Community Outreach Dental Program

Dental outreach

The Community Outreach Dental Program provides dental and other health services for people who have suffered homelessness or have difficulty accessing conventional care. 

Driven by the Adelaide University Dental School, the Community Outreach Dental Program attends to hundreds of patients and provides our dental and oral health students an additional 1040 clinical hours every year.

The program’s dental clinic was launched in September 2011 and operates weekdays within the Light Square Common Ground complex in Adelaide’s West End, which also provides accommodation and a range of other services for the homeless community.

Many Adelaide University staff, students, private dentists and allied health professionals volunteer their time to provide this valuable service.

Services

Community benefit

The Community Outreach Dental Program reflects Adelaide University’s deep commitment to ensuring thinkers and professionals of the future have a strong sense of social justice and are dedicated to improving the quality of life of marginalised and vulnerable people in our community.

There are many known links between dental and general health problems, yet many Australians – particularly those in low socio-economic areas or experiencing homelessness – cannot access basic dental care when they need it. Here in South Australia, there are over 7500 homeless people, for whom poor oral health is widespread and treatment waiting lists are often years long.

Through our outreach program, we’re doing what we can to improve their situation.

Additional info 

The benefits of the outreach program are magnified through its positive impact on the next generation of dental and oral health professionals. The project provides Adelaide University Dental School students with a priceless opportunity to practise in a non-traditional setting while broadening their understanding of wider community needs.

Additionally, the program presents important research and data collection opportunities through constant interactions with marginalised members of our community.

The facility was established with Federal Government funding but now relies on donations to continue providing dental care. We’d be delighted to have your, or your organisations support to help maintain and further develop this groundbreaking initiative.

To learn more about how you can get involved, please contact:

Dr. Poppy Anastassiadis  
Community Outreach Lead  
Clinic Phone: 08 8330 4200 
Clinic Mobile: 0477 880 228
Email: codp@adelaide.edu.au

We are extremely grateful for any donations made to the program. To make a secure donation to the Community Outreach Dental Program, please complete the online donation form (Coming soon). 

To discuss how you can make a gift to the Community Outreach Dental Program, please contact our Development team on (08) 8313 5800 or development@adelaide.edu.au

Location and contact details

Adelaide University School of Dentistry

Address

Level 10, Adelaide University Health and Medical Sciences building 
Corner of North Terrace and George Street 
Adelaide SA 5000

Phone: (08) 8313 5256

Fax: (08) 8313 3444 

Email: askhealthsc@adelaide.edu.au