Community non-profit organisation LIVEfree Project has secured a $270,000 grant over three years from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation to expand its Smile and Thrive dental and mentoring program. Building on initial foundation seed funding awarded in 2021, the three-year capital grant enables the health program to scale across seven partner primary schools, delivering structured dental care to approximately 400 vulnerable students across Newcastle and surrounding suburbs.
According to Australian Dental Association health benchmarks, over one-third of Australian children aged five to six years have experienced decay in primary teeth, while 27 per cent of children aged five to 10 years suffer from untreated tooth decay. The Smile and Thrive initiative addresses regional paediatric health barriers by coordinating regular dental appointments for disadvantaged primary students alongside family health mentoring. The grant will also fund school-based Dental Hygiene Workshops delivering preventative oral health education to roughly 1,100 regional students.
Spokesperson for the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, Kirrah McClelland stated that targeted healthcare grants improve long-term community wellbeing outcomes for regional families experiencing socioeconomic hardship.
“Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation is committed to helping improve health outcomes and wellbeing for individuals and families across our communities,” Kirrah said.
“We are proud to continue to build on our partnership with LIVEfree Project and help deliver their Smile and Thrive program and Dental Hygiene Workshops to more children in need throughout the Hunter. Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy and confident. By supporting access to preventative dental care, we are helping children avoid issues before they become more serious, while also providing families the support they need to build healthy habits that can make everlasting impacts.”
Program Coordinator at LIVEfree Project, Rachel Gaunt added that removing financial and logistical barriers to healthcare builds long-term confidence in young students.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation for believing in the vision behind LIVEfree Project’s Smile and Thrive initiative and for making this partnership possible,” Rachel said.
“For many children and families experiencing hardship, accessing dental care can be difficult, and the impact of untreated dental concerns can reach far beyond a child’s teeth. Through Smile and Thrive, we are able to come alongside children with practical dental support, mentoring and encouragement. This generous funding over the next 3 years will allow us to continue removing barriers and creating positive experiences that can make a lasting difference in the lives of local children and their families.”
IMAGE | Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation awards $270,000 grant to expand LIVEfree Project dental program
