A new outreach dental clinic aimed at providing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is set to open in Woy Woy following an increase in community demand.
Local Aboriginal health service provider, Yerin Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services, will expand its dental program with the launch of the new clinic on Friday, March 5.
The Gulgul Yirra Outreach Dental Clinic will be located in Woy Woy Public Hospital and will operate every second Friday.
Yerin CEO, Belinda Field, said the new clinic is the provider’s second on the Coast, following the opening of a flagship dental clinic in Wyong in 2018.
“Since opening our first dental clinic in 2018, we’ve seen firsthand the need and demand for culturally appropriate dental services,” Field said.
“Our Gulgul Yirra Dental Clinic in Wyong has grown exponentially and is now open five days per week, supporting almost 2,000 patients and delivering over 15,000 treatments annually.
“We’re thrilled to be able to expand and offer these services in a new location on the southern end of the Central Coast, making them accessible to even more of our community.”
The Gulgul Yirra Clinic, meaning “strong teeth” in Darkinjung language, aims to provide culturally responsive dental services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, building on Yerin’s 25-year history of providing primary health care.
The provider has focused on presenting dental, GP, NDIS support, chronic disease, and mental health support services for the local community.
Clinic Practice Manager, Kylie Nichols, said this is a huge milestone for the team as they have been planning the move for over a year.
“We used to run a three-hour service clinic on Wednesday evenings, borrowing chairs from the dental clinic at Wyong hospital, but our patient base has now doubled,” Nichols said.
“We have seen first-hand that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander numbers have doubled.
“The need for a culturally appropriate dental service on the Peninsula is paramount.”
To be eligible for an appointment, clients must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and have a current 715 health check.
Maisy Rae