“Many of the children in the orphanage are disabled which is why they were abandoned,” Dr McLennan said.

“We will be helping children who have problems associated with cleft palates, and will be doing extractions and restorative work,” he said.

Dr McLennan said not only has the university hierarchy been extremely supportive of the humanitarian visit, but dental supply companies have shown enormous generosity.

“I actually needed one particular item, which I thought was around $180 dollars and I was checking on the price.

“They said they would give us as much as we need, which is extremely generous,” Dr McLennan said.

He said the team will be taking with them all the items they would usually use for topical applications and to keep patients comfortable during their treatment.

“We have no option but to take them with us as the orphanage just simply doesn’t have access to the items we need for dental purposes,” Dr McLennan.

Dr McLennan is no stranger to humanitarian visits to other countries having visited Vanuatu 12 times to help with programs to improve the lifestyle of residents.

But for Erin Currier and her five other fourth year colleagues the visit to Cambodia will be a new experience.

“I have been saving up and working in the holidays to make the trip possible,” she said.

Glen Hilton says he knows it will be a very different experience to working on children at the university’s clinic in Orange.

“I’m sure there will be challenges and I am sure it will really help us appreciate the services and facilities that are available here to us,” he said.

Students at Charles Sturt campuses are offered the opportunity to gain experience overseas through the university’s annual global program.

The students leave for their two-week program on June 21 and are paying a minimum of $3000 each to participate.

Their visit is being hosted by One2One, a Cambodian charitable trust that provides dental services to needy citizens.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au