The Australian Dental Council was formed in 1993 by the State and Territory Dental Boards and the Australian Dental Association (ADA).
The functions of the Australian Dental Council are:
- to advise and make recommendations to State and Territory Dental Boards and Dental Practice Boards in relation to:
– the accreditation of education courses leading to a dental qualification, conducted by Australian dental schools,
– the assessment of the suitability for practice in Australia of persons with overseas dental qualifications, and
– uniform criteria for recognition of qualifications for registration - to hold copies of the registers of each State and Territory Dental Board
- to provide advice on matters concerning the occupational regulation, including general and specialist registration, of dentists and para-dental personnel
- to do all such other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of any of the above objects.
The ADC is a registered corporation limited by guarantee. Membership is drawn from a broad cross section of the groups associated with the standards of dental practice in Australia and includes nominees of:
- representatives of the Dental Boards of the States and Territories of Australia (each Board nominating one member),
- the Committee of Dental Deans of Australia and New Zealand Dental Schools,
- the Australian Dental Association Inc (incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory),
- the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, and
- the Dental Council of New Zealand (observer status).
It is not a statutory body; however, the accreditation and examination functions of the ADC are reflected in relevant State and Territory Dental Acts and associated regulations.
The main function of the ADC at establishment was to accredit Australian University Dental Schools so that the Boards could be assured that standards are comparable throughout the Commonwealth.
The ADC functions through a series of standing Committees and Working Parties with a wide range of expertise in dental education and practice. The principal standing committees are the Accreditation Committee, the Uniformity Committee and the Overseas Trained Dentists Assessment and Advisory Committee.
The ADC is serviced by a secretariat located in Melbourne.
Oversight of the ADC’s operations is via the Executive Committee, which acts on behalf of the Board between Board meetings. The Executive Committee comprises ADC President, Deputy President, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, and Chairs of principal standing committees. The Executive of the Board of Directors, elected by the Board of Directors, meets either in camera or by teleconference two to three times each year.
