Dental discovery at Werribee Open Range Zoo

DHSV joined forces with IPC Health and students from Melbourne Dental School to host a collaborative oral health event at Werribee Open Range Zoo in December 2023.

More than 100 children received oral health screenings from the team at IPC Health.

Laura Cater, Team Leader Dental Services – Wyndham Vale, said the team were happy to temporarily swap the clinic for a day in the great outdoors.

“We often go out to kindergartens and playgroups, but it’s obviously a very different setting to the zoo,” said Laura.

“We had 3 Bachelor of Oral Health students and 1 Doctor of Dental Surgery student who were overseen by our dentists and dental therapists.

"The students all said it was a great day and would love to do more like this in the future,” said Laura.

Laura also shared that the day was well received by parents and children alike.

“The parents who we spoke to thought that this was a great idea. Hopefully our team can be involved in this again!”

The day was also packed with a range of engaging and educational activities.

More than 200 children enjoyed various oral health activities and received DHSV showbags filled with dental kits, promoting good dental habits.

Staff from DHSV’s Population Health team hosted bedtime brushing demonstrations, teaching kids the right way to brush their teeth, which is crucial for maintaining good oral hygiene.

The fun didn't stop there; we also had food exploration activities that highlighted the importance of healthy eating for oral health.

These interactive sessions were not only informative but also a lot of fun for the children who visited the zoo on the day.

We were also lucky to have our partners VICSEG bring their supported playgroup to enjoy the day.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the Hippo Talk by the zookeeper. This engaging presentation drew an enthusiastic crowd, reminding everyone of the importance of good eating, drinking, and cleaning habits – not only for us but also for our friends, the hippos!