Club-Funded Dental Care Training Centre Opens, Supporting the Development of Dental Hygiene Professionals and Community-Based Oral Health Services

Oral health is an important building block for a healthy community, particularly at the primary level where “prevention is better than cure” is as vital as in any other area of healthcare. In particular, given the shortage of dentists and other healthcare professionals, The Hong Kong Jockey Club recognises that dental hygienists can play a greater role in preventive dental care and community education.

The opening ceremony of the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre was officiated by Dr Cecilia Fan, Under Secretary for Health of the Hong Kong SAR Government (3rd left); Philip Lo, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd right); Jeffrey Lam, Chairman of the Vocational Training Council (2nd left) and other guests.

Responding to this opportunity, and with the Government having introduced of a statutory registration system for dental hygienists with suitable adjustments to their scope of practice, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, through its Charities Trust, approved a donation of nearly HK$72 million to the Vocational Training Council (VTC) to establish the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre.

The Centre will provide state-of-the-art facilities and a training environment that replicates a real-world dental clinic for the newly launched Professional Diploma in Dental Hygiene programme, thereby strengthening the training capacity for dental hygienists. In addition, the Club will provide full tuition sponsorship for selected students, encouraging more aspiring individuals to pursue careers as dental hygienists and serve the community.

The opening ceremony of the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre was held today (23 October), officiated by Dr Cecilia Fan, Under Secretary for Health of the Hong Kong SAR Government; Philip Lo, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Jeffrey Lam, Chairman of the Vocational Training Council.

Club Steward Philip Lo delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre.

Speaking at the ceremony, Club Steward Philip Lo said that “Health” and “Development of Professionals” are key focus areas of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The Club has long attached great importance to the development of primary healthcare services in Hong Kong and the cultivation of relevant professionals, with a view to addressing the community’s long-term need for quality healthcare services. Looking ahead, through cross-project collaboration, the Club will continue to advance its efforts to strengthen preventive and primary healthcare services, nurture healthcare professionals, and promote healthy lifestyles, with a view to enhancing the physical and mental well-being of the community.

Guests tour the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre.

Guests tour the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre.

Located at the VTC Chai Wan campus, the approximately 18,000-square-feet Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre is equipped with professional dental training facilities, including dental chairs, X-ray systems, suction systems and compressors, as well as virtual reality training systems and dental simulation equipment. These facilities provide students with a learning experience that closely replicates a real clinical environment. The centre also organises workshops to enhance public awareness of oral health.

The Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre.

The Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre.

In addition to supporting the establishment of the centre, the Club will support 36 students across three cohorts over a five-year period to study for the VTC’s Professional Diploma in Dental Hygiene programme. Under The Hong Kong Jockey Club Tuition Sponsorship Scheme for Professional Diploma in Dental Hygiene, each eligible student will receive full tuition support up to HK$140,000. Upon graduation, these students will be required to serve, under designated conditions, in NGOs or Government dental clinics, applying their professional knowledge and skills to benefit the community. The 18-month programme has been accredited by the Dental Council of Hong Kong, enabling graduates to meet the qualifications for registration as dental hygienists. The first cohort of 60 students graduated in August this year.

The Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre.

Over the years, the Club has continuously supported oral health initiatives, providing people of different ages, backgrounds and needs with professional and appropriate dental screening, treatment, care and education services. These initiatives include the Jockey Club Children Oral Health Project, which provides oral examinations and oral health education for kindergarten children; the Jockey Club Special Oral Health Programme, which provides basic dental services for people diagnosed with dementia or Parkinson’s disease; the Jockey Club Kwai Tsing Community-based Dental Support Programme, which provides subsidised dental services for residents in need in Kwai Tsing; and the Jockey Club Dental Care Programme, which provides subsidised dental services as well as education for people with financial difficulties, among others. The three primary healthcare dental clinics in Tai Kok Tsui, Yuen Long and Sham Shui Po, supported under the Jockey Club Dental Care Programme, also enable dental hygienists to fully utilise their professional expertise to provide preventive care and oral health education, enabling dentists to focus on more complex cases and enhancing overall service efficiency. The clinics also provide placement opportunities for students, enabling them to gain practical experience in serving underprivileged groups in community settings. The above initiatives not only address demands for dental services, but also enhance professionalism among dental hygienists and ultimately promote the provision of preventive dental services in the community.

Guests tour the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre.

The Club’s support for the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre, like all of its charity and community initiatives, is made possible by its unique value creation model, through which the Club generates sustainable economic and social value for the community through tax contributions, charitable donations and employment opportunities.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust today (20 October) shared experiences and insights from nearly three decades of support for healthy ageing at a high-level technical convening held alongside the 77th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific. The convening brought together government representatives, experts and partner organisations to explore how communities can better support older adults to maintain their health, independence and functional ability as populations age.

Recognising the implications of population ageing since the late 1990s, the Trust has pioneered over 60 healthy ageing-related projects and approved nearly HK$4 billion in funding. Spanning dementia care, mental wellbeing, chronic disease management, medication management, mobility enhancement and gerontechnology, these initiatives help older adults remain healthy, active and connected to their communities while contributing to the sustainable development of Hong Kong's health and social care services.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO (first left); Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (first right); Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Health & Older Adults Cluster) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (second left); and Professor Ruby Yu, Associate Professor, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (second right).

At the technical convening, titled “From Commitment to Action: Advancing Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific through Partnership, Innovation and Investment”, Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Health & Older Adults Cluster) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, joined regional leaders and experts to discuss practical approaches to strengthening health systems and community-based support for older adults. Participants shared country experiences and lessons learned, and explored opportunities for regional learning, technical exchange and future collaboration. 

The Trust’s support for The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in advancing healthy ageing through a wide variety of evidence-based and community-based projects was also shared at the convening, including the Trust-initiated Jockey Club Community eHealth Community Care Project and the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project.

Beneficiaries take part in a healthy ageing activity supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Over nearly three decades, the Trust has supported a wide range of initiatives that promote older adults’ health, functional ability, independence and connection with the community.

The Trust will continue supporting healthy ageing, with the aim of addressing health inequality, said Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Health & Older Adults Cluster) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club. It will also pioneer a client-centred approach that empowers community partners to support older adults’ functional ability with a view to reducing disease burdens. We look forward to sharing Hong Kong, China’s experience, learning from friends and colleagues, and strengthening partnerships with the WHO and regional stakeholders to advance health-system transformation for healthy ageing.

The Club’s support for healthy ageing initiatives, like all of its charity and community initiatives, is made possible by its unique value creation model, through which the Club generates sustainable economic and social value for the community through tax contributions, charitable donations and employment opportunities.