so many stories of the difference the program is making to kids and their families,” Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation chair, Jennifer Leslie said.
“For some kids, it is helpful to have a positive relationship with another adult outside of school and home.
“One little girl’s reward for going through eight big treatments was a trip to the beach on the way back to school – she had never been.”
Smile and Thrive promotes not only good oral hygiene and dental care but provides emotional resilience and mentoring support.
Volunteers take the children to appointments during school hours and afterwards for a mentoring session over lunch or a milkshake.
The children receive dental hygiene and education packs, and some families receive regular bags of healthy groceries.
LIVEfree Project founder and director, Chris Jones, said they wanted to make the dentist fun for the kids and allow them to build self-esteem.
“The kids get essential dental treatment to fix problems that can also affect other aspects of their health, social life and ability to learn,” Jones said.
“Our parents find it difficult to afford dental appointments, so kids miss out on preventative or vital treatment.
“It is very satisfying when a parent rings me to say that their child is hounding them about when they get to go to the dentist next.”
The program partners with No Gap Smiles Adamstown Dental Surgery, New Lambton Dental Family Practice, NSW Dental and the Awabakal Dental Service.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian children aged 5 to 10 have an average of 1.5 decayed, missing and filled deciduous teeth, and 1 in 4 children aged 5 to 10 have at least one deciduous tooth with untreated decay.
Additionally, 44 per cent of Indigenous children aged 5 to 10 are more likely to have had at least one deciduous tooth with untreated decay than non-Indigenous children.
Jones said some Smile and Thrive participants also used the charity’s school bus service, which takes 150 children to school each week—it also provides in-school mentoring at Merewether Public School.
“Being a small charity, and with the wonderful support from our local dental practices, schools, partners and other local businesses, we can develop and adopt holistic support services to meet changing community needs,” Jones said.
“Especially in areas of entrenched disadvantage in Newcastle and Hamilton South.
“We are about early intervention and relational care that nurtures, strengthens and connects with the community.”
To find out more or to support LIVEfree Project, visit www.livefreeproject.org.au.
Hayley McMahon