On 5 February 2024 the leading public health organisations behind Rethink Sugary Drink (RSD) launched a new position statement, renewing their call for the Australian Government to introduce a 20% health levy on sugary drink manufacturers. 

As a partner of the RSD campaign, ADOHTA's a proud signatory and full supporter of this statement, the full details of which is below with accompanying articles and resources.

1. Rethink Sugary Drink - website
2. Rethink Sugary Drink - position statement
3. Rethink Sugary Drink - The Australian article
4. Rethink Sugary Drink - video

Media Release 25 January 2024

Releasing its 2024-25 Pre-Budget Submission today, the National Oral Health Alliance (NOHA) calls on the Australian Government to take immediate action to reduce the costs of dental care for low-income Australians, establish a Senior Dental Benefits Scheme and take leadership for urgently needed public oral healthcare reform.

Oral diseases place a considerable burden on individuals, families and the community. “Too many people cannot afford to access essential oral healthcare when they need it. Australia ranks third for the highest prevalence of complete tooth loss for persons aged 60 years and older, about one in three, when compared to other countries in the Western Pacific Region,” states Mr Tan Nguyen, NOHA’s Spokesperson.

NOHA recommends and supports a preventative-focused and integrative approach to oral health policy including:

• Appoint a Commonwealth Chief Dental Officer
• Implement the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommendation to establish a Senior Dental Benefits Scheme and other recommendations pertinent to oral health
• Increase Commonwealth Government funding for public dental services
• Fund and implement a co-designed National Oral Health Plan 2025-2034 which aligns with the social determinants of health and is grounded by the principles and objectives of the World Health Organization’s Strategy on Oral Health 2023-2030

Although various funding options for a roadmap towards universal access to affordable oral healthcare have been proposed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, financially and socially disadvantaged Australians with greater oral health needs should be prioritised. NOHA submitted the joint 2024-25 Pre-Budget Submission, highlighting immediate and urgent strategic budget funding priorities for oral health.

Australian Council of Social Service CEO Ms Cassandra Goldie states that “Dental health care is now completely out of reach for many people on low incomes. The outof-pocket costs to see private providers are prohibitive and wait lists for public dental services are too long. Direct investment in public dental services would deliver major health benefits for people experiencing disadvantage and provide cost of living relief for low income households.”

According to COTA Australia CEO, Ms Patricia Sparrow, “Too many Australians, including many pensioners and people living in a nursing home, are delaying or ignoring crucial dental work because they simply can’t afford it. Commitment to a dental scheme that improves the overall health of older Australians is an essential first step the Australian Government needs to take.”

Consumers Health Forum of Australia CEO Dr Elizabeth Deveny said “Dental care in Australia is not where it should be for a country like ours and we have great ways to go, largely through investment, to ensure that people’s oral health continually improves. Consumers have for some time told us that the cost involved in seeing a dental practitioner often stops them going. Now is the time for the government to take meaningful action as recommended by the Senate inquiry”.

NOHA calls on the Australian Government to significantly increase its investment in safeguarding the nation’s oral health. All Australians, regardless of personal circumstances, should have timely access to a safe, quality, equitable, cost-effective and sustainable health system that includes oral health.

Media Contact:

Mr Tan Nguyen

Spokesperson, National Oral Health Alliance

E: tan.nguyen@deakin.edu.au

M: +61 432 715 420

- ENDS -

NOHA Members supporting this Media Release:

• Australian Council of Social Service
• Australian Dental Association
• Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapists’ Association
• Australian Dental Prosthetists Association
• Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association
• Consumers Health Forum of Australia
• COTA Australia - the leading advocacy organisation for older people
• Dental Hygienists Association of Australia
• La Trobe University Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research
• National Rural Health Alliance
• Public Health Association of Australia
• Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia 

Commencing on 29 January 2024, the Australian Dental Association - Victorian Branch (ADAVB) has appointed its new CEO, Ilsa Hampton. 

From ADAVB President, Dr Jonathan Teoh:

"Ilsa is an experienced health sector leader who has held senior executive and CEO roles across multiple member associations. Her previous roles include CEO of Optometry Victoria/SA, where she drove positive change within the organisation including delivering the O=MEGA23 - World Congress of Optometry here in Melbourne. Prior to that, Ilsa was CEO at Meaningful Ageing Australia and held senior and strategic roles at Baptcare, including as the acting general manager. Ilsa is also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the School of Midwifery and Nursing at La Trobe University and Chair of Victorian Executive Committee of the Australian Association of Gerontology. Ilsa will commence with the ADAVB on Monday 29 January, 2024.

