Monday, September 23, 2019

North, east, south, west: Find where you fit best

No matter where you are located in Victoria, there is a place for you in an ADAVB group.
Attending your local group events has many benefits. Among them:
  • Get to know other local ADAVB members. Dentistry can often be an isolating profession. Being involved in your local group will connect you with other members near you.
  • Meet ADAVB councillors and connect with the ADAVB. Councillors attend each group event so it’s the perfect opportunity to share your ideas, concerns and achievements and to find out what the ADAVB is up to.
  • Avoid a long commute for CPD and training, as your local group holds events in your local area. Each group typically holds two to four events per year. The events usually consist of a presentation or seminar followed by a networking dinner. Some groups also run day events and conferences. 
  • Earn extra CPD hours (which is especially important as we near the end of the current CPD cycle) and have direct access to expert presenters covering a range of topics.
So what are you waiting for? Get involved in your ADAVB group today.
Upcoming group events
ADAVB group chairs can be contacted via our website adavb.net by visiting: About us > Our Structure > Regional Group Chairs.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

EBAs finalised across the public sector

We are pleased to announce that dentists at all Victorian public sector dental clinics are now covered by the new Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs) following a successful vote at Sunbury Community Health, pending review and approval by the Fair Work Commission.

We encourage public sector members to familiarise themselves with entitlements in the new EBAs. Refer to the FAQs below:

General dentists
Specialist dentists

We are currently working with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) and the Victorian Hospitals’ Industrial Association (the employers’ bargaining representative) to clarify backpay entitlements for employees, who were employed in the public sector on or after 1 July 2018, but moved on before their agreement was implemented.

Criteria and an allocation plan for the level four and five clinical/managerial hybrid positions are currently being developed by the DHHS and DHSV. The DHHS limited the number of funded hybrid positions available, and the allocation plan must take this into consideration. More information will be provided to you when these matters are resolved.

Make the most of your annual CPD/membership reimbursement

This great entitlement under the new EBA provides up to $2000 for reimbursement of ADAVB membership and CPD training costs each year (pro-rata for part-time employees, not payable to casuals). This can be claimed back from your employer following provision of receipts, to be claimed against the allowance related to the year in which it was paid.

For example, if you paid for your 2019-20 ADAVB membership fee in June 2019, then you would claim this against your 2018-19 professional support allowance because the reimbursement relates to the date of payment.

Not an ADAVB member? With new EBAs that include CPD and membership reimbursements, now is the time to join your colleagues and make a real difference to respect public dentistry. Please email us as ask@adavb.org for further information.

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

It's Women's Health Week

During Women’s Health Week (2-6 September) the ADAVB is encouraging women to make seeing their dentist a priority. Dental health is often overlooked, however poor dental health can have a huge effect on our overall health.

According to the Jean Hailes Foundation, the two biggest barriers for women not maintaining a healthy lifestyle is ‘lack of time’ and ‘health not being a priority’. Women’s Health Week is the time to do something for your health and start making positive changes that can last a lifetime.

It is important for women to see their dentist at least once per year not only for check-ups but to also learn about how to protect their teeth and gums during periods of hormonal change in various life stages such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause.

The ADA's 2018 Oral Health Tracker reported that only 55 per cent of Australians had visited the dentist in the last six months and only 57 per cent of women brush their teeth twice a day1. The Australian Women's Oral Health Survey in 2015 found that two thirds (67.1 per cent)3 of Australian teenage girls going through puberty don’t regularly visit the dentist.

A 2017 Jean Hailes research study found that the health condition women were most concerned about was menopause2. The 2015 ADA study found that of those entering menopause, almost half (48.9 per cent) had experienced signs of gum disease including sensitive teeth (26.9 per cent) and dry mouth (14.4 per cent), yet 70 per cent admitted they did not visit the dentist regularly3.

Dr Gitika Sanghvi, ADAVB President, said, “There are many myths surrounding dental work during pregnancy with some of our research indicating that over half of women surveyed avoided a visit to the dentist during pregnancy. It is very important to visit the dentist during pregnancy, as hormone changes can make gums more prone to bleeding, swelling and inflammation. Women going through menopause should also make time for regular dental visits. Dry mouth and gum disease are common ageing and menopausal related dental health issues. These can better managed or avoided through regular visits to your dentist and by following your dentist’s advice.”

A range of helpful oral health fact sheets are available on the ADAVB and ADA websites including topics such as oral health and lifestyle risks, ageing, menopause and pregnancy.

Learn more:

Oral health fact sheets

Your dental health

Find a dentist

References

1. 2018 ADA Oral Health Tracker: Download Technical Appendix Download Tracker PDF

2. Jean Hailes Women’s Health Survey 2017. https://jeanhailes.org.au/survey2017/report_2017.pdf

3. Australian Women’s Oral Health Survey, March 2015, conducted by Pure Profile commissioned by the Australian Dental Association.

Monday, September 02, 2019

Inaugural ADAVB BOQ Specialist recent graduate bursary announced

A Yarra Ranges dentist committed to ongoing professional development has been awarded the inaugural ADAVB BOQ Specialist Recent Graduate Bursary.

Dr Amy Thompson will receive $5000 to put towards ADAVB CPD training courses after being named the recipient of the coveted bursary. Launched in July, the bursary aims to recognise and reward recent dental graduates who are committed to high quality learning by providing financial support for further professional development.

Graduating from La Trobe University in 2017, Dr Thompson then relocated to the Yarra Ranges district where she now shares her time between Inspiro, a community clinic in Lilydale and Your New Dentist, a private clinic in Mooroolbark.

Dr Thompson said she was “completely blown away” by the unexpected news that she had been awarded the bursary. “I received the news right before seeing a client so I had to take a moment to compose myself and stop my hands from shaking from excitement!”

Commenting on the bursary and how it will benefit her as a recent graduate, Dr Thompson said, “The bursary will definitely help me to reach both my clinical and non-clinical goals sooner, and allow me to continue to absorb as many skills and as much knowledge as possible during these early formative years of my career.”

ADAVB President, Dr Gitika Sanghvi, said, “We are delighted to offer the inaugural recent graduate bursary to Dr Thompson. She has shown incredible strength and commitment to both her work and her ongoing professional development, while at the same time promoting the importance of mental health and sharing her own personal experiences.”

“Dr Thompson has taken a broad approach to her learning, exploring a wide range of dentistry areas and overcoming difficult personal circumstances to create for herself a fulfilling career where she acknowledges there is always more to learn. Her openness to further development, her heartfelt commitment to her patients, and her quest for development of confidence and independence were qualities that were hard to look by,” said Dr Sanghvi.

Find out more