Indigenous Oral Health Research Project – improving the oral health of children
2 September 2010 
The Primary and Preventative Health Division are working in partnership with Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation and the Melbourne University Dental Health School to research the oral health needs of local indigenous children. The project will assess the children’s oral health status and trial an education and intervention process which seeks to improve oral health. The effectiveness of this intervention will be measured over 12 months. The indigenous oral health project is a research initiative funded by Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV).
Indigenous communities have a relatively poor level of oral health and access dental services at lower than expected levels throughout their lives. This innovative research will deliver evidence on the current oral health status of indigenous children as well as trial an intervention that could be transferred to other regions of Australia.
Working with Winda Mara and the University of Melbourne gives us the opportunity to improve the oral health status of Indigenous children within our region.
Leading the project as Principal Investigators are Stu Willder and Joanne Nelson from the Primary and Preventative Health Division. Principal Researcher, Tracey Plunkett, from Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation is delivering the education components.
Photo caption: Joanne Nelson, Dental Therapist, Tracy Plunkett, Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation
Children from back L-R Kieran Barker 8 years, James Plunkett 5 years, Triffy Grant 5 years, Corey Plunkett 5 years