Oxfam is part of the Close the Gap coalition and is calling on governments to take the following actions:

• Increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' access to health services
• Address critical social issues such as poor housing, nutrition, employment and education
• Build Indigenous control and participation in the delivery of health and other services
• Get governments at state and national level to work in partnership with Indigenous communities and Indigenous health organisations and expert to develop and monitor a plan to tackle the Indigenous health crisis

You can show your support by:

• Signing the Close the Gap pledge
• Getting involved in National Close the Gap Day
• Taking the latest online action 

For more information, go to http://www.oxfam.org.au/explore/indigenous-australia/close-the-gap.

Please note that emails can still be sent to alternative addresses previously used, but to ensure consistency across the organisation, staff are encouraged to use the new preferred format.

If you experience any issues in sending an email to a fellow staff member in this format, please email details to servicedesk@dhsv.org.au.

Staff who have not previously held email accounts have now had new accounts created. Please be aware that you must log in to Outlook before you can receive email.

The program, run by Dental Health Services Victoria, aims to encourage talented oral health graduates into the public dental sector, and foster their talent through mentoring and professional development.

Five new oral health therapists were selected into the program from Victoria’s most recent cohort of Bachelor of Oral Health graduates, and all five are now working in regional public dental clinics in Maryborough, Benalla and Wangaratta, Pakenham and Ballarat.

“This is a great result in our first year,” says program coordinator Dr Elizabeth Milford.

“We will be working with the graduates over the next 12 months to ensure they have the capacity to bring high-level clinical and leadership skills to the public oral health sector.”

“The graduates are a dedicated group of young professionals, who not only impressed their university lecturers with their clinical results, but have also demonstrated a strong motivation to contribute to public health.”

Graduate Jodi Leversha was working in two private practices in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs when a vacancy came up at Maryborough District Health Service.

“I was keen to get public sector experience because it’s an excellent grounding and would give me the chance to use my full range of skills”, says Jodi.

Originally from Melbourne, Jodi did her degree at the Bendigo campus of La Trobe University and was open to the prospect of moving back to central Victoria.

“Because of my studies there, I was familiar with the district and have a lot of friends around the place. Being part of the graduate program gave me the confidence to take the plunge and commit to a rural community health service.”

Now six weeks into her new role, Jodi is enjoying using her training to bring much-needed dental care to Maryborough families.

Dr Milford says she and the graduates’ new employers will be working closely together to ensure the oral health therapists get a range of professional experiences at the same time as meeting the dental needs of their local communities.

The program will select its next round of graduates in June this year.

Hayley Worm, oral health therapist at Central Hume Dental Service
Photo courtesy of Steve Kelly, Wangratta Chronicle 

Highlights of the new intranet include:

• easier navigation to forms and other common resources
• a shared calendar for upcoming events and training sessions
• an up-to-date staff directory
• a ‘System status’ page where staff can check for major faults that IT have recorded and find out their status
• a new section called ‘The classroom’, where knowledge can be shared across the organisation.

All staff are encouraged to explore the new site and become familiar with the various content areas.

If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content or design of the site, please forward your feedback to web@dhsv.org.au or call Rachael McCully on x1139.

The survey found that between 40% and 57% of 12-15 year-olds have had some decay in their permanent teeth. On average, Australian 12 year-olds have slightly more than one decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth, and 15 year-olds have an average of two decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth.

The data for the report was collected in 2003-2004.

Principal Oral Health Advisor at Dental Health Services Victoria, Professor Mike Morgan, urged parents and young teenagers to be aware that children were at greater risk of dental decay as they entered their teen years.

“There a number of factors that increase decay risk for this age group. From a lifestyle point of view we know that young people in this age group are starting to experience some independence from their parents and this can have a negative impact on their oral hygiene habits and the quality of their diet,” says Professor Morgan.

“It is also possible that once they leave primary school, young teens are attending for oral health care less regularly, and this is something we need to keep an eye on.”

A number of initiatives have been introduced in Victoria in recent years to improve access to public dental services for teenagers:

• Priority access for all children up to 17 years of age, giving them access to the next available dental appointment at their local community health service or at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.
• Integration of the School Dental Service into community health services across Victoria so that people can receive dental care at the same location as they receive their other health care, whatever their age. Many health centres now offer family appointments for dental visits.
• Fluoridation of the water supply in a number of Victorian communities.
• Introduction of the Commonwealth Medicare Teen Dental Plan in 2008, providing free dental check-ups for teenagers.

