https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/COVID-19.aspx

AHPRA advises Registered health practitioners are playing a vital role in treating and containing the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. We are committed to supporting health practitioners to continue to provide safe care to their communities and will continue to update health practitioners and the public with information as it becomes available. All COVID-19 related updates from Ahpra and the National Boards can be found here.

ADA Media Release 23 March 2020

https://www.ada.org.au/News-Media/News-and-Release/Latest-News/COVID19-restrictions-on-dental-practice

Guidance on Dental Treatment during COVID-19 Pandemic 

ADA: Everything you need to know about COVID-19

Over the last few days, the ADA has been providing expert advice to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and the Chief Medical Officer on a framework to support the continuation of essential dental service.  This is based on a staged, proportionate, pre-planned response to the escalation of COVID-19.

The Dental Board of Australia (the Board) held its 115th meeting on Wednesday 26 February 2020 in Melbourne. This communiqué highlights the key discussions and considerations covered during the Board meeting as well as other relevant information. 

200319 Dental-Board---Communique---Meeting-of-the-Dental-Board-of-Australia---26-February-2020.PDF

Scholarships of $2,000 to $5,000 are currently available to women working in the health and dental sector to help support their participation in a range of career building leadership development programs.

The initiative is providing junior through to executive managers with scholarships to support their growth and development. The scholarships assist with participation in one of three flagship development programs. The programs provide highly collaborative learning environments uniquely tailored to the needs of female leaders.

Expressions of Interest
Find out more and register your interest by completing the Expression of Interest form here prior to Friday, March 20: https://www.wla.edu.au/health.html

Know your scope of practice forums: invitation for dental practitioners and stakeholders

The Dental Board of Australia (the Board) invites dental practitioners and stakeholders to attend information forums about scope of practice in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in March.

The forums are the first three in a series of forums to explain the forthcoming changes to the registration standard for scope of practice. Forums will be held in all capital cities and in some regional centres.

In late 2019, the Board announced Health Ministers had approved the revised standard and supporting guidelines. Advance copies of both documents have been published so dental practitioners can become familiar with them before they come into effect on 1 July 2020.

• Advance copy: Revised Scope of practice registration standard
• Advance copy: Revised Scope of practice guidelines

The forums are one of many activities underway to help dental practitioners understand their obligations under the revised standard.

The Board will also host a national webinar in coming months for practitioners and stakeholders who are unable to attend a forum. The webinar will be recorded and published on a web page dedicated to implementation of the revised standard.

A web page, which will be launched soon, will be a ‘Know your scope of practice’ hub where practitioners can find information, including a reflective practice tool and FAQs. These resources and other materials will be progressively published in the lead up to the standard coming into effect.

Forum information and how to register

At the forums, Dr Murray Thomas, Chair of the Dental Board of Australia, will:

• explain the revised standard
• outline what the changes mean for individual practitioners
• provide insight into the Dental Board's 'Know your scope' activities
• highlight future directions of the Board
• answer questions.

The March forums are;- forums are limited and will be closed when capacity is reached.

• Sydney - Friday 13th March (Closed)
• Melbourne - Friday 20th March
• Perth - Thursday 26 March

Register and further information here;   https://www.dentalboard.gov.au/News/2020-02-25-March-scope-forums.aspx

Dear Stakeholder,

The National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) have launched a new education campaign called ‘be safe first’ to advise consumers of the risks associated with cosmetic procedures particularly those offered by unregistered practitioners. The ‘be safe first’ campaign includes resources to help consumers to know what kinds of questions to ask before going ahead with a cosmetic procedure.

The campaign encourages consumers to think seriously about who is undertaking the procedure, where it is performed, and the product being used before going through with any cosmetic procedure.

About the ‘be safe first’ resources

The ‘be safe first’ resources include a new ‘cosmetic surgery and procedures’ section on the Ahpra website at www.ahpra.gov.au/besafefirst, with dedicated pages for specific audiences including:

• information to help consumers know what questions to ask and what to look out for
• information about who to contact with a concern and the roles and responsibilities of organisations involved in regulating cosmetic procedures and surgery
• a new fact sheet on cosmetic injectables
• information resources for practitioners about cosmetic procedures, including links to guidance developed earlier by the Dental, Medical and Nursing and Midwifery Boards of Australia.

The ‘be safe first’ resources are being supported with a social media campaign.

Key messages from the ‘be safe first’ resources

• All cosmetic procedures have risks.
• When having a cosmetic procedure, consider whether the person who is going to carry out the procedure is appropriately qualified, knowledgeable, skilled and experienced.
• Cosmetic procedures should be provided in a clean and safe environment with products that have been prescribed appropriately.
• If a member of the public is considering a cosmetic procedure, they should ‘be safe first’ and make an informed decision.
• Consumers can ‘be safe first’ by checking out information on the Ahpra website, visit: www.ahpra.gov.au/besafefirst.

We are asking for your help

We are seeking your help to share and promote the ‘be safe first’ key messages and resources to consumers, registered health practitioners and other stakeholders.

We encourage you to share these key messages and the new resources on your website, online platforms or in your publications. You do not need to seek permission to do this. We only ask that you let us know when you do, so we can track how far and wide they go. You can do this by emailing communications@ahpra.gov.au.

To support the ‘be safe first’ social media campaign please follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn and remember to use the hashtag #besafefirst and tag @Ahpra to be part of the conversation. If you want to use any of the social media graphics used in the campaign just email communications@ahpra.gov.au.

More information

If you have any feedback and / or questions, please let me know. Thank you for supporting this important initiative by Ahpra and National Boards.

Approved Scope of Practice Standard

COAG Health Council Communique:

Health Ministers from the Commonwealth, each state and territory and New Zealand met in Perth today and yesterday at the COAG Health Council to discuss a range of national health issues. 

At their March 2019 meeting, Health Ministers received a briefing from the Chair of the Dental Board of Australia about the Board’s proposal to revise the scope of practice registration standard removing the requirement for a structured professional relationship between a dentist and dental therapists, dental hygienists or oral health therapists. Health Ministers had requested that the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) independently assess the patient safety implications and the consumer benefit of the revised scope.

Health Ministers noted the outcomes of ACSQHC’s review which found that there is no evidence that the proposed revised Scope of Practice Registration Standard will have an adverse effect on patient safety and quality. The review also indicated the changes may increase the capacity of the dental workforce and may provide greater access to services and reduced wait times for services for rural and remote communities.

In light of this independent report, Health Ministers approved the revised Scope of Practice Registration Standard.

These changes will be implemented in mid-2020 and members should continue to practice following current Dental Board of Australia Scope of Practice and CPD standards. ADOHTA will continue to communicate with members on how these changes will affect practice and training. 

For more information please refer to:

COAG Health Council Communiques

Dental Board of Australia Registration Standards

191024 ADOHTA_DHAA Media release 24 October 2019.pdf
ADOHTA & DHAA reaffirm a strong desire for a unified voice.