Three things you may not know about ADAVB membership

Thinking of joining the ADAVB? Now is the time!

We'll help you with everything that only a peak body for dentists by dentists, can provide - like quality CPD, professional support and advice, career and networking events. But we know sometimes you need more than that.

Enjoy some reward for all your hard work. Here are three things you may not know about ADAVB membership:

1. Need some me-time?
Enjoy free yoga, and get discounted cinema tickets, airfares (Qantas/Virgin), theme park entry and magazine subscriptions. Need something extra? Call Optum, our lifestyle support service, for free counselling and personal advice.

2. Setting up a practice, moving out of home or relocating?

Get fantastic savings on banking, financial advice and insurance. Set yourself up with discounted electrical items and household goods from The Good Guys and JB HiFi!

3. Looking to upgrade your car?

Our car assist service will help you with great deals on Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Mazda and Volkswagon and you can also access huge discounts directly through luxury car dealers such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi.

And there's more

Plus you'll have access to quality CPD and training, suited to your career stage, free CPD every month, access to over 400 free online practice resources on the ADAVB website and free online webinars on the ADA Member CPD Portal.

There are so many benefits that our members enjoy every day. We're dentists too, from all walks of life, so we understand your needs. We'll support you, stand up for you, update you with the latest developments in dentistry, and deliver the training and resources you need now.

Contact us

We can take you through the membership classifications and discounted rates available. Membership is less than $2 per day for first year dentistry graduates and less than $4 per day for second year dentistry graduates. 

Please contact us on 8825 4600 or ask@adavb.org

Find out more:

ADAVB Member benefits

Lifestyle benefits (ADA federal login required)

CPD and Training

Events

Community health dentists set to take unprecedented strike action

Community health dentists are taking unprecedented strike action on Wednesday 22 August.

Dentists employed in Victorian community health centres are the lowest paid public sector dentists in Australia. They're paid 40% less than their interstate counterparts, their EBA expired 14 months ago and they're fed up with unacceptable waiting times that their patients have to endure for public dental care.

Victoria’s public dental system is in crisis. A new interactive map released by the ADAVB, exposed waiting times of up to four years for vulnerable Victorians. Less than 20 per cent of eligible Victorians are accessing care annually and there are more than 150,000 languishing on waiting lists. The current average waiting time for general dental care is 19.7 months, an increase of 67 per cent since 2014/15.

ADAVB President Dr Kevin Morris said that while people are waiting for public dental care, existing dental problems can worsen, and as a result lead to emergency care being needed. This means that just over one third of all courses of care are for emergency treatment rather than routine care, which puts more strain on the public system.

“The ADAVB is calling on both the State and Federal Governments to support an increase in funding, with a target to double the number of patients being treated on a yearly basis to 800,000 by 2023/24. This would represent approximately 29 per cent of the eligible population,” Dr Morris said.

Dentists are frustrated at the lack of recognition by the Victorian Government for the critical dental care they provide to disadvantaged Victorians. It's time to #RespectPublicDentistry.

Media release

View all ADAVB media releases

View and share our posts: https://www.facebook.com/AusDentalVic/

Dentists Wellbeing Ergonomics Programme launched

Dentists and dental professionals suffer musculoskeletal complaints resulting from their work practices. These generally cause discomfort at different end points – in the neck, low back, shoulders and hand or wrist.

With the support of PSA Insurance, ADAVB conducted the Dentists Wellbeing Ergonomics Project (DWEP) with Productivity Matters to gather data to develop an online resource to help members to prevent and avoid such injuries. This resource is now available!

Launched on 10 August at the ADAVB Convention, the Dentists Wellbeing Ergonomics Programme is an online resource to help you:

• Understand musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the workplace
• Set yourself up in the best way in the practice
• Maximise your own comfort and productivity, as well as your overall wellbeing while you are practicing.

ADAVB members can access this programme free at dwep.adavb.org.au

ADAVB and BOQ Specialist reveal winner of $10,000 CPD bursary

Dr Sathyan Saranathan, owner of the Goulburn Valley Dental Group, was today awarded the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) and BOQ Specialist CPD Practice Bursary at a ceremony attended by 700 dental professionals at the ADAVB Convention in Melbourne.

Now in its fourth consecutive year, the $10,000 bursary acknowledges dental practices committed to quality learning and aims to fund further professional development for practitioners and professional staff members.

ADAVB President, Dr Kevin Morris, said, “Dr Saranathan and his team’s commitment to serving their diverse community, their emphasis on preventative care, as well their health promotion initiatives with local schools, are all excellent approaches to building lasting relationships with patients and the wider community and promoting the importance of oral health. Their examples of integrated clinical practice combined with health promotion and ongoing education of staff, made them a stand-out in the 2018 bursary applications.”

In addition to a Certificate of Recognition, the $10,000 bursary includes $8,000 to be applied to any CPD courses and training and $2,000 for ADAVB CPD courses and training.

Come and see us at the ADAVB Convention member lounge!

The ADAVB Convention kicked off today with a fantastic opening presentation by Dr Sally Cockburn, well known GP and health and wellness talk back host on 3AW693's Talking Health program.

