In a bid to improve the oral health of some of Australia’s most disadvantaged communities, The Wrigley Company has partnered with the Australian Dental Association (ADA) to launch The Wrigley Company Foundation ADA Community Service Grants program.
Officially launched at the recent ADA Congress in Brisbane, The Wrigley Company Foundation ADA Community Service Grants is an initiative of Give2Asia, in partnership with The Wrigley Company Foundation. It is designed to encourage dentists to plan and implement community health programs in their local communities, to help to raise the standard of oral healthcare and education in Australia.
Up to seven USD$5,000 grants will be awarded as part of the national program. Applicants must hold an ADA membership and can be a dentist or a currently enrolled dentist student and must be involved with, or planning to launch, a community project focusing on oral health.
“We are delighted to be working with the ADA to launch this exciting program during Wrigley’s centenary year in Australia,” said Hamish Thomson, Wrigley Pacific managing director. “We believe the Community Service Grants program has the potential to make a real difference to the oral health and education of some of our most disadvantaged communities.”
The latest statistics paint a bleak picture of oral health in Australia, with the average Australian reportedly suffering serious tooth decay in at least 10 teeth by the time they reach their 30s.
Research also shows that the most at-risk communities for serious tooth decay include people from low income or single parent families, people living in rural or remote areas, nursing homes and indigenous communities.
Underlining the limited access to dental care in parts of Australia, it is also estimated that 500,000 people are currently on waiting lists for public dental care and 40 per cent of Australians are unable access dental care when they need it.
Mr Thomson hopes this new initiative will help to address these worrying trends.
“We look forward to working closely with the ADA and its members to address the some of the difficult oral health issues facing Australia. We hope that the Community Service Grants Program will result in decreasing some of these alarming statistics.”
Dr Shane Fryer, President of the ADA, said that the program will make a significant contribution to Australia’s oral health and called for ADA members and the profession to get involved.
“We are pleased to join with The Wrigley Company Foundation for this important initiative to help raise access to oral healthcare and education in Australia. I would encourage our members to get onboard and apply – it’s not often we’re given this kind of opportunity to make such a difference to our communities,” said Dr Fryer.
Applications for The Wrigley Company Foundation ADA Community Service Grants are now open and will close June 30, 2011. Successful applicants will be announced during the ADA’s Dental Health Week (1-7 August 2011).
For further information and to access an Application Form please visit: www.ada.org.au
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