Uniting for Change

ADAWA has long had a commitment to looking after the the health of vulnerable West Australians. With the creation of our own charity, this is one step closer to becoming a reality.

At the 2021 Annual General Meeting, our outgoing president, Dr Sean Archibald, announced the launch of Uniting Smiles – ADAWA’s first charity, dedicated to looking after the oral-health needs of vulnerable West Australians. Uniting Smiles was born out of a desire to ensure the longevity of Women in Dentistry’s Healing Smiles program, which already has a profound impact on the West Australian community. However, Sean and CEO, Dr David Hallett, realised that the future of Healing Smiles could be greater secured with support from ADAWA, particularly in matters of governance, constitution, and indemnity. “Healing Smiles were going through a process of looking at their structure, and at the same time, ADAWA was having discussions about our position in the volunteerism space,” Sean explains. “After many conversations, we realised that – together – we could do more. “ADAWA didn’t want to run the program or manage it, because Women in Dentistry has always done a fantastic job. We wanted to assist them and further enhance the great work they were already doing.” Healing Smiles clinical coordinator Dr Jacinta Vu says the relationship with ADAWA made sense. “The ADAWA can provide resources that we could not access easily on our own through the Women in Dentistry Society (WA),” she says. “Particularly in terms of governance and outreach, resources to reach more dentists, to reach more communities, which gives us greater ability to accept more people into the program.”

An opportunity

During this time, ADAWA was offered a financial incentive to allow builder access to the carpark of ADA House in West Perth. After consultation with the ADAWA office team and our tenants at the time, Panetta McGrath, the decision was made to accept the payment – on the proviso the money was earmarked for Healing Smiles. “The builders made a mess and a lot of noise, they dented the wall and broke the security gate, but it was all worth it,” David says. “The money was used to hire volunteerism coordinator Sandra Wood, who provides administrative support for Healing Smiles.”

Game-changing grant

A generous grant was also received from the Department of Communities for the treatment of domestic violence survivors via the Healing Smiles program. “We came to the notice of the Department of Communities because of the work of Gosia (Barley) setting Healing Smiles up, and Zara (Torre) gaining a grant for Healing Smiles from the Department previously,” Jacinta says. “Over the last 18 months we have really spring boarded – our committee which consists of myself, Lida (Sayadelmi), Tracey (Gold) and Shanash (Bishnulall) together with Andrea Paterson and Sandra Wood have worked very hard to make the program more concrete. This has meant that we have been able to increase the capacity of the program. But, we would not be anywhere without our volunteers, because it is the volunteers who have made this happen. “This grant will be a game changer,” she adds. “At the moment, Healing Smiles exists solely because of the generosity of our volunteers and the amazing dental practices, including OHCWA, who offer their clinical space, their materials and often their staff to assist us in seeing these patients.” Uniting Smiles was formed after it became logical for ADAWA to create a new company to manage funding for Healing Smiles – and to offer assistance for other dental volunteering projects. “Previously, if someone wanted to donate money to volunteerism, we had no avenue for donations, until we had Uniting Smiles,” Sean explains. Uniting Smiles has been through the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission to get gift

recipient status. The next step is the establishment of a board. “The board being planned is very diverse,” David revealed. “It will include a significant number of experienced board persons other than just dentists, possibly including lawyers and accountants, who will be passionate about this project. We will get good people.”

A new clinic

With assistance from across the dental industry, a purpose-built clinic for Healing Smiles will be constructed in the coming months – allowing for an available, safe, and welcoming space for survivors of family and domestic violence. “Having our own space means we can have more flexibility in the times available for volunteers to treat patients, so I think it will make a big difference to how many people we assist through the program,” Jacinta says. “We can also make the space welcoming and warm, through the colours and furnishings that we choose. We want it to be somewhere these ladies will be relaxed and comfortable. It will be away from the hustle and bustle, so hopefully they will come in and feel at ease. I imagine when you first come through the doors it will not be such a clinical environment that is often really confronting for people. “It will be somewhere our volunteers know they have access to dental materials and a dental assistant, and they can just get on with what they do best, which is looking after these women and restoring their smiles.”

Fundraising support

With the creation of Uniting Smiles, people are now able to make tax-deductable donations. In a generous show of philanthropy, Clinical Professor Bernard Koong is contributing the attendance fees from the upcoming Envision course, Radiology Update 2022, to Uniting Smiles (see page 20). “The Envision course is our first fundraising event and we hope it is one of many,” David says.

Volunteers wanted

Although it will be some months before the new clinic is built, the work of the Healing Smiles team does not stop. As such, they are always in need of volunteers. “Volunteering is a wonderful way to improve our community spirit – to feel you are making a difference in someone’s life is so gratifying and it is really lifechanging for these women,” Jacinta says. “This is about women caring for and empowering other women who have suffered so much, and experienced unimaginable hardships and trauma. We can help them move forward into their future and take their place in society that might have been denied to them previously.” To volunteer for Healing Smiles, email

healingsmileswa@gmail.com

Healing Smiles by Dr Jacinta Vu

Apprehensive and scared, you come to meet me. Embarrassed to smile. Hunched over and worried. Traumatised and afraid. Wondering if you will be judged.

Compassionate conversation between us. Understanding and empathy. Slowly, you share your secrets. Quietly, your hopes and dreams. As I listen, and support you. Hoping to see you smile again.

Together, we begin your journey of healing. When you smile, you are transformed - Confident, strong, beautiful and courageous. A survivor. The future awaits.