Delegates were entertained and inspired about what success means  and how this can be achieved while also "having a life" and enjoying a healthy balance. This upbeat opening energised delegates as they moved on to their next sessions in the concurrent convention program.

The multidisciplinary program features leading international and Australian speakers, aimed at the whole dental team. There is something for everyone - a program for dentists, practice managers, dental assistants and oral health therapists and hygienists.

During the breaks come over to the ADAVB Member Lounge, have a coffee and have a chat to ADAVB councillors and staff, fellow members, our community relations officers and eviDent researchers. Pick up the latest information about member benefits, Practice plus resources, upcoming training and purchase your raffle tickets for tonight's eviDent Foundation Hunter Valley getaway prize draw!

Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtags #ADAVBConvention #Success.

https://twitter.com/ADAVB

https://www.facebook.com/AusDentalVic/

See you at the ADAVB Convention!

In just a few days you'll be getting your Keys to #Success at the ADAVB Convention!

Haven't registered yet? If you're looking for professional development with a difference for your whole dental team, including quality training...  yoga... a member lounge... great coffee while you chat to your association leaders... a fancy dinner... then look no further than the ADAVB Convention!

There is still time to get your tickets. Gain 12 CPD hours while you enjoy innovative presentations designed to challenge, engage and question, from international and Australian presenters including:

• Dr Sally Cockburn – GP and health advocate 'Dr Feelgood' – who will open the Convention
• Professor Julian Sulavescu – Renowned international philosopher and bioethicist 
• Professor John Sorenson – Well-known restorative and prosthodontic specialist from the US
• Dr Bobbi Birdi – Dual specialist in periodontics and prosthodontics from Canada
• Professor Stéphane Simon –  Endodontist, Doctor in Dental Surgery and PhD in Pulp Biology, France

Add a few tickets to our eviDent Foundation Fundraising Dinner and enjoy a social night out, for a great cause. You'll enjoy a night of music, dinner, dancing, auction, amazing prizes and more!

Register

eviDent Fundraising Dinner

Member lounge

Yoga by donation

The sorry state of public waiting times for dental care in Victoria

A new fully interactive map released today by the ADAVB exposes the unacceptable length of time people are waiting for public dental care in every Victorian electorate.

The map shows that vulnerable Victorians with shocking dental problems are being forced to
wait in some case up to 48 months to see a public dentist.

ADAVB CEO Associate Professor Matt Hopcraft, said that Dental Health Week (6-12 August), was the perfect time to shed light on the sorry state of public dental waiting list times and for both State and Federal governments to support an increase in funding.

“Although cuts to Federal funding have had an impact, the reality is that this accounts for less than 10 per cent of the patients treated through the public system and is not the main reason waiting lists have increased so dramatically in recent years.

“At current funding levels, only 16 per cent of people who are eligible to access public dental care in Victoria were able to see a dentist in any given year - that is only 400,000 who get much needed treatment each year out of the 2.5 million Victorians who are eligible.

“For those stuck on a waiting list, there is an average waiting time for general dental care of 19.7 months which is just too long.

“People who are eligible for public dental care may have to endure pain, have difficulty speaking and eating, miss school, struggle to find a job, or develop other serious health problems in that time.

View interactive map and find your electorate: advocacy.adavb.org

Write to your local MP and tell them the waiting times are unacceptable. The map includes contact details for every MP in Victoria.

• Are you a public dental patient waiting for care or are you concerned about a friend or family member? Use this template letter to share your story with your MP. 
• Are you a public or private dentist, or other health professional, concerned about vulnerable Victorian's access to care? Use this template template letter to share your concerns and urge your MP to take action.

View media release: Map highlights sorry state of public waiting lists for dental care in Victoria

It's Dental Health Week!

It's Dental Health Week (6-12 August)! This year's theme is #watchyourmouth. It's not too late for your workplace, school or community group to take part and raise awareness about dental health. We've got you covered with these healthy messages to promote, resources to use and ideas to share.

Focus on these key messages:

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean in between teeth at least once a day with floss or an interdental brush
• Eat a healthy balance diet and limit sugar intake
• Regularly visit the dentist for check-ups and preventive treatment.

Visit the Dental Health Week website for resources to help you with:

• Planning and running an event
• Promoting healthy messages
• Info-sharing with interesting facts
• Going social and getting some publicity.

Run out of time to organise your own event? Come to one of ours!

eviDent Foundation Enchanted Forest Dinner, Friday 10 August

Bring your whole team, have a great night out and don't organise a thing! Be enchanted at our eviDent Foundation Fundraising Dinner. Contribute to oral health research while having an unforgettable night - during Dental Health Week!

Book your tickets: https://convention.adavb.org/program/evident-dinner

Host a tea party - Tea for Teeth

Invite your dental practice, school or workplace, or simply gather some friends together for some good times and tea! Raise funds while you sip away. Hold it during Dental Health Week or anytime during August. We'll help you get organised with everything you need to host your Tea for Teeth tea party.

Register at: https://www.evident.org.au/donate/tea-for-teeth