Dental health was in the spotlight last week when a team from Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV), The University of Melbourne and La Trobe University were awarded a prestigious Victorian Public Healthcare Award for their efforts to improve community access to dental services. The Awards pay tribute to Victoria’s outstanding healthcare leaders and acknowledge their remarkable achievements.
For more information on the awards, check out their website here.
The Victorian Minister for Health, David Davis awarded Prof Hanny Calache, Director of Clinical Leadership, Education and Research at DHSV and his team, with the ‘Developing a Capable and Engaged Workforce Award’ for a project that focussed on expanding the scope of practice of dental therapists. The project resulted in dental therapists being able to treat patients aged 26 years and over.
Prof Calache said the project is being acknowledged at a time when dental health issues are at the forefront of the health agenda in Australia.
“Expanding scope of practice is a very powerful strategy. It means that more Victorians will be able to access quality public oral health services,” he said.
Prof Calache hopes that the project will serve as a model for other health organisations facing the same workforce challenges as DHSV.
Chief Executive Officer of DHSV, Dr Deborah Cole, is thrilled at the team’s achievement.
“I am so proud of the work that Hanny and his team have done. This project is a great example of public health professionals working together to address challenges,” Dr Cole said.
Dr Cole added that many people don’t realise how prevalent oral health conditions are in the community.
“Dental caries have an economic impact comparable to that of heart disease and diabetes, and preventable oral diseases create substantial pain and suffering for Victorians. We can change that. We can make a real difference to the lives of Victorians if we are innovative and brave enough to facilitate change.”
Prof Calache and his team have been working since 2007 to help increase access to dental services, particularly for the disadvantaged and those in rural areas. He stressed that the project was a team effort, involving over a hundred people throughout Victoria.
“I wish that everyone involved in the project could have accepted the award with me. It is such an honour to be recognised in this way. I feel truly humbled by it all.”
Major outcomes of the project included:
A change in Victorian legislation in 2009 which resulted in the removal of the age restriction that prevented dental therapists from treating patients aged 26 years and over.
In 2010, ten dental therapists were granted an extended scope of clinical practice to treat adults 26 years and over.
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I am extremely pleased to hear this. I am an OHT (Dental therapist/hygienist), how do I go about getting this to happen & work here in Qld, as we have a very high rate of caries throughout the State.
Regards
Leigh
Over one hundred people thoughout Victoria working since 2007 to achieve expansion of the role of therapists seems less than noteworthy. The emphasis on caries suggests that simplistic increase in human resources will be unlikely to resolve the 89 % rate of periodotitis in Australia.
That is a good point Neil. Oral health therapists main emphasis is on the promotion of oral health in the first place and then on prevention – the prevention, diagnosis and treament of dental caries and periodontal diseases. I think OHTs have a great deal to offer the public and are a key member of the dental team.