Lumen Winter 2015 - Flipbook - Page 13
stor y by Ren ée Cap p s
Since 2011 the University of Adelaide’s
Community Outreach Dental Clinic has been
transforming lives and improving health by
offering free dental care for the city’s homeless.
S
ue Watson first visited the dental
clinic in early 2014. She had
been homeless after escaping from
domestic violence and recently had a
bad experience with a dentist leaving her
with no teeth and no self-confidence.
“I was shattered and I didn’t want to
talk to people,” Sue said.
She was referred to the Community
Outreach Dental Clinic by a job network
and met dentist, Dr Laura Petroff (B Oral
Health 2008, B D S 2013) and dental
assistant, Amanda Drewer.
“They really did save my life. Laura and
Amanda are like family, coming here to see
them is like visiting my sisters,” she said.
Sue had the remainder of her teeth
pulled out, with Amanda holding her hand.
Over an eight-month period Sue was
given new teeth and a new lease on life.
“I was promised new teeth by
Christmas and by George I got them!”
Sue regained her self-confidence and
was able to start part-time work. She
recently graduated with a certificate
3 in horticulture and is studying land
management and conservation, and
hopes this will lead to her dream job of
working in a national park.
Laura graduated from the University of
Adelaide in 2013 with a Bachelor of Dental
Surgery. She is now working in private
practice as a dentist and volunteers at
the clinic on a fortnightly basis. Laura
remembers Sue being embarrassed about
her teeth and covering her mouth when
she first came in.
“Now the confidence and happiness
radiates off her and I feel truly privileged
that I was involved and able to help make
it happen,” Laura said.
Laura completed rotations at the dental
clinic while studying and decided to continue
volunteering because it is a rewarding way
of helping those in dire need of dental care.
“Whether it is developing rapport,
relieving pain or enabling a smile through
restorative work – my skills make a huge
difference – and that is what I get out of
it, the satisfaction of making a small but
positive impact on an individual’s life.”
Margie Steffens (B Sc (Hons) 2014),
director of the clinic explained that
the program relies on volunteers and
donations to keep it running.
“While Federal Government funding
helped to get the program off the ground,
in the long term it needs to be sustainable,”
Margie said. “We are fortunate that a
lot of our staff and students, as well as
Adelaide dentists, are giving their time free
of charge to run the clinic. We need to
keep the momentum going because this
service is absolutely critical for a part of
our community that often misses out.”
100% of donations to the Community
Outreach Dental Clinic will support
people like Sue. Donate today
www.alumni.adelaide.edu.au/dental
Left to right: Amanda Drewer, Sue Watson and
Laura Petroff at the Community Outreach Dental Clinic
(Photo by Jo-Anna Robinson)
Ageing and Living Well Think Tank
& Innovation Collaborative
Program highlights
9-11 November 2015 • Crowne Plaza, Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide
> International and national keynote speakers
This leadership think tank
will bring together leaders,
practitioners, academics
and policymakers to
identify, explore and
evaluate opportunities
for effective innovation.
> Welcome dinner and discussion forum
led by Professor Alison Kitson, Dean and
Head of Nursing, University of Adelaide
> Fifteen interactive workshops facilitated by
experts on finance, technology, lifestyle,
informatics, entrepreneurism, medicine
and ageing, the built environment, gender
and ageing, working regimes, nutrition,
resource planning, person and relationcentred care, and healthy ageing policy
> Research and Innovation debate chaired
by Professor Christopher Findlay, Executive
Dean, Faculty of the Professions, University
of Adelaide
> Launch of Ageing Well Innovation
Collaborative to integrate innovations
ovations
with deliverable outcomes
Find out more and register:
ecic.adelaide.edu.au/connect/ageing-well-think-tank
|e University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 11
