Posted in CEO Updates

Adelaide Dental Symposium

The 2025 Adelaide Dental Symposium was a great success, delivering a 10% increase in visitor numbers compared to last year’s inaugural event. The strong attendance showed how much practitioners value opportunities for professional development and networking in South Australia, as well as the chance to get hands-on with the latest dental equipment and explore recent innovations in the market.

The program delivered a balance of clinical and business insights, supported by a boutique exhibition that allowed for meaningful conversations with suppliers and peers.

It was our pleasure to welcome Kristy Nixon, Director of Service Quality and Performance Improvement at the South Australian Dental Service, who attended the symposium and met with several exhibitors. Kristy was particularly interested in innovative dental technology that can extend oral health services beyond traditional clinic settings, such as in aged-care facilities and rural or remote regions.

I’d like to thank our speakers, exhibitors, and attendees for contributing to such a productive and energising event. Your participation helps us create a platform that not only educates but also strengthens connections within the dental community.

ADIA 100 Years Celebration

The ADIA 100-year black-tie gala was a truly special moment for our Association. More than 230 members gathered to reconnect, celebrate, and reflect on a century of growth and achievement. It was inspiring to see so many familiar faces come together, sharing stories and renewing connections that have helped shape our industry over the decades.

From the heartfelt welcome by the KARI Singers to the energy and laughter of Brian Nankervis’ RocKwiz: Magic Edition, the evening was filled with moments that reminded me why our community is so strong. It wasn’t just a celebration of our history, but also of the relationships, achievements and shared commitment that will carry us confidently into the next century.

Thank you to Whitely and Henry Schein One for their generous sponsorship of the event, helping us celebrate this milestone in style.

Upcoming State Branch Briefings

Our August and September State Branch Briefings are an opportunity to collaborate, share your insights, and have your voice heard on ADIA’s future direction. These briefings also allow you to network with fellow members who are equally invested in strengthening our industry.

The briefings will be held in a hybrid format, giving you the flexibility to attend either in person or online. Whether you join us on site or via video link, your participation helps ensure ADIA stays responsive to the needs and priorities of its members. I look forward to seeing you there. Register now

ADX Sydney - Start Planning Now

Looking ahead to our flagship event, now is the time to start planning your ADX Sydney 2026 presence.

The easiest customers to sell to are the ones you already have - so use ADX as a chance to strengthen those relationships. Give your customers a reason to reconnect with your brand by inviting them to a client dinner or the Women in Dentistry breakfast, then bring them back to your stand to continue the conversation. Plan stand activities or promotions that make it worth their time to stop by. Consider your staffing needs early, and where possible, source locally to manage costs.\

By focusing on retention and deepening engagement with your existing customers, you’ll maximise your return on investment long after the event is over.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to strengthen and grow the Australian dental industry.

National Oral Health Plan Workshops

On 3-4 December, Dr Sarah Raphael, ADIA Director of Policy and Education was among 28 key stakeholders who attended the co-design development workshops for the next National Oral Health Plan 2015-2034 (NOHP) in Canberra.

The Commonwealth Department of Health (the Department) has established a Governance Group to lead and oversee the development of the next NOHP, which includes representation from all public oral health jurisdictions and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

The role of the NOHP Governance Group is to lead the development of key focus areas and priorities of the NOHP, a performance monitoring plan to track the implementation and outcomes and an on-going governance mechanism to track the achievement and progress of the NOHP strategic objectives and goals. As part of this role, the Governance Group have assembled a NOHP Stakeholder Group.
 

The Stakeholder Group

The stakeholder group is tasked with reviewing the previous NOHP and collaboratively developing key priorities for the next NOHP. This group includes:

• ADIA
• Professional associations including Aust Dental Assoc (ADA), Aust Dental and Oral Health Therapists Association (ADOHTA), Dental Hygienists Assoc of Aust (DHAA), Aust Dental Prosthetists Assoc (ADPA), Dental Assistants Professional Assoc (DAPA) , Aust and NZ Academy of Special Needs Dentistry (ANZASND) and the Indigenous Dental Assoc Australia (IDAA)
• Australian Council of Dental Schools
• Aust Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), the Dental Board of Australia (DBA) and the Australian Dental Council (ADC)
• National Oral Health Alliance (NOHA), Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF), Council on the Ageing (COTA)

During the first two workshops, the Stakeholder Group facilitated by HealthConsult, provided guidance for the development of the next NOHP. Many parts of the previous NOHP remain appropriate such as the aim to target improved oral health outcomes by addressing the disparities in access to oral healthcare, especially among identified priority populations including people who are socially disadvantaged or on low incomes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people living in rural and remote areas and people with additional or specialised healthcare needs.
 

ADIA wins on the board

Membership of the NOHP stakeholder group has provided ADIA with two significant wins: Firstly, it was the first time that ADIA took a seat at the table as we were not represented in the development of Healthy Mouths, Health Lives: Australia’s National Oral Health Plan 2015-2024 or previous plans. This has resulted from ADIA’ s strategic stakeholder relationship plan building strong ties with policymakers, the Department and other key health organisations.

Secondly, this opportunity has provided the platform to profile the use of innovative oral health technology to reform oral health service provision into the future. Dr Raphael highlighted with the group, the important place for technology and informatics in enabling improvements in oral health outcomes in Australia over the next decade.

The final workshop, scheduled for March 2025 will then focus on the review and refinement of the draft NOPH that is being developed by the Department, following these first two workshops. Final approval of the NOHP will ultimately be from the Health Ministers’ Meeting.   

We will keep you informed of the progress over the coming months. If you would like to provide feedback or find out more about the NOHP or other ADIA advocacy initiatives, please contact us at advocacy@adia.org.au or call Dr Sarah Raphael on 02 8399 8707.

Wishing you a safe and happy festive season!