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Supporting public health practice in New South Wales
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The Bila Muuji Oral Health Promotion Partnership

Sandra Meihubers
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

Bila Muuji Aboriginal Health Service Incorporated

Email: sm495@ozemail.com.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 24(3) 128-130 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB12102
Published: 23 December 2013

Abstract

In western NSW in 2006, a group of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations identified oral health as a priority need in their regions, considering the lack of regular dental services, poor access to oral health information, and high dental disease rates. A regional oral health promotion program was developed and implemented under the guidance of a regional coordinator who supports local staff in oral health promotion activities such as school-based toothbrushing and the provision of oral health information to targeted groups (e.g. young mothers and carers) and staff of chronic disease programs. The program's strength in its planning and continuity is due to many factors, one of the main being the active involvement of local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation staff in its genesis, planning and implementation. Combined with strong management support, local partnerships and regional coordination, the program continues to provide collaborative approaches to community-based oral health promotion programs.


References

[1]  AIHW Dental Statistics and Research Unit. The Child Dental Health Survey, New South Wales 2000. AIHW Catalogue No. DEN 117. Canberra: AIHW; 2003.

[2]  AIHW Dental Statistics and Research Unit. Australia’s dental generations: the national survey of adult oral health 2004-06 AIHW Catalogue no. DEN 165. Canberra: AIHW; 2007.

[3]  Oral Health 2020: A Strategic Framework for Dental Health in NSW. Available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/oralhealth/Pages/oral_health_2020.aspx (Cited 30 October 2013).

[4]  Rogers JG. Evidence-based oral health promotion resource. Prevention and Population Health Branch. Victorian Department of Health: Melbourne; 2011.