Serve #waterwiththat in kids’ meals at fast food restaurants

Parents’ Voice – an online network of parents who are interested in improving the food and activity environments of Australian children – has initiated the second launch of its #waterwiththat campaign.

The campaign aims to gain support for a petition to urge fast food restaurants to change the default beverage in kids’ meals from sugar-sweetened beverages to water.

Sugary drinks are the #1 source of sugar in Australian kids’ diets, with 47 per cent of children aged two to 18 consuming a sugary drink on a daily basis. Sugary drinks are a major cause of tooth decay, and 40 per cent of Australian children aged 12 have decay in their adult teeth.

As the healthiest drink option, water should always be served with kids’ meals. It is imperative for fast food restaurants to adopt this change to make a positive contribution to the health of our children.

Sign the petition to support #waterwiththat.

Historic agreement achieved as stop work averted

It's time to smile as our historic stand against unfair pay and working conditions for dentists employed in community health clinics finally pays off.

A 24-hour work stoppage has been averted as the government finally guarantees funding for an agreement for dentists employed in community health clinics.

Ongoing industrial action, effective targeted advocacy, the strong united voice of ADAVB members and the looming 24-hour strike has finally secured funding for a mirror agreement for community dentists, in-line with hospital dentists in Victoria.

This momentous achievement follows 15 months of stalled negotiations, while their public hospital colleagues signed an in-principle agreement in June 2018.

Thank you to all public sector members for your courage and persistence, we couldn't have done it without you. A strong, sustainable and fair public dental system is vital for the entire dental profession and we will continue to lobby for improved access to public dental care for vulnerable Victorians.

Find out more:

Strike action media release
Strike action FAQs

Community health dentists to stop work to demand fair pay

Victorian dentists employed in community health centres (CHCs) are making a significant stand against unfair pay and working conditions by stopping work on 17 September for 24 hours and holding a demonstration at Parliament House. In Victoria, dentists have never stopped work or participated in a demonstration of this scale.

Join us and show your support

Work in the city or don’t work on Mondays? Join our demonstration on the steps of Parliament House at 12pm. Your colleagues need your voice to help them achieve the fair pay and working conditions they deserve.

Date: Monday 17 September
Time: 12pm to 1pm
Location: Parliament House, Spring St, East Melbourne

Who can participate in the stoppage?

ONLY dentists working in the following clinics on Monday 17 September from 7am may participate in the 24-hour work stoppage. Dentists taking action must be ADAVB members and must have nominated the ADAVB as their bargaining representative. 

• Merri Health
• EACH
• Co-Health
• Your Community Health
• Dianella and Plenty Valley Community Health
• North Richmond Community Health 
• IPC Health
• Connect Health and Community 
• Healthability and Carrington Health
• Link Health and Community
• Inspiro
• Latrobe Community Health Service

To nominate ADAVB as your bargaining representative go to nominate.adavb.org to complete the online form (member login required).

Why is the stop work occurring?

After 15 months of detailed negotiations an agreement has not been reached for ADAVB members employed in CHCs. This is in contrast to the in-principle agreement achieved for their public hospital colleagues in June 2018. Currently, five organisations have informally agreed to implement the public hospital sector agreement.

Protected industrial action has already commenced at the majority of CHCs, including the 30-minute stoppage which occurred on 22 August. This received positive media attention, shining a much-needed spotlight on the community dental sector. However, this action did not result in a comparable offer made to dentists employed in the community health sector.

See you at the demonstration! 

Anyone can attend the public demonstration. Support your colleagues at the demonstration on the steps of Parliament House and be part of a historic event! Help your colleagues get the respect they deserve and the care that vulnerable Victorians need. A strong, fair and sustainable public dental system is vital for the entire dental profession. It highlights the critical role that dentists play in health care and promotes the important role of oral health in overall health. 

Not a member? 
Now is the time to join and make a real difference to #RespectPublicDentistry. Please email ask@adavb.org for membership enquiries. 

FAQs - Find out more