ADIA CEO Update: 4 December 2025

Recent State Branch meetings across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth have given ADIA a clear snapshot of how members are tracking and what you need from us next.

This update brings together the national market picture, key advocacy work, a new early-years pilot, major events on the horizon and a link to the ADIA Annual Report 2025.

The market: under pressure, still resilient

Member feedback tells a familiar story - but with more resilience than the headlines suggest.

• Trading conditions: New South Wales is facing a tighter environment, while Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia are reporting a steadier finish to the year.

• Staffing: Retaining and attracting the right people, especially auxiliary staff, remains a consistent challenge.

• Costs: Input costs, potential tariffs and currency shifts are still squeezing margins.

Even in this context, many businesses reported stronger-than-expected Q4 results, underlining how adaptable the sector continues to be.

Advocacy: turning member feedback into outcomes

Guided by what you’re seeing day to day, ADIA’s advocacy work has focused on access, affordability and regulatory certainty.

Recent highlights include:

• Direct engagement with government through the Federal Labor Business Exchange, putting member issues in front of senior decision-makers.

• Sector alignment via the National Oral Health Sector Forum, with a shared focus on community water fluoridation and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).

• Regulatory progress with the TGA now recognising UK conformity assessment certificates, with fees moving in line with CPI and the Wage Price Index.

New pilot: “Bite-sized Beginnings”

Low utilisation of the CDBS - despite benefits of up to $1,132 for eligible children - remains a concern.

To help address this, ADIA is preparing to launch “Bite-sized Beginnings” in Q2 next year. The pilot will:

• Pair Early Learning Centres with dental clinics

• Provide oral health education and free assessments

• Test a model that can be scaled nationally if successful

The goal is simple: get more children into care earlier and reduce preventable oral health issues over time.

Events: a big year ahead

Events remain a key way ADIA connects the industry and supports member growth.

• ADX Sydney (March): On track to be our biggest ADX yet, with strong exhibitor numbers and delegate registrations ahead of 2024.

• Women in Dentistry Breakfast: At ADX Sydney, Jenn Morris OAM OLY - dual Olympic gold medallist and ASX Board Director - will headline the breakfast.

• Adelaide Dental Symposium (August) and ADX Brisbane (October): Focused CPD, networking and supplier connections in their home states.

ADIA Annual Report 2025: the full picture

For members wanting the complete story - from advocacy and events to governance and finances - the ADIA Annual Report 2025 is now available.

Read the ADIA Annual Report 2025

Keep the feedback coming

Everything in this update started with members sharing what they’re seeing on the ground.

If you have local insights, emerging issues or ideas you’d like ADIA to consider in its advocacy, programs or events, please reach out so we can continue to represent and support the dental industry nationally.