Halls Creek, WA – May 13, 2025 — After 16 years of offering free dental care to children in remote parts of Western Australia, the Kimberley Dental Team, led by Perth orthodontist Dr John Owen and his wife Jan, is preparing to wrap up its work as the couple approaches retirement.
The initiative began in 2009 when the Owens first visited Halls Creek. At the time, many local children had never seen a toothbrush, and the school had been without a dental service for several years. Moved by the urgent need, the couple decided to act. Each year since, they have returned with a team of volunteer dentists and specialists to provide essential dental treatment and education across the East Kimberley.
Dr Owen described the journey as “a great adventure.”
“We’ve made some incredible friends over the years. The elders have always been very appreciative, and the kids we have kept in touch with are now all young adults,” he said.
The program was born unexpectedly. In 2009, Jan Owen was visiting Halls Creek as part of the Madjitil Moorna Choir, which was conducting workshops with local schoolchildren. During a casual introduction, she mentioned that her husband was an orthodontist and she was a former dental nurse. That sparked an immediate request for help.
“They jumped up and said, ‘We’re having so much trouble with toothache for the kids because there hasn’t been a school dental service in years,’” Mrs Owen recalled.
The couple quickly organized dental check-ups and were shocked by the severity of tooth decay in the students.
“It wasn’t enough to document the problem and walk away,” said Mrs Owen. “We created the volunteer dental program to bring teams of dentists up here each year.”
Over the years, the Kimberley Dental Team has served hundreds of children and families, offering everything from oral hygiene education to essential dental procedures. Their visits included popular tools like Craig the Crocodile, a cuddly teaching aid used to demonstrate proper brushing techniques to children.
Now, with age catching up to them, the Owens say it’s time to step back.
“It’s such a shame that we are getting older rather than younger,” said Mrs Owen. “We probably can’t keep going more than another year or two.”
The team’s final scheduled dental tour will take place from May 19 to May 30. They will visit communities including Halls Creek, Yiyili, Warmun, Red Hill School, Kutjungka, Billiluna, Balgo, and Mulan.
Their legacy, however, will live on through the healthier smiles of the many children they have helped and the awareness they have raised about the importance of oral health in remote communities.
