Operation Smile
Operation Smile Australia Limited was founded in 1999 by Dr. Richard Lewandowski, a Brisbane plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and his wife Sue, a physiotherapist.
Dr. Lewandowski, one of Australia’s most respected cranio-facial surgeons, became involved with Operation Smile while studying at Eastern Virginian Medical School, in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. Dr. Lewandowski volunteered on medical missions to China, Colombia, Gaza, Kenya, Philippines and Russia. He was also involved in the medical educational training sessions, and in the training of Operation Smile International Fellows.
Upon his return to Australia, he and his wife Sue established Operation Smile Australian Limited dedicated to helping children from countries in neighbouring South East Asia.
Our Achievements
Since 1999, Operation Smile Australia has conducted five craniofacial missions to South East Asia, and has sent Australian medical volunteers to participate on Operation Smile cleft lip and cleft palate medical missions around the world. Operation Smile Australia has brought 25 children to Australia under our World Care Program for specialist surgery. The World Care Program allows Operation Smile to care for children who have more complicated needs than can be met during a medical mission. Through sponsorships, the patient and a guardian are brought to Australia and stay with a host family for the operation and recovery period.
Since 1982, more than 100,000 children have been treated by thousands of Operation Smile volunteers in Latin America, Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia and thousands of healthcare professionals have been trained globally.
Operation Smile will commemorate its 25th Anniversary with a year-long, multi-faceted series of initiatives to promote sustainability and capacity-building among its 25 partner countries.
The anniversary celebration will culminate in November 2007, with the World Journey of Smiles, 42 simultaneous missions in 25 countries, with a goal of providing new smiles and new lives for an estimated 5,000 children living with facial deformities.
Operation Smile has been distinguished by many prestigious awards, including the first $1 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to recognize outstanding contributions made to alleviate human suffering.