Not content to remain surrounded by modern and comfortable facilities offered in the new Charles Sturt University (CSU) Dental and Oral Health Clinic, CSU students have set their sights on working in Cambodia.

 

A group of 10 Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy/Hygiene) students are aspiring to undertake 10 days of volunteer work in Cambodia in 2012, the final year of their degree.

 

“Cambodia is a country still trying to recover from the Khmer Rouge’s murderous reign between 1975 and 1979. Although the number of dental and oral health practitioners is increasing, there is still a desperate need for our skills,” said second year oral health student Ms Kylie Barker.

 

“There are not enough clinicians or equipment and no free public health system to meet the needs of the large number of people who live in poverty. The average five year old Cambodian child has almost 10 decayed teeth.”

 

The trip is being organised through not-for-profit organisation One-2-One CAMBODIA. The organisation was established in 2009 to bring desperately needed dental and medical assistance to the poor in the south-east Asian nation.

 

Working with One-2-One, the CSU students will carry out a range of basic treatment including oral health examinations, cleaning, fillings and extractions in high need areas of Cambodia such as orphanages, prisons and in the poorer provinces.  They will also give oral health education.

 

Ms Barker said, “To undertake this volunteer work during our semester break in June 2012, we each need to raise $2 000.  The high cost of the 10 day program is in part due to the travel, accommodation and food costs of both our team and the local Cambodian student volunteers. The money also includes the costs of medicines and dental supplies. The international volunteer placement has been approved by Charles Sturt University.

 

“As the oral health course at Charles Sturt University is a relatively new program internationally, there aren't many financial schemes or grants that we can apply for to help us raise the money to go to Cambodia.

 

“Staff in the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences are very keen for us to attend and have been supporting us where they can with things like administrative assistance. We have formed a new Oral Health Club through the University to formalise our fund-raising.

 

“At the moment we've been raising money at barbecues at University events but we face stiff competition from other student fund-raising activities. We are approaching businesses, including those in our hometowns, to donate money or their products.”

 

Ms Barker, originally from Canberra, remains hopeful of corporate sponsorship but has found that large corporations are currently supporting causes devoted to recent natural disasters in Queensland and New Zealand.  

 

“While our total fund-raising goal of $20 000 seems a long way off at the moment, we are determined to pursue it so we can take the skills and knowledge we are so fortunate to acquire to others in need in our global community.

 

“I feel if we can handle anything that comes our way in Cambodia, we will be well prepared for work as oral health professionals in rural, remote and regional Australia.”  

 

As part of the University’s push to promote international study experiences for more undergraduate students, the oral health students will each receive a $500 Vice-Chancellor Travel Grant through CSU Global.