In Victoria, public dental care is available to all children aged 12 years and under, and to teenagers aged between 12 and 17 years whose parents hold a health care or pensioner card.

Professor Morgan said that the latest report provides useful information on the oral health of young teenagers. “This is definitely a population group we need to monitor closely to ensure that they are accessing the oral health care they need.”

 Oral health tips for teens

• Brush teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Limit the amount of sugary food you eat, especially between meals.
• Avoid fizzy and sports drinks - the acid in these can damage tooth enamel.
• Have a dental check-up every 1-2 years, even if your teeth and gums feel fine.

Links

• Dental health of Australia’s teenagers and pre-teen children: The Child Dental Health Survey, Australia 2003-2004, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, published 18 January 2010, www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10778

• Who is eligible?
• Fees
• Advice for children
• Advice for young adults

The Totally Smoke Free status means that in addition to complying with the ban on smoking inside buildings, patients, visitors and staff will also need to comply with a “no smoking” rule in car parks, courtyards, entrances and footpaths surrounding the Hospital.

“The evidence on the links between second-hand smoke and a range of health problems, including respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease and breast and lung cancer, is well established. As health care providers we are obliged to limit this risk to the community,” says Mr Felix Pintado, Chief Executive at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.

The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne is supporting staff who wish to quit smoking by subsidising the cost of nicotine replacement therapies and running a support program.

For further information, please contact the DHSV media unit.

Thirty-three coordinators shared success stories and experiences from across their various regions, and discussed new ways of engaging with families in a range of socio-economic circumstances.

A total of 367 pre-schools (22% of Victorian pre-schools) around Victoria are now participating in the Smiles 4 Miles program which is run by Dental Health Services Victoria in partnership with local governments and community health services.

Under the program, participating pre-schools promote good oral health by following tooth-friendly eating and drinking policies, and involving children and parents in oral health education activities. Pre-schools that have implemented all the requirements are recognised with a Smiles 4 Miles award.

An independent evaluation of the program, commissioned by the Department of Health, has recently commenced, with the findings expected to be available by mid-2010.

Mike answered questions from callers on a wide range of dental topics, including:

• fitting dentures properly
• dry-mouth conditions
• dental implants
• mouth ulcers
• oral hygiene habits
• links between oral health and some medical conditions
• gum recession
• using public dental services

Listen to the podcast of Mike and Dr Feelgood - Talking Health: 22 November 2009 (mp3 file can be played with Microsoft Media Player).

At a recent visit to The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne hosted by DHSV, the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon Nicola Roxon, discussed the proposed reforms with oral health professionals and encouraged them to send through their comments and suggestions on how more affordable dental care can be provided to more people.

Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) supports the greater focus the report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission brings to universal access to dental care and to early detection and prevention of oral disease.

Read the final report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (June 2009)
http://www.yourhealth.gov.au/internet/yourhealth/publishing.nsf/Content/nhhrc-report-toc

Respond to the Commission’s recommendations
http://www.yourhealth.gov.au/internet/yourhealth/publishing.nsf/content/home

Mrs Roxon toured The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne in Carlton and met with dental professionals and health service managers to answer questions and take comments on the NHHRC's proposed Denticare scheme.

Chief Executive of Dental Health Services Victoria, Mr Felix Pintado, welcomed the opportunity to participate in a discussion about dental care reform, and was pleased that the Minister took up DHSV's offer to come and see public dentistry in action.

Image: Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon Nicola Roxon (photo courtesy of the Department of Health and Ageing)

Associate Professor Hanny Calache, Director Clinical Leadership, Education and Research at Dental Health Services Victoria, arranged the first workshop on the subject in September.

Clinical Caries Management in Community Dental Clinics – a new horizon in public dentistry was attended by 50 leaders in the oral health sector, including public health professionals, academics, professional associations, consumer representatives and members of the dental industry.

The group discussed how a new caries risk assessment tool and caries management protocols could be introduced across public dental programs. Most public dental programs are delivered by community and regional health services.

Drawing upon evidence and practices developed by international cariology experts, including Dr John Featherstone of the University of California, the new protocols would see high-risk patients making regular dental visits and undergoing early detection screening.

“We face particular challenges in community oral health settings with some of the measures recommended for intensive caries management,” says Professor Calache.

“Demand on public dental services can be an obstacle to offering three and six-month re-call appointments to high-risk patients. Another challenge is the high cost, of diagnostic measures and protective therapies such as antibacterial and remineralisation treatments, for community dental services and their patients.”

Professor Calache says that the overall cost of public oral health care was likely to be reduced by targeting more intense treatment to those identified as ‘high’ or ‘extreme’ risk, and reducing the number of restorations (fillings) required by public dental patients.

