"WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING"

At the commencement of 2005 Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service initiated contact with the Walgett Community College to develop collaborative approaches between Education and Health Services to broaden WAMS capacity to promote health education within the school environment. These discussions were a result of the Healthy Kids Check previously conducted in 2004 for the students of the school.

Ms. Jenni Floyd, Centre for Oral Health GWAHS in Dubbo, consulted with Dr. Sandra Meihubers, WAMS Dentist, WAMS management and staff to determine what strategies could be applied to improve dental health care for young children and what resources were available for application to a suitable Dental Health Program. Meetings were conducted with Ms. Sue Matthews, Principal, and relevant teaching staff of the Walgett Primary School to look at existing activities and to identify gaps where WAMS and the school could work together to deliver stronger health education messages to students.



Walgett Primary School had already established a Breakfast Program for all school students which was being conducted by teaching and canteen staff along with the assistance of parental volunteers. In trying to improve and strengthen WAMS relationships with the local education sector WAMS staff have committed to supporting the school Breakfast Program by rostering staff to attend the program each morning to assist teachers, staff and parents. This support will continue for the duration of the Breakfast Program. 

WAMS, Ms. Floyd and Dr. Meihubers proposed the establishment of a Tooth Brushing Program that could run in conjunction with the Breakfast Program. Further discussion between WAMS and the Walgett Primary School led to the development of 'Circles, Scrub and Wiggles' tooth brushing program for implementation as a trial project involving Years 3 - 4. The program was officially launched on 14 June 2005 at the school.

Both GWAHS and WAMS staff will return to the School in the late part of the year to meet with the teachers to assess the outcome of this activity.