How you're making rural families smile brightly
It’s just before nine in the morning, and dental assistant Fiona Alford-Dyt pushes the truck door wide open, ready to welcome her first client of the day.
Thanks to your support, she’ll welcome Bonnie Doon’s residents for free dental check-ups and treatment over the next few weeks – for as long as the Flying Doctor Dental Clinic is needed.
It’s a crucial service, working in partnership with Dental Health Services Victoria, helping to alleviate the social, geographical, and financial barriers that often prevent people from being able to access oral care.
Currently visiting rural towns throughout Victoria, the team has seen a huge improvement in cases of preventable oral disease, and a boost to people’s overall health and wellbeing too.
“People are so grateful for our services,” Fiona says.
And we in turn, are so grateful for you. Because it’s your generous support that allows the clinic to reach so many wonderful, hard-working rural families. Thank you!
This, paired with a life-long passion for adventure and travel - and the tales of a close friend already working for the Flying Doctor - inspired Fiona to realise a lifelong career aspiration.
Because while the travel appeals to Fiona’s adventurous spirit, it’s ultimately the daily dental work that sustains her passion for caring for rural Victorians.
“Being a dental assistant with the Royal Flying Doctor Service – no two days are the same - unlike being in a normal clinic with four walls. I love it!”
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be able to work with them. Being able to pop on these wings,” Fiona gestures to the RFDS logo on her shirt, “is an absolute privilege”.
And I’m sure you’ll agree, that’s something worth smiling about.
One of Fiona’s stories from the road...
“There have been a lot of rewarding days!
There was one particular lady in Koondrook. She had a caravan at Echuca which had gone under with the floods. And a house in Koondrook, which at Christmas had burnt to the ground. She was also a widow.
She came in for treatment - glorious lady - and we just happened to mention something about coffee and the next thing you know, she’s come back with coffees and carrot cake.
She was so grateful for our service, and her attitude to life was so positive and energetic. It’s stories like that along the road that keep you going.”
Thanks to you, the mobile clinics were able to undertake 2,479 dental appointments last year, helping rural communities to smile brightly. Thank you!