“We need to re-orient our community dental programs so that we are set up for early detection, increased prevention and less surgical intervention, using the best evidence and most effective caries management technologies available,” says Professor Calache.

 With scientific research giving clinicians a better understanding of dental caries, Prof Calache says that it is time for public dental services to align their practices with the scientific evidence.

“We now understand that caries is actually an infectious disease and its cause needs to be managed. Fillings and extractions can treat the symptoms but they don’t cure the disease. Earlier detection of dental caries will give us the opportunity to repair early caries lesions and reduce a patient’s risk of future caries episodes,” says Prof Calache.

A Welcome to Country ceremony took place at the Hospital in Carlton, and was formalised with a smoking ceremony and the unveiling of a plaque by Senior Wurundjeri Elder Doreen Garvey-Wandin. Activities concluded with a dance performance by Koori Youth Will Shake Spears.

The event date was chosen by Aunty Doreen for its proximity to NAIDOC Week and was endorsed by DHSV’s Diversity Group and Community Advisory Committee.

DHSV Chief Executive, Felix Pintado, says his organisation celebrates this occasion as an important sign of respect to the traditional owners of the land.

The formal acknowledgement of the land’s traditional custodians has been organised by DHSV’s recently appointed full-time Aboriginal Community Development Officer, Jacqueline Watkins.

“DHSV is committed to Aboriginal health care initiatives to help Victorians in need,” says Felix.

“We actively promote good oral health in Aboriginal communities, with priority access and assistance for patients to arrange and attend appointments. These initiatives are likely to expand as the range of programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people increase at DHSV.”

The ceremony was attended by Aboriginal Elders, Aboriginal patients of The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne, representatives from Victorian Aboriginal Health Services, DHSV Board Directors, Executive and staff.

As Victoria’s leading public oral health agency, DHSV supports the plan to train a staff member from all 2,830 nursing homes in dental hygiene by next year (2010).

Professor Mike Morgan, Dental Health Service Victoria’s Principal Oral Health Adviser, comments:

“Training aged care workers to assist with residents’ oral health is a significant step towards preventing illness related to oral health and reducing pain and discomfort for older Australians, particularly those in nursing homes.”

“Educating aged care workers also reduces the gap in the number of clinicians available to address the oral health care needs identified in the Victorian government's strategic plan for public dental health services and oral health.”

DHSV has been operating a domiciliary dental unit for over 25 years, providing treatment to people in aged care homes and others who are homebound due to medical, physical or mental conditions.

DHSV is experienced in and committed to providing care to residents of nursing homes and welcomes this positive step towards recognising and prioritising the oral health of older Australians. DHSV is available for consultation on this proposal and other public oral health matters.

DHSV welcomes the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission’s draft report proposing an increase in Federal spending on oral health and the development of a system to ensure universal access to prevention, diagnosis and restorative care for oral health.

The draft report highlights the urgent need to improve oral health promotion, and preventative, diagnostic and restorative care. While some Australians have excellent oral health, the report shows that poor oral health has negative social and health consequences for at least one in four Australians. Oral health problems are particularly acute for indigenous Australians, refugees, pensioners and others on low incomes, and people living in rural areas.

Professor Mike Morgan, Dental Health Service Victoria’s Principal Oral Health Adviser, comments:

“Integrating oral health into broader health promotion, and ensuring universal access to preventive, diagnostic and restorative dental services will increase Australians’ health and well-being and reduce the burden of disease and need for emergency dental care.

There are a number of issues requiring ongoing discussion including the need for an appropriate oral health workforce, particularly in rural and remote regions and in the public dental sector. Government support for the education and training of oral health care providers is important to ensure that this bold new proposal is successful”.

DHSV encourages ongoing discussion of oral health initiatives that work towards providing appropriate oral care access and improved oral health outcomes to all Australians.

Special needs students can be confident they have the best of dental care, with the launch of the first of three new mobile dental clinics by Health Minister Daniel Andrews today.

Launching the special needs dental van at the Emerson School in Dandenong, Mr Andrews said the purpose-built mobile clinics will take dental care into the community and directly to patients.

“Patients with special needs require convenient and easily accessible services and these specially-designed vans take the service directly to them,” Mr Andrews said.

“These include people with disabilities, those who are homeless or people with a range of other issues such as mental illness.

“The Brumby Government has provided $1.17 million so Dental Health Services Victoria can deliver these three new vans for those in the community who need them most,” he said.

