Pulling out teeth in far north Queensland
By Tash Jayasinghe
In 2006, a dentist only one day a week was all the dental services available to the 20,000 people in the indigenous community in Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland. Despite two new fully equipped dental rooms and a mobile dental van, the Wuchopperen community clinic in Cairns was severely understaffed.
It was the combination of the lack of dental care and Filling the Gap that placed 52-year-old dentist Dr Veronica Roller from Drummoyne smack bang in remote Australian for a week. Filling the Gap, a new volunteer service, has tripled the dental service hours and drastically cut down waiting time by employing dentists from across the country.
Arriving in Wuchopperen, she explained: "All the people that came in were so respectful. Some people were in pain and there was a long waiting list. Minor dental issues in the large community often grow into acute pain and small problems that are easily solved can increase in damage and severity while people wait for volunteers."
This was why Dr Roller worked harder than ever during that one week than she normally does in her own practice. "It was pretty full on, but I wanted that. I told them to book me in as much as possible and they were compliant. I like being busy...I don't like sitting around! I even told the other two dentists at my practice to [volunteer]. Everyone was really supportive."
There was some fun and games in her trip. "I had lovely accommodation and a car, and it was nice to get out of the Sydney winter. It was 27° C every day so it was a welcome change. I went up to Port Douglas and visited a masseuse on the weekend."
Dr Roller found her stint in Cairns rewarding because she was learning while teaching others, claiming that a little education can go a long way. Her most touching experience was meeting Siobahn, an 18-year-old dentist assistant who wants to run her own practice one day. Siobahn sculpted Dr Roller's view of the community. She was full of drive to make something of herself.
One day Dr Roller said to Siobahn: "The other people around here are full of attitude and haven't got much self-esteem but you do. You care for your teeth and you want to go to university. What makes you different?"
Siobahn replied:"It's because I believe I can." Dr Roller believes that Siobahn is going to be an amazing role model in the community.
Dr Roller has already booked another 'escape from winter' in June 2008 in Wuchopperen and is avidly looking forward to seeing if Siobahn has started university.
"It's really nice to have a 'bridge' so the Aborigines aren't on their own. We are all Australian so why do we need to be segregated? Why don't we lend them a helping hand so they can stand on their own two feet and do it for themselves? Everyone in the centre of Australia is Aboriginal. They're helping their own people."
Wuchopperen is a community-managed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health service that covers dental health, dieticians, physiotherapy, a cardio clinic, women and children, GPs, social health and counselling services. The health service has 110 staff who are mostly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Filling the Gap is a privately funded program and is looking for dentists who are willing to work for one or two weeks in clinic. The volunteers' flights are paid for as well as accommodation in a motel/resort sharing with up to four people. The dentist will probably have a car for their time at the clinic.
More information
Visit www.fillingthegap.com.au for more information.
The Centre for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au
www.volunteering.com.au