Dental school for Cairns

The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, today announced that a re-elected Coalition Government would establish a School of Tropical Dentistry at James Cook University’s Cairns campus at a cost of $52.5 million.

The school would have a 200-seat lecture theatre, an anatomy laboratory and clinical skills facilities. The school will accept 60 commencing students - starting in 2009 -every year and ensure that students undertake training in areas across North Queensland including in Townsville, Mackay, Proserpine, Atherton and Thursday Island.

“The new dentistry course will focus on those students with an interest in tropical and Indigenous health issues and will build the health workforce in this important part of Australia,” Minister Bishop said.

ADAVB supports water fluoridation

The following statement has been provided by the ADA South Australian Branch to clarify that Dr Andrew Harms, who is involved in an anti-fluoridation campaign, is no longer an office bearer of the ADA (nor is he an ADA member) and his views do not represent those of the ADA:

“The Australian Dental Association South Australian Branch Inc. (ADASA) is surprised and disappointed the Dr Andrew Harms is described as a past president of the Australian Dental Association in South Australia in a leaflet for a Fluoride Forum and Debate on the 25th of October in Geelong.

It is correct that Dr Harms was the president of ADASA over 10 years ago in 1996. It is the opinion of ADASA that the term “Past President of ADASA” should only be used in accordance with ADASA policy or business when public statements are being made. Dr Harms’ anti fluoridation stance is clearly not ADASA policy or ADA Inc. policy.”

The ADAVB also continues to support water fluoridation as a highly effective means by which to improve the oral health of the community. ADAVB endorses the 2006 statement by the World Health Organisation, the World Dental Federation and the International Association for Dental Research that “universal access to fluoride for dental health is a part of the basic human right to health”.

UNEP Practice Management Courses

ADAVB is pleased to work with the University of New England Partnerships (UNEP) to deliver the nationally recognised Certificate IV in Practice Management and the Diploma of Practice Management courses. These programs are dynamic, up-to-date, industry specific and designed to cover all of the essential skills and knowledge needed to manage a modern practice. The courses have evolved over many years and offer qualifications developed against the latest industry standards.

Courses for 2008 will commence in February and for more information, please contact ADAVB at (03) 9826 8318, email cpd@adavb.org or click here.

Delivering better oral health

Delivering better oral health: An evidence-based toolkit for prevention was recently published by the UK Department of Health and the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry.

This 57 page resource is offered as guidance to all members of the dental team on evidence based prevention. Section headings below indicate the range of topics and issues addressed:

1. Summary Guidance for Primary Care Dental Teams

2. Principles of toothbrushing for oral health

3. Increasing fluoride availability

4. Healthy eating advice

5. Identifying sugar-free medicines

6. Improving periodontal health

7. Stop smoking guidance

8. Accessing alcohol misuse support

9. Prevention of erosion

10. Supporting references

Health Expenditure Australia 2005/06

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a new report: Health expenditure Australia 2005-06.

This report examines expenditure on health goods and services in Australia for 1995-96 to 2005-06. It shows that Australia spent over $86.9 billion on health in 2005-06, an estimated rise of $5.8 billion since 2004-05.

The following extracts from the report will be of interest to members:
"In 2005–06, public hospital services and medical services received the highest amounts of government funding for recurrent expenditure ($22.5 billion and $12.2 billion respectively) (Table 15). In contrast, dental services and other health practitioners received $995 million and $711 million respectively."

"Individuals funded 66.9% of the $5.3 billion spent on dental services in 2005–06 (Table A3). For the period 2003–04 to 2005–06, real growth in dental services expenditure averaged 1.9% per year—1.9 percentage points below the annual real growth in total recurrent health expenditure of 3.8% (Table A8). In nominal terms, average annual growth for dental services expenditure was 7.2% during this period, 1.0 percentage points lower than the growth for total recurrent health expenditure of 8.2% (Table A7)."

The report presents expenditure estimates: at the aggregate level; as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP); on a per person basis; by state and territory; by comparison with selected OECD and Asia-Pacific countries; and by source of funding-Australian Government, other governments and the non-government sector.

Click on the link to view the media release and report.