Aboriginal Oral Health Scholarships Launched

In a bid to improve dental health in Aboriginal communities, The University of Sydney's Poche Centre for Indigenous Health has joined forces with other organisations to  launch the Aboriginal Oral Health Scholarships.
The Aboriginal Oral Health Scholarships are an initiative to increase the number of Aboriginal people trained in oral health careand are funded by Armajun Aboriginal Health Service, Rotary Club of Sydney, the University's Faculty of Dentistry, and the Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW. The scheme will offer financial assistance for at least 24 Aboriginal people to study the Certificate III in Dental Assisting and/or the Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Oral Health Promotion).
The project will provide training for Aboriginal people living in regional and remote areas of NSW to become qualified dental assistants and also assist pathways into higher education studies such as oral health therapy or dentistry. Aboriginal Oral Health Scholarships will enable Aboriginal recipients to remain in their community and maintain employment and local activities.
Poche Centre director, Kylie Gwynne, said the initiative is an important bid to improve the health of Aboriginal people by increasing the number of Aboriginal oral health clinicians.
"Aboriginal people are less likely to have received preventive dental care, and more likely to have untreated dental disease," she said. "The dental health of Aboriginal Australians is significantly worse than other Australians. "Poor oral health impacts on school attendance and participation, nutrition, and the likelihood of developing chronic diseases.
"Aboriginal people are increasingly represented in areas such as nursing, medicine and allied health but this is not the case in oral health.
"We hope these scholarships build clear pathways for the Aboriginal oral health clinicians of the future. Improving the oral health of Aboriginal children is fundamental to Closing the Gap in life expectancy."
Armajun Aboriginal Health Service CEO, Debbie McCowen, said there are very few Aboriginal dentists or dental healthcare workers in the community.
"Aboriginal health workers are the front line of Aboriginal health in Australia and are the primary link between Aboriginal clients and specialist services," she said.
"By adding this qualification, Aboriginal health workers will be better able to assist their clients and community in oral health."
Candidates may be:
•In year 11 or 12 and seeking a vocational pathway
•Already be working as dental assistants (without qualifications)
•Aboriginal health workers interested in an additional qualification
Each scholarship is valued at $15,000 and will provide over two years:
•One-on-one mentoring for each scholarship recipient
•Course fees
•Computer and internet access
•Face to face and on-line learning
•Career education planning