At Team Dental Mt Wellington, we are proud to support the incredible work of Smiles For The Pacific, a charity founded by Dr Jonathan Cole in 2014 alongside several dental colleagues, including long-time dental assistant Margot Distelzwey.
The charity was established with a simple but meaningful goal – to improve access to dental care and professional training for communities in Fiji by creating a volunteer dental clinic within Lautoka Hospital.
Since its beginnings, Smiles For The Pacific has brought together a large network of volunteer dentists, specialists, therapists, and healthcare professionals from across New Zealand and Australia. Together, they have donated their time, skills, and expertise to provide free dental treatment to communities with limited access to care.
However, the initiative goes far beyond providing treatment alone.
A key focus of the charity has always been education and sustainability. Volunteers regularly run workshops, lectures, and one-on-one mentoring sessions for local dental and healthcare professionals, helping to strengthen long-term dental services within Fiji.
Over the years, the charity has also expanded its support into remote areas of north-western Fiji – regions often overlooked due to their distance from the capital, Suva. Through the donation of second-hand dental equipment and hands-on biomedical training, Smiles For The Pacific has helped local teams install, maintain, and utilise essential dental equipment within their own communities.
The program has also created valuable international exchanges, with dental specialists travelling to Fiji to share their knowledge, while Fijian dental professionals have been supported to travel to New Zealand for further training and development opportunities.
What began as a small volunteer initiative has grown into a meaningful and ongoing contribution to oral healthcare in the Pacific. Through teamwork, innovation, and a strong “Kiwi number 8 wire” mentality, countless challenges have been overcome to continue supporting communities in need.
Dr Jonathan Cole remains deeply passionate about the work of Smiles For The Pacific and the positive impact it continues to have across Fiji and the wider Pacific region.
At Team Dental Mt Wellington, we are incredibly proud to have this spirit of community, generosity, and service reflected within our team.
