Health Service Links in with local School

East Grampians Health Service visited Ararat North Primary School at the end of Term 2 and helped out with a healthy lifestyle Walkathon activity and BBQ, building on the relationship between the two.

East Grampians Health Service Executive Officer Nick Bush said “East Grampians Health Service and Ararat North Primary School are working together on an exciting and innovative pilot program that is based around creating strong relationships between the health service and primary schools and links the messages of good oral health and general health and wellbeing in schools with regular dental checkups.”

The Project Coordinator for the school dental program, Katherine Cooper, said “Phase 1 of the Dental Pilot started in April and will continue through to October 2013. The program involves health professionals (dentist and dietitian) visiting children from years 3-6 at their school to introduce the program.

Dental appointments are then organised during school hours to help the children attend more easily. Some children require follow up appointments (including other treatments such as x-rays), which are also organised during school hours.”

Katherine Cooper emphasized that all visits that are made to the school by the health professionals help to reinforce the messages around the importance of good oral health and general health and wellbeing. It is hoped that this program can be repeated next year at Ararat North Primary School allowing for children in grades 3-6 the opportunity to attend the community dental clinic for 6 monthly checkups.

Principal of Ararat North Primary School Mrs Wendy Byrne said “the partnership with East Grampians Health Service has been a very positive one and it is hoped that through this dental program we are able to build on the relationships between the school and the health service.”