A chance to give back

Taking part in a Dental Rescue Day at OHCWA is a special experience. There’s something quite heart–warming about seeing so many dentists, students and OHTs giving up their time to help others – and the gratitude of the patients who have been helped.

For second-year Curtin Oral Health Therapy student, Noor Al-asadi, volunteering at the most recent Dental Rescue Day was extra special – because it was her turn to give back to a cause that once helped her and her family.

“When I was younger, we were struggling financially,” she recalls. “There was a volunteer day here at OHCWA through the Red Cross, and they helped us out. My mum had been in so much pain; I remember her on the floor crying and holding her face, but we couldn’t afford to go to the dentist. We went to a rescue day and they extracted her tooth for her. We were so thankful.”

Noor was amazed when she received an email inviting OHT students to volunteer at an event that seven years prior had helped her family.

“When we received the email asking us to volunteer, I thought ‘Oh my God, this was my family as patients seven years ago’ and I started crying. I was so happy,” she says. “We were here being helped and now I’m the one here helping others.”

Being able to give back was a wonderful experience for Noor, who says she finds studying as an OHT very rewarding. “When I was younger, I was scared of the dentist and I really wanted to make it a good experience for people,” she recalls. “I remember one oral health therapy student made me feel so comfortable and I wanted to do that for someone else.

“My mum and I clicked to submit the application to get into the OHT together, and when we found out I was accepted we started crying and hugging. It has been a long journey, but we are making it and I am so grateful.  

“It is not easy, but if it were easy, everyone else would be doing it. Volunteering at the Rescue Day was so rewarding – it was beautiful. This is really what I want to do. Seeing the patients smiling made my day.”