Special needs dental consultant shortlisted for ‘Young Australian of the Year’

Australia: Dr Trudy Lin, one of only 20 Special Needs Dental Consultants in the whole of Australia – and the youngest – has been shortlisted for the ‘Young Australian of the Year’ award.

Winner of the 2021 South Australian Youth of the Year Award, Dr Lin provides oral care to patients with disabilities, mental illness, and complex medical conditions such as cancer, and uses her expertise to help those experiencing homelessness and domestic violence.

In an interview with SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) Australia, the 28-year-old community leader said she was motivated by Australia’s multicultural community and her family.

The seed of wanting to become a dentist was planted at an early age. The biggest motivation behind this strong desire has to do with her father.

Lin’s father, an immigrant from China, suffers from Tetracyclines Deigning. This is a fairly common oral disease in China in the 1970s. Tetracycline is absorbed during tooth development when used as an antibiotic, resulting in dark spots on the teeth.

“The mouth is like a door to the human body, and eating difficulties affected his health. The way people responded when he smiled also affected his employment opportunities and social interaction, which had a negative impact on his self-esteem and mental health,” Lin said.

“It really ignited my passion for being a dentist and being able to help people who were in a similar situation as my father. It allowed people to really live and eat, talk and smile freely.”

Trudy told SBS: “My youngest brother was autistic and my grandmother died of cancer. Their experiences have taught me that their oral health is at more risk, such as the side effects of medication.”

“I’ve also seen firsthand how many barriers they have to get the help they need. That’s why I want to specialize in the special needs area.”

Growing up in a multicultural family – her mum is from Vietnam, Lin believes, made her realize the importance of family and played an important role in her life choices.

She counts her maternal grandmother, who died of cancer seven years ago, as her biggest role model.

“She grew up in Vietnam and was very poor. She decided to move to Australia to give her family a life full of opportunities.”

“From a young age, she taught me to find passion and purpose, to work hard, and to be grateful for what I have,” she said, “to help people with similar difficulties.”

Experience has taught Trudy that vulnerable groups can have a hard time speaking out and their problems are likely to be ignored. And what she has been working hard is to speak out for the oral health care of these people.

Her vision is to give all Australians equal access to oral health care and the treatment of dental problems.

“I’m opening doors for people to integrate into society, so they can feel accepted and find jobs, speak freely without a toothache, have their unique voice heard by society, and in turn contribute to society.”

Source: SBS Australia