On behalf of the ADIA Board, I am calling for nominations for election to the Board of the ADIA from appropriately credentialed individuals to serve as a Director for a two-year term, commencing after the 2026 AGM in November.

The call for nominations for three Director positions will be held between 27 August and 10 September 2026.

Commitment

Skills and Attributes

Next Steps

To nominate for the election, please forward a recent photo, short bio, and a paragraph of no more than 100 words outlining your reasons for wanting to support the dental industry as an ADIA Director, to the Association by COB Monday, 24 August 2026.

Nominations are to be emailed to Kym De Britt at [email protected]

On 23 and 24 July, ADIA Director of Policy and Education, Dr Sarah Raphael represented the association at the Federal Labor Business Exchange in Adelaide, held alongside the 50th Australian Labor Party National Conference.

Across the two-day program, Sarah met with senior members of the Albanese Government, including:

• Minister Mark Butler - Health and Ageing, Disability and the NDIS
• Minister Sam Rae - Aged Care and Seniors
• Assistant Minister Rebecca White - Women, Indigenous Health and Health and Aged Care
• Assistant Minister Emma McBride - Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Rural and Regional Health
• Minister Tanya Plibersek - Social Services
• Assistant Minister Ged Kearney - Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence
• Minister Jess Walsh - Early Childhood Education and Youth
• Minister Anne Aly - International Development, Small Business and Multicultural Affairs

The meetings provided an important opportunity to discuss the dental industry’s priorities and strengthen relationships with ministers responsible for health, aged care, social services and small business, all which intersect with the dental industry.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered the keynote address at the Business Exchange lunch.

A Roadmap to Oral Health Reform

A significant outcome from the National Conference was the passage of an amendment to Labor’s policy platform committing the party to develop a roadmap to include dental services in Medicare. The roadmap would use a staged and evidence-based approach to improve access, prioritising people at the highest risk in the community. This represents an important policy development for oral health and provides a foundation for further engagement on how any future expansion could be designed and delivered.

Last week ADIA returned to Australian Parliament House for its 2026 Parliamentary Roundtable. President Ryan Green together with ADIA Board directors and members met with parliamentarians and senior departmental representatives to discuss opportunities to improve oral health outcomes across Australia.

The Roundtable provided a direct forum for ADIA delegates to raise priority issues affecting the dental industry and the broader community. Discussions focused on improving awareness and uptake of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, supporting better access to oral health care in aged care, and ensuring product regulation balances patient safety expectations with the ability to foster innovative product technology in Australia.

A key focus of the day was ADIA’s Bite Sized Beginnings pilot, which attracted strong interest from both parliamentarians and senior members of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The program was recognised for its potential to support early childhood oral health education, reach families through early learning settings, and help identify oral health issues before they become serious. The discussions highlighted the value of case studies, stronger data and practical evidence to demonstrate how prevention can reduce avoidable hospitalisations and improve outcomes for children.

The roundtable also marked an important advocacy milestone, with the Parliamentary Friends of Dental and Oral Health group reformed and co-chaired by Senator Helen Polley and Dr Monique Ryan MP.

ADIA welcomed this important opportunity to engage with Parliamentarians and Departmental staff and guests in a constructive day of discussion. The insights shared will help inform ADIA’s ongoing advocacy for a stronger dental industry and better oral health for all Australians.

If you would like to discuss any areas of ADIA’s Government advocacy, please get in touch with ADIA Director of Policy and Education, Dr Sarah Raphael at [email protected]

Kylie Harris of Avant Dental receives ADIA Women in Dentistry Scholarship

The Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA) is pleased to announce Kylie Harris of Avant Dental as the recipient of the 2026 ADIA Women in Dentistry Scholarship.

Founded in 2020, the Women in Dentistry program promotes the professional advancement of women in the oral health sector through networking, mentoring, and education. With a focus on career progression, ADIA established the Women in Dentistry Scholarship to support the development of women in the Australian dental industry. The scholarship aims to expand the recipient's professional education and governance skillset, ultimately benefiting the broader sector.

As the 2026 recipient, Ms Harris will be enrolled into the one-week residential Australian Graduate School of Management General Manager Course. “Thank you very much for the opportunity, I am truly honoured to have been selected as the recipient of the 2026 ADIA Women in Dentistry Scholarship. I’m looking forward to undertaking the AGSM General Manager Program and making the most of this opportunity, while sharing my reflections throughout the year.” Said Ms Harris.

This scholarship is one of several Women in Dentistry initiatives led by ADIA. Throughout the year, the association hosts free webinars designed to upskill women in the dental industry and support their advancement into senior executive and c-suite roles. "The Women in Dentistry program is all about fostering career progression and leadership opportunities for women in the dental industry. We're proud to support initiatives like the scholarship and webinar program which empowers talented professionals to grow their skills and contribute to the future of our sector." Said Kym De Britt, CEO of ADIA.

For more information about the Women in Dentistry program, webinars and future scholarship opportunities, visit adia.org.au/women-in-dentistry

Welcome to your monthly TGA and technical update. As your industry representative, your views shape the responses we make to consultations on everything from fees and charges to patient safety and sharing of your medical device data. If you have feedback on regulatory and technical matters, please get in contact at any time

What would the TGA Conformity Assessment Proposal mean for you?

Updates to the AusUDID

Improvements to the online portal and machine to machine HL7 SPL submission method are now live on the AusUDID portal. You can view the Release Notes for more information.

The AusUDID Grace Period in the AusUDID Production environment has been extended from 7 days to 30 days, allowing  additional time to correct any errors from the early stages of the AusUDID data loading.

Guidance for Surgical Loan Kits has also been published.

Non-compliance on Annual Reporting can lead to ARTG cancellation

Annual reports for Class III and Class IIb devices for the first 3 years of inclusion on the ARTG are mandatory and are due on 1 October each year. The TGA is actioning compliance measures including ARTG cancellation for Sponsors who fail to submit on time.

You can find guidance on submitting annual reports here.

Product Recalls, Alerts and Corrections (PRAC)

New resources are now available, including FAQs, guidance on compliance, and minor changes to the PRAC, available here.

Adverse Event Terminology updated by IMDRF

Updated Adverse Event terminology, including revised terms, definitions and codes, has now been published on the IMDRF website.

Medical device supply disruptions from the Middle East

The TGA is monitoring disruptions or impacts to the supply of medical devices to Australia. If you are aware of disruptions or impacts from recent developments, please let the TGA know by emailing [email protected].

We will continue to provide you with technical updates each month.