About The Exhibition

This exhibition and publication celebrates and commemorates dental therapists in Victoria since 1972. It traces this journey through the lived experience of the dental therapists and academics associated with their education and training. Importantly, it highlights the crucial role of advocacy in securing the professional frameworks and tertiary education for dental therapists and oral health therapists. Crucial were the industry associations, the Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapists’ Association (ADOHTA) and Victorian Dental Therapist Association (renamed VDOHTA in 2008),which advocated for change in Victoria.

Stories and many of the items in the exhibition and publication were collected from the extended network of practitioners. The exhibition includes  material , such as certificates, class photographs, wax teeth, uniforms, course results and class notes. Significantly, the archive material from the now-defunct VDOHTA, which documents the major legislative and policy changes in Victoria that enabled the practice of dental therapists, has become a substantial addition to the Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum collection is also in the exhibition. As well as material that provides evidence of changing social values.

Location

Organised by Henry Forman Atkinson Museum, the exhibition's on display at the Medical History Museum, Level 2 Brownless Biomedical Library, University of Melbourne.

Medical History Museum Hours

• Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm
• Saturday 1pm - 5pm (during semester)
• Free admission

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Image detail:

Dental Therapy School, Department of Health, Victoria (est. 1976, closed 1995),Second‑year dental therapy students Maureen Hahn and Christine Hill with dental assistant, 1977, photograph. HFA4322, Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum.