Emma has volunteered with ADA NSW Red Cross Clinics four times over the last three years, attending her fifth in December. ADA NSW has been running the Red Cross Clinics over the past ten years to help asylum seekers who cannot access mainstream treatment. “The Red Cross Clinics are fantastic both for experienced dental assistants and for dental students wanting to gain more hands-on experience in the industry,” she said. “The responsibilities for dental assistants are very similar to those in private practice – procedure setup, chairside assistance, surgery change over, wipe-downs between patients, radiograph preparation. You might note I didn’t include sterilisation! We are very blessed to have two wonderful ADA NSW staff, Hayley and Gitti, who assist with sterilisation and radiograph processing.”
When asked about her most rewarding volunteer experience, Emma recalls assisting a five-year-old boy from China who had several decayed teeth requiring treatment due to soft drink consumption. “The dentist and I were able to turn restoring his teeth into a fun ‘game’, continuously chatting with his mother and putting them both at ease. His mother was so grateful for the successful restorations, and the dentist and I were able to provide dietary advice through drawings and analogies. It was such a good feeling to be able to provide care and see them both empowered to take control of their own oral health.”
“If you are up for a challenge and like to learn from experienced dental practitioners, volunteering is a great way to expand your skills, dental knowledge and provide care to individuals that are most vulnerable in society.”
“It was such a good feeling to be able to provide care and see them both empowered to take control of their own oral health.”