Wimmera Primary Care Partnership

SMILES 4 MILES - PROMOTING ORAL HEALTH

Smiles 4 Miles is an exciting oral health promotion program for preschool aged children currently being implemented across the Wimmera PCP catchment.

The Smiles 4 Miles program is currently in place across 20 preschools throughout the Wimmera and involves developing polices and prevention strategies to ensure better health outcomes for all children.

As part of the oral health initiative, all kindergarten students receive Smiles 4 Miles lunch boxes and water bottles.

The Wimmera PCP Smiles 4 Miles Coordinator works with kindergarten teachers, parent groups and the broader kindergarten community to develop healthy policy and practices; encourage healthy behaviour and promotes a healthy environment for the children at the kindergarten.

Kindergartens across the Wimmera currently implementing the Smiles 4 Miles program include:

Dimboola Kindergarten	Jeparit Kindergarten	Nhill Kindergarten	Rainbow Kindergarten
Casuarina Kindergarten	Horsham North Kindergarten	Natimuk Preschool	Goroke Preschool
Minyip Preschool	Edenhope Children's Services	Beulah Outreach Preschool	Murtoa Preschool
Rupanyup Kindergarten	Warracknabeal Kindergarten

The Wimmera Primary Care Partnership also produce a newsletter designed for parents and pre-school teachers. To access the latest issues please click on the links below:

December 2009	February 2009	April 2009

For further information please contact Kellie Uytdehaag on (03) 5362 1222.

Useful websites that promote physical activity and healthy eating:

VicHealth	VicHealth is the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and is the peak body for health promotion in Victoria.
Better Health Channel	A searchable database of health services in Victoria providing links to other health organisations and information. There are also many food fact sheets, healthy recipes and other useful resources and information.
Go For Your LIfe	Victorian Government initiative which aims to promote healthy eating and increase levels of physical activity.
TravelSmart	TravelSmart aims to reduce people's dependency on cars and persuade them to choose sustainable travel alternatives such as public transport, cycling and walking.
Wellbeing Plan for Kids	A website dedicated to the Healthy Eating and Health habits of Aussie kids.
DHSV	DHSV's (Dental Health Services Victoria) roles include the provision of high quality dental services, purchasing dental services from community agencies, promoting oral health and prevention strategies and supporting clinical education and training of future oral health professionals. Check out the Defenders of the Tooth - Adventure Playground, an interactive site which provides lots of useful tips and information promoting oral health.