Branch comments on National Registration Standards

ADAVB has lodged its submission on the draft national registration standards with the Dental Board of Australia . The Branch generally welcomed most of the proposed arrangements but felt restricted in commenting on some areas because of the lack of accompanying guidelines.

The submission was prepared with the assistance of a number of members who provided comments. Thanks to those members who took the time to offer their considered views.

On the CPD standard, ADAVB suggested that after the first three-year cycle, the infection control requirement of two hours be reduced to two hours in future cycles.

Responding to the scope of practice standard, ADAVB queried how dental therapists, oral health therapists and dental hygienists can “exercise autonomous decision making” while not being independent practitioners in terms of training. Depending on the information to be provided in the guidelines, ADAVB is concerned at the lack of defined duties in this standard and asked the Board to review it in order to avoid uncertainty.