Central Great Southern Early Years Partnership Dental Health Project wins award

A huge congratulations to the team behind the Central Great Southern Early Years Partnership (EYP) Dental Health Project, who have claimed a gong at the 2025 Institute of Public Administration Australia WA Achievement Awards.

The team won the category for Best Practice in Health and Wellbeing at the annual awards, held on 12 December, which recognise individual and organisational excellence in the public service.

The project is a specialist dental outreach initiative delivering essential screening and preventative treatment services to children aged four-and-under at early childhood centres, playgroups, kindergartens and community events across Broomehill, Gnowangerup, Katanning, Kojonup and Tambellup.

As part of the project, a paediatric dental surgical service was also established at Katanning Health Service in partnership with Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) to improve access to urgent care.

Since September 2023, more than 500 children have been treated including more than 80 who were able to have surgery at Katanning instead of travelling to Perth.

The Central Great Southern Early Years Partnership Dental Health Project is a collaboration between WA Country Health Service, The University of Western Australia, Amity Health, PCH, and the Smiling Starts Early Childhood Dental Program.

The Early Years Partnership is a 10-year collaboration between the WA Department of Health, Department of Communities, and Department of Education, as well as the Commonwealth Government, and Minderoo Foundation.

WA Country Health Service Early Years Partnership Program Officer – Central Great Southern, Donna Woithe, said it was a privilege to work alongside the community and make a difference in people’s lives.

“The Central Great Southern EYP Dental Health Project is testament to designing and delivering a service the community needed and wanted and have supported whole-heartedly,” she said.

“Our partners, stakeholders and funders have worked tirelessly planning, preparing, executing and evaluating to make it the resounding success that is.”