INTEGRATING ORAL HEALTH CARE ACROSS NON-DENTAL PROFESSIONALS
PART 2: CASE STUDY Integrated oral health care in midwifery practice
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne, Liverpool, NSW and Sydney | February 2025
INTERVIEWS
Associate Professor Rachel Martin, Adjunct Associate Professor,
University of Melbourne & Western Sydney University &
Director, Australian Network for the Integration of Oral Health (NIOH) & Director, Australian Dental Research Foundation
Dr Ajesh George, Professor of Interprofessional Oral Health,
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University &
Co-Founder & Director, Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH)
Alison Weatherstone, Chief Midwife
Australian College of Midwives
Bonnie Morrison, Health Promotion Team Lead
Dental Health Services Victoria
Cindy Scott, Endorsed Midwife & Registered Nurse
Growing Great Babies and Kids Program, Tweddle &
Early Parenting Centre, Barwon Health, Victoria
Following the Australian Health Journal segment, “Integrating oral health care across non-dental professionals: Part 1 How oral health and cardiovascular health, diabetes and cognitive decline are related”, Part 2 is a Case Study on an integrated oral health care in midwifery practice called the midwifery initiated oral health model, or MIOH for short.
There is limited emphasis being placed on perinatal oral health by prenatal care providers in Australia. Pregnant women have no system in place that can offer them regular oral assessment during pregnancy and prompt dental treatment at minimal or no cost as experienced in other countries. To address the oral health needs of pregnant women, a unique midwifery initiated oral health (MIOH) model was developed to promote and maintain maternal oral health.
The model equips midwives with the skills and confidence to include oral health promotion in the first antenatal care booking visit. Commenced in 2008 in Campbelltown Hospital in South Western Sydney, MIOHis succeeding in improving the oral health knowledge, behaviours and oral health outcomes of pregnant women.
This widely researched online education program was prepared by the Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health, in collaboration with various partners including Western Sydney University, Sydney & South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney Dental Hospital, Dental Health Services Victoria, and the Australian College of Midwives. It was supported by funding from the NSW Centre for Oral Health Strategy, Western Sydney University and the Australian College of Midwives.
Australian Health Journal spoke with some of the key representatives of the organisations involved in the establishment, support and involvement in the program.
To see the Australian Health Journal segment, “Integrating oral health care across non-dental professionals: PART 1 How oral health and cardiovascular health, diabetes and cognitive decline”, click here
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Enhancing occupational therapy service provision with military veterans
Almost half a million Australians have served with the Australian Defence Force. Given the high prevalence of physical and mental health conditions and complexity of civilian life adjustment after military service, high-quality occupational therapy services are critical. However, there is limited description of occupational therapy service provision to individuals funded by the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs to inform government policy.
A cross-sectional study, led by Professor Carol McKinstry, Professor of Occupational Therapy and Deputy Dean with La Trobe University’s Rural Health School at the Bendigo campus has used an online survey to collect information from occupational therapists providing services to Department of Veterans’ Affairs clients.
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New clinical research entity first to operate across both Australia and New Zealand
Over the past 30 years, 18,000 clinical trials that have been registered in Australia, with the sector contributing $1.4 billion to Australia’s economy annually. Trials are a critical aspect of evidence-based medicine, and are essential for testing how new treatments, tests and vaccines will work. In New Zealand they contribute $146 million to the New Zealand economy.
To capitalise on this unique position and growth, a coordinated multi-site clinical research operation was missing, until now.
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App helps Chronic Sleep Deprivation
Earlier this year, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health researchers developed SleepSync, the world’s first app that personalises sleep-wake cycles for shift workers to improve their sleep and overall mood.
The research, led by Dr Jade Murray, was published in the journal, Digital Health. Australian Health Journal met with Dr Murray to hear how the application has evolved and been used in personalisation of sleep habits for health care shift workforce.