Mr Andrews said the first van - which replaces a 30-year old model - will be based at the Emerson School and travel, as required, across Melbourne, helping children and students in special schools with high dental needs.

One of the other vans will soon increase services to special needs clients in regional Victoria and all vans will be staffed full-time by Dental Health Services Victoria

“The vans will be staffed commitment to taking Melbourne-based specialists to areas in most need,” Mr Andrews said.

Mr Andrews said the Brumby Government had committed $139 million to dental health in this year's Budget.

“This Government has boosted public dental health by providing over $950 million since 1999, to treat more patients and to improve access for children and the disadvantaged and to cut waiting lists,” he said.

“This year the Brumby Government has provided a record $139 million to treat more patients and improve access for children and the disadvantaged and cut waiting lists.

“We are also boosting dental health infrastructure with the number of community dental chairs up by 66 per cent and the opening of the new $52 million Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.”

Victoria's leading public oral health agency, Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV), has appointed Felix Pintado as its new Chief Executive.

Mr Pintado comes to the organisation with over 20 years of leadership experience in the health service industry, having previously held senior executive positions in specialist and general hospitals in Victoria and New Zealand. His most recent appointment was as Chief Executive of Latrobe Regional Hospital, which was awarded the Premier's award for most outstanding regional health service in 2006.

His arrival comes as DHSV launches a comprehensive four-year strategic plan, which will see an increased leadership and advocacy role for the organisation, as well as a strengthened population health approach towards improved oral health outcomes in Victoria.

Mr Pintado said it was an exciting time to be joining DHSV as the organisation worked towards fulfilling a number of important goals.

“Oral health is important. It is fundamental to good overall health and quality of life.

“Our focus will be on key priorities such as health promotion and illness prevention, improved service delivery, workforce development and re-design, and supporting research and innovation to help address the needs of the Victorian community and to ensure oral health for better overall health,” Mr Pintado said.

“As a state-wide organisation, DHSV is committed to tackling oral health issues facing regional and metropolitan areas. There are significant challenges facing public dental services, particularly in rural and regional Victoria where there is high service demand and a shortage of clinical staff.”

Mr Pintado said DHSV maintained strong partnerships with universities, peak dental bodies and the State Government to develop new and multi-faceted strategies for improving oral health in the state.

“We need to be delivering high quality dental care while also educating the community about oral health to ensure that what we put in place today has a long-term and positive effect on the oral health of the Victorian community.”

Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) and Kismet Park Primary School have teamed up to test a number of exciting new features on DHSV's children's health promotion website.

The Defenders of the Tooth Adventure Playground website, which has undergone a major update in recent months, was recently put through its paces by students at the Sunbury primary school. The website teaches children about the importance of healthy eating and caring for oral health, supported by The Defenders of the Tooth animated characters.

Fiona Preston, General Manager of Health Promotion at DHSV, said the aim of the test sessions was to gather feedback from students about the newly developed features of the site.

“This was an excellent opportunity to hear the opinions of children on the new educational games, fact sheets and the exciting animated introduction which has been added to the site,” Ms Preston said.

“The feedback our staff gathered will be important in helping us to improve the website experience. We will be incorporating suggestions provided by students from Kismet Park into future updates, prior to the site's official relaunch.”

Two groups participated during the test session; the first comprising grades three and four students, the second with grades one and two. Students were provided with an introduction, followed by a ‘free play' session where they explored the site and interacted with the new features. Students then provided their feedback, discussing their likes, dislikes and suggested improvements.

“Several pages of comments were gathered by our staff, so the students certainly weren't shy about expressing their opinions,” Ms Preston said.

“It was pleasing to hear that the overall feedback from the group was very positive, with high marks given for the interactive games in particular.”

Kismet Park Junior School Coordinator Marina Zakryszka, who provided invaluable support to Dental Health Services Victoria during the test sessions, said it was pleasing to see the enthusiasm demonstrated by students and their willingness to share their opinions.

"I was very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the trial of the Defenders of the Tooth Adventure Playground website,” Ms Zakryszka said.

“Dental Health has always been a focus of my curriculum during Dental Awareness month. This trial gave the children and myself the opportunity to explore and learn aspects of Dental Health in an enjoyable and creative format. The children in the focus group thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were eager to contribute to the discussion following their exploration of the web site.”

“I was very impressed by the children's responses and ideas. Their contributions were well thought out and they suggested some really great ideas to further develop the site. They also made it very obvious that they thoroughly enjoyed playing the games and the challenges that they provided.”

“We would like to thank DHSV for giving us this great opportunity and I look forward to introducing my students to this website when it is available to the public."

