ADA Inc. submission on Graduate Entry

The ADA Inc. has recently made a submission to the Federal Department of Education Science and Training regarding graduate entry issues raised in a recent discussion paper on the Bologna Model.

The conclusion to that submission notes that:

"the ADA’s response to the DEST Discussion Paper is mixed, with a particular concern relating to one of the key aspects of the Bologna Process – the move towards an ndergraduate/graduate mode of study. If implemented, this has the potential to impact negatively on the delivery of dental care and its accessibility by many in need.

Although the Bologna Process highlights medium and long-term challenges (and opportunities) for the Australian higher education system, there are anumber of short-term considerations with respect to the education of dentists that the ADA regards as requiring immediate action by the Australian Government. These have been outlined previously and can be summarised as follows:

• Will the proposed system produce a ‘better’ dentist than those that are currently graduating from undergraduate courses?

• Can Australia afford the impact the introduction of the Bologna Process may cause?

• Will the introduction of additional years of tuition fees to gain a second degree adversely impact on:

- the number of graduates undertaking practice in the public sector;

- the selection of students that will embark on the course offered, and

- the future cost of dental care?

Some of the ADA’s concerns would be addressed if:

• Funding for dentist training was related to cost and not banded with medical and veterinary training;

• More Commonwealth Supported Places were made available for dentist training; and

• Commonwealth Supported Places were allocated to the second degree to ensure fairer selection and to ensure that graduates did not enter the workforce with substantial student debts.

The ADA urges the Australian Government to give full consideration to these issues. While Australia must consider higher education reforms in the broader international context, immediate concerns must be this country’s first priority."