It’s been a whirlwind few months for Southlander and Oral Health Therapist, Georgina Welsh as she’s started her new dental care service, Map My Mouth, and the icing on the cake has come early with national recognition of her efforts.
Ms Welsh was recently selected as the recipient of the Hon. Dame Annette King Award for Excellence in Leadership and Oral Health 2025, which was officially announced and presented at The New Zealand Oral Health Association (NZOHA) Conference last Friday night in Christchurch. “I’m very stunned to be receiving this award, it is incredibly humbling — and very unexpected,” she said, recalling her first NZOHA conference and seeing Dame Annette speaking. “I thought, “Man, I’d love to shake the system like she has.” Her name carries real mana in both health and leadership. To now be acknowledged in her name is a huge honour.”
It had been very encouraging for Ms Welsh to receive the award so early on in Map My Mouth’s trajectory. “It’s cool to get that acknowledgement. Colleagues have been saying, you’re doing well, keep going.”
Map My Mouth is a dental check service to support better treatment pathways for Southlanders needing dental care. “Map My Mouth began as a scrappy idea,” Ms Welsh said, admitting “The road hasn’t been without its bumps — a few teething issues… and plenty of people have asked, ‘but is that even allowed?’”
Ms Welsh’s motivation came from seeing how difficult it was for Southlanders to get a dentist’s appointment and wanting to relieve some of the pressure on the dental system. She partnered with Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) after testing the waters at SIT’s O-Week Market Day in February to gauge the level of interest.
A regular Map My Mouth clinic started in April for SIT students and staff, where Ms Welsh conducts dental assessments, x-rays, an intraoral scan and cancer check, then advise the next steps in the patient’s treatment, who get their dental check at a discounted rate from usual industry fees. While it’s started slowly, Ms Welsh said “that’s okay, as I’m adjusting to working on my own and getting a feel for it.” And most importantly, the feedback she’d received so far from patients had been awesome.
Ms Welsh is herself a graduate of SIT, having achieved the Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management in 2020, the National Certificate in Adult Education and Training (2018) and the New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo Māori (He Pī Ka Pao) Level 1.
And she has already taken on more study – a postgraduate certificate in Adult Restorative Dental Care - through The University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry, so she can extend her services.
Ms Welsh also works part-time in a private dental practice and has funded the project herself. “I’m excited about creating more efficient referral pathways for the community so more people can get treatment; it is a better utilisation of the resources available, saving time for the patient and the dental service,” she said.
Another outcome of Map My Mouth and Ms Welsh’s work being recognised through the award has been the ripples that it has caused in the dental sector. “It shows the profession what can be achieved,” Ms Welsh said. “It’s given me the drive to keep going. When you start something that disrupts an industry, you do have self-doubt.” However, dentists and communities around New Zealand had been reaching out to her, wanting to get involved. “It’s been a good confidence boost,” she said.
In its early stages, Ms Welsh knew the idea had potential to be rolled out nationwide and change the status quo in the sector.
“Map My Mouth came close to being picked up by a Health Board and Health New Zealand. It didn’t quite cross the line that time — but it proved something important: the work we’re doing as a profession is being recognised at a system level. It is being seen. It is being heard.”
Ms Welsh is realistic about starting something new. “…the truth is — there will be more questions. More barriers. But also, more chances to build something better for those in need. This award reminds me that resilience, not perfection, is what keeps progress moving.”
The journey has opened doors to some exciting new collaborations — including SIT and Number 10 Youth Health shop in Invercargill. “These relationships are still new, but they’re full of potential, and I’m excited to see where they lead.”
Ms Welsh acknowledged the many people who had supported her on the journey so far – “… my colleagues — I appreciate their guidance, honesty, and encouragement,” and friends and whānau, “I wouldn’t be here without their support, feedback, and patience.”
Ms Welsh noted that her NZOHA whānau were very important in her success, and the award recognition was about all of them. “It’s about us. Every person in NZOHA is part of the movement to make oral health fairer, smarter, and more accessible, … we are all shifting the system.” And she firmly believes with the right backing; they will achieve it. “I’m truly honoured. And I’m not done yet.”
For more information go to: www.mapmymouth.co.nz