A sample of comments from the students included:

“I think it is very interactive and fun”
"Bubble Trouble (interactive game) is fun”
“Oh cool, I've got a really cool game”
“This is tricky”
“When this website comes out, I'm going to play it all the time”
“The Bubble Trouble game is hard”

Lord Mayor John So was invited to the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne (RDHM) this week to view the Undergraduate Teaching Clinic (UGTC) and meet a number of the hospital's staff.

The day included a special visit to long-serving dentist and dental educator Dr John So, on the eve of his retirement later this month. The Lord Mayor expressed his thanks to Dr Soh, who has dedicated his career to public dentistry, including over 30 years of service to RDHM.

“Dr So has made a valuable contribution to public dentistry”, Lord Mayor So said.

“His role in education and training over the years has been extremely important, sharing his knowledge and experience with future dental professionals.”

Dr So joined RDHM in May of 1975. Over his career he has worked in many different departments in a wide variety of capacities, including the Undergraduate Teaching and Primary Care Clinics, where he has played a key role in the training and development of future dental professionals.

The Lord Mayor's visit also saw him view the UGTC facilities, which are part of the State's leading dental training centre. The hospital's teaching clinics support the University of Melbourne's education of dentists, specialists, dental therapists and hygienists and RMIT University's education programs for dental assistants and technicians. The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne also provides bridging programs for overseas trained dentists seeking registration in Australia.

The Lord Mayor's Charitable Fund has been a generous benefactor to RDHM over the years, with recent contributions including $14,000 in funding for a Wheelchair Tilter in the hospital's Special Needs Dentistry Department.

A state-of-the-art portable dental facility recently arrived at Northeast Health, to provide a modern, spacious location for young patients of the School Dental Service (SDS).

The new facility replaces the aging caravan-type facility which has serviced the local community over the years. The new SDS van is currently staffed by a dental therapist and a dental assistant.

Liz Riley, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Dental Health Services Victoria, said the new van provides a more comfortable environment for patients, as well as improved facilities and safety for staff.

“The new facility will provide a number of benefits to ensure children receive the highest standard of dental care possible,” Ms Riley said.

“There is also improved access to the facility through an electronic lift and a designated sterilisation room to provide optimum levels of safety and infection control.”

The School Dental Service in Wangaratta works closely with the Adult Dental Service (also situated at Northeast Health), with the long-term aim to provide a seamless referral service from one clinic to another.

Ms Riley said Dental Health Services Victoria, together with Northeast Health, saw the development of the new mobile facilities as an important step forward in improving the quality of dental service across regional Victoria, and the oral health of the community.

With Easter fast approaching, it is a pleasant surprise to hear a little chocolate is not all that bad for your teeth. While acknowledging chocolate should only be eaten in moderation due to its high levels of sugar and fat, Dental Health Services Victoria says there is still a guilt-free way for families to enjoy Easter treats.

Ms Fiona Preston, DHSV's General Manager of Health Promotion, said chocolate is not as bad for teeth as other sweet foods, and when eaten in moderation at meal times, Easter eggs are less likely to cause tooth decay.

“Studies have found that chocolate is less likely to cause dental decay than other sweet foods,” she said.

Ms Preston said tooth decay occurred when the bacteria in the mouth converted the sugars into an acid that attacks the surface of the teeth.

“Because chocolate dissolves and is cleared from the mouth quickly, it is a better choice than other manufactured sweets. Lollies are often retained in the mouth for long periods of time and can stick to the surface of your teeth, increasing the risk of decay.

“In addition, some researchers believe the cocoa beans found in chocolate contain substances that actually help to limit the acid attack.

“Eating chocolate will not improve your dental health. It still contains high levels of fat and sugar, so people should think of it as a ‘sometimes food' - while Easter certainly qualifies as an appropriate occasion or ‘sometime' to enjoy an Easter egg or two',” said Ms Preston.

DHSV's top tips for enjoying Easter eggs and avoiding tooth decay:

1. Enjoy your Easter eggs at mealtimes, rather than between meals. A mouth that is already producing saliva will do a better job of fighting off the acid attack.

2. Drink a glass of tap water after eating your Easter eggs. This helps to wash away the sugars that create acids and cause decay. The fluoride found in Melbourne's tap water also helps protect your teeth.

3. Brush teeth well with a soft compact head toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste, at least twice each day, after meals and before bed.

4. Think of Easter eggs as a treat - don't over indulge or graze on chocolate. Enjoy Easter eggs in moderation and limit the frequency of your intake.