Ilsa says her first priority will be to actively listen to the team, the Council, our committees, the wider membership and other stakeholders in order to best understand the strengths and challenges ADAVB is facing. Longer term priorities will include a focus on aligning with the needs of our members and on improving community oral health. As CEO, Ilsa’s goal is to ensure that our organisation is thriving. This means a happy and productive team who are delivering outstanding, contemporary services and support for members, and kicking goals on our advocacy objectives.

“Being CEO means I have the opportunity to get to know members from a wide range of backgrounds, and in doing so I can ensure that our work is informed by the realities being faced by our members and the communities they serve.”

We sincerely thank Eithne Irving for stepping in to lead the Victorian branch over the last few months. Eithne has been a positive stabilising force and her efforts have been gratefully appreciated.

Apply now for appointment to a health profession National Board. 

Applications are open for both community member positions* and practitioner member positions*, with registered practitioners also being eligible to apply for the position of Board Chair. 

*Community member positions are: open to anyone that is not, and has not at any time been, a dental practitioner registered with the Board.

* Practitioner member positions are: for people who are registered as a dental practitioner, in any division.

On 23 January 2024 Ahpra's hosting an Information Webinar with current National Board Members so you can learn more about what's involved and what life's like as a board member. The session also includes Q&A.

Register for the webinar.

Applications close 18 February 2024. 

For further information: 

Following a number of years consultation, the ACT Government passed legislation in July 2023 (and the Human Rights Commission Legislation 2023) enacting the ACT Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers. 

The code takes effect from 7 January 2024 and provides minimum standards of care in the provision of health services in the ACT by health workers. 

Health Workers are defined as:

"any person providing a health service who is not a registered practitioner, such as a doctor, nurse, dentist or one of the 15 registered practitioner groups regulated by Ahpra."

Relevant documents provided on the ACT Human Rights Commission page are:

• ACT HRC Code of Conduct Summary
• ACT HRC Code of Conduct Detailed
• ACT HRC Code of Conduct S95 Notice

If this Code applies to you or your colleagues, please read about the Code here where a definition of health services, along with requirements for complying with the Code and complaints procedures can be found.

For further assistance, contact the Health Services Commissioner's team:

phone - 02 6205 2222

email - HRCintake@act.gov.au  

The IFDH (International Federation of Dental Hygienists) has provided us with a comprehensive update to share with you, our members. 

Please see the December 2023 news here. 

On behalf of all of us here at ADOHTA, we wish you and your loved ones a cherished Christmas and bright New Year. We'll be taking a break during this time and look forward to a fresh start in 2024.

We very much appreciate all your support.  

Previously, Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) shared details about their Women's Leadership Scholarships being available for our members to apply for, which you may have seen in our eBites. 

The deadline for scholarship applications has now been extended to Friday 15 December 2023.

What's available?

Women in Health Eligible for Leadership Development Scholarships

Partial scholarships available now for women in health ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per person, for one of four leadership and workplace skill development programs.

These scholarships are aimed at encouraging more women to increase their impact at work, progress their career, and step into leadership roles.

Apply by 15 December 2023 via the WLA website.

The D3 Group for Developmental Dental Defects (D3G) has announced initial details for their D3 Day at IADR in 2024. Details are as follows:

The next “Molar Hypomin & Chalky Teeth” translational event will be held in New Orleans the day before IADR's 2024 General Session.

This one-day symposium will unite stakeholders from across the sector (healthcare practitioners, scientists, academics, educators, industry reps, and government professionals) to discuss how medical-dental integration will be key to attacking “the chalky teeth problem” holistically. 

If you fancy two quick-fire “Idea Incubators” – addressing “stronger science” and “science to social good” – and copious time with representatives of our wonderfully eclectic D3 family, then please save the date.

For more flavour of what we’re cooking up in New Orleans, check out our innovative recipe from D3 Toronto (2020 video trailer, 2022 program).

Recapping

D3G held the world-first International Symposium on Molar Hypomineralization & Chalky Teeth a year ago in Toronto, attracting over 100 participants from 22 countries while kicking off numerous translational goals. 

An unprecedented set of D3 topics & projects were addressed, following their earlier conception across a series of international webinars & task force meetings in 2020-22. 

The ensuing “Toronto D3 framework” provides an invaluable translational foundation for follow-up events – as recently held in New Zealand, with New Orleans next.

Learn more about the Toronto D3 experience via our comprehensive video/CE packs.

 

More info

Watch this space, or contact your hosts:

• General enquiries (c/- Sharon Dunn): secretary@thed3group.org
• LSU Health New Orleans (c/- Janet Southerland): Amelia Jenkins ajenk6@lsuhsc.edu
• University of Toronto (c/- Ben Ganss): b.ganss@dentistry.utoronto.ca
• D3G HQ (c/- Mike Hubbard): mike.hubbard@unimelb.edu.au