For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients visiting the Royal Dental Hospital, Cindy Evans is the first point of contact.
The 28-year-old Melton woman is Dental Health Services Victoria’s first Aboriginal patient liaison trainee.
Her role involves working with the hospital’s diversity and teaching clinic teams to comfort and reassure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people coming for check-ups.
Ms Evans says she wants to “give something back” to a service she has often used herself.
“I’m passionate about my history. I consider myself as helping the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community throughout the whole process of visiting a dentist,” she says.
“I’m basically involved with the whole process – making the initial appointment, the follow-up calls, check-ups and offering that extra support.”
The service’s chief executive, Deborah Cole, said dentists had treated 10 per cent more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the past financial year than in 2013-14.
“We’re not only recommitted to closing the gap in indigenous health, but also providing opportunities for greater community involvement through employment,” Dr Cole said.
