New South Wales

The Teeth for Health program: Fluoridation of NSW community water supplies with populations of more than 1000 (NSW_Program 1)

Aims or brief descriptions: Fluoridation of unfluoridated (largely rural) communities via shire councils and water authorities.
Findings
Since July 2004, NSW Health has fully funded fluoridation capital works.
Using scientific and health data a case is presented to councils on why water fluoridation is important.  As the decision can be politicised, efforts are made to help confine it to a health issue.  As an indicator of local public opinion on the subject, a continuous state-wide attitudinal survey on fluoridation has been conducted since 2005.  As the sample size increases each quarter by some 1300 respondents, the survey is gaining increasing validity at local government level.  In some cases, other surveys have been funded to assist councillors better understand their constituents’ views on water fluoridation.  In all cases, the majority of the population support water fluoridation (at state level, more than 80 per cent).
Councils eventually take a vote on the matter and since 2004, some 20 councils have voted in favour and less than four have voted against it (some, for infrastructure reasons).
Teeth for Health provides support and information to councils prior to, during and following the public consultation phase.
Reports or publications from project:
Fluoride, Smile it’s Natural – brochure
Involved organisations:   NSW Health, local governments in rural NSW
Contact person for further information:
John Irving  john.irving@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Website link:  www.fluoridenow.com.au

Access to fluorides in small communities (NSW_Program 2)

Aims or brief descriptions: To encourage tooth-brushing with fluoride toothpaste in small, disadvantaged communities by linking to economic development to encourage sustainability.
Findings
This is a pilot project that has just started and a health impact assessment (HIA) was completed prior to commencement.  The HIA will be made available once the final report has been received.
Baseline oral health assessments have been completed.
Reports or publications from project: Nil
Involved organisations:   NSW Health; Warrumbungle Shire Council; Inverell Shire Council
Contact person for further information:
John Irving  john.irving@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Website link: www.fluoridenow.com.au (will soon have the community project included).

Messages for a Healthy Mouth for Adults (NSW Department of Health Program 5)

Date: Sep 2007

Aims or brief descriptions: NSW Messages for a Healthy Mouth for adults provides information to improve the oral health of adults: Eat Well, Drink Well, Clean Well, Play Well and Stay Well.
Reports or publications from project
NSW Messages for a Healthy Mouth 2nd edn. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/healthy_mouth.html
Involved organisations: Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW
Contact person for further information
Ms Jennifer Noller
Email: Jennifer_noller@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Website link: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/healthy_mouth_adult.html

Messages for a Healthy Mouth 2nd edn. (NSW Department of Health Program)

Date: May 2007
Aims or brief descriptions: NSW Messages for a Healthy Mouth includes clear and simple messages: Eat Well; Drink Well; Clean Well; Play Well; Stay Well. Oral health is an integral component of 'general' health and that promoting good health and preventing ill health is a shared responsibility between organisations, communities and individuals.
Involved organisations: Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW
Contact person for further information
Ms Jennifer Noller
Email: Jennifer_noller@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Website link: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/healthy_mouth.html

Messages for a Healthy Mouth for Parents, Grandparents and Carers of School-aged Children (NSW Department of Health Program)

Date: Feb 2007
Aims or brief descriptions: NSW Messages for a Healthy Mouth for parents, grandparents and carers of school-aged children provides information to improve the oral health of children 5–12 years: Eat Well, Drink Well, Clean Well, Play Well and Stay Well.
Reports or publications from project
NSW Messages for a Healthy Mouth 2nd edn. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/healthy_mouth.html
Involved organisations: Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW
Contact person for further information
Ms Jennifer Noller
Email: Jennifer_noller@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Website link: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/healthy_mouth_bro.html

Messages for a Healthy Mouth for Parents, Grandparents and Carers of Infants, Toddlers and Preschool children (NSW Department of Health Program)

Date: Sep 2007
Aims or brief descriptions: NSW Messages for a Healthy Mouth for parents, grandparents and carers of infants, toddlers and preschool children provides information to improve the oral health of children 0–5 years: Eat Well, Drink Well, Clean Well, Play Well and Stay Well.
Reports or publications from project
NSW Messages for a Healthy Mouth 2nd edn. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/healthy_mouth.html
Involved organisations: Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW
Contact person for further information
Ms Jennifer Noller
Email: Jennifer_noller@wsahs.nsw.gov.au

Website link: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/healthy_mouth_infant.html

Early Childhood Oral Health Guidelines (ECOH) for Child Health Professionals
(NSW Department of Health Program)

Date: 2007
Aims or brief descriptions: The aims of the ECOH Guidelines are to improve the health and wellbeing of children in NSW by integrating oral health into general health interventions provided by Child Health Professionals. The Guidelines add value to the Personal Health Record which includes basic oral health information for parents.
Reports or publications from project
Lift the Lip (NSW Department of Health) http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/lift_the_lip.html
Involved organisations: Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW
Contact person for further information
Ms Claire Phelan
Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW
1 Mons Rd, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia
PO Box 533, Wentworthville NSW 2145, Australia
Phone: (011+61 2 8821 4313)
Fax: (011+61 2 8821 4302)
Email: claire_phelan@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Website link: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2007/GL2007_017.html

Lift the Lip (NSW Department of Health Program)

Date: 2007
Aims or brief descriptions: An educational resource to complement the Early Childhood Oral Health Guidelines for Child Health Professionals (Guidelines) which aim to improve the health and wellbeing of children in NSW by integrating oral health into 'general' health interventions provided by Child Health Professionals.
Reports or publications from project
Early Childhood Oral Health Guidelines for Child Health Professionals http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2007/GL2007_017.html
Involved organisations: Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW
Contact person for further information
Ms Claire Phelan
Email: claire_phelan@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Website link: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/lift_the_lip.html

Teach your baby to drink from a cup (NSW Department of Health Program)

Date: Aug 2007
Brief descriptions: Teach your baby to drink from a cup provides information to encourage parents to help their baby to give up the bottle and drink from a cup.
Publications from project:
NSW Messages for a Healthy Mouth 2nd edn.
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/healthy_mouth.html
Involved organisations: Sydney South West Area Health Service; Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW
Contact person for further information
Ms Jennifer Noller
Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW
1 Mons Rd, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia
PO Box 533, Wentworthville NSW 2145, Australia
Phone: (011+61 2 8821 4312)
Fax: (011+61 2 8821 4302)
Email: Jennifer_noller@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Website link: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/drink_from_a_cup.html