The Dental Board of Australia has reminded first-year dental students of their regulatory obligations to conform to the national law and national scheme through the release of student registration and information for graduates’ guides.

The Board pointed out that dental students in Australia enrolled in a program of study approved by the Dental Board qualifies these students for registration in the dental profession which will be processed by the education provider.

To acquaint students with this process, the Board published an outline and some vodcasts that answer basic questions from the students.

The guide can be accessed here: http://www.dentalboard.gov.au/Registration/Student-Registration.aspx

Dr John Lockwood AM, Chair of the Dental Board of Australia reiterated the importance of completing and understanding this process, he said:

“We all can recall what it was like in the first few months of dental study as you try and settle into university life and find your feet when it comes to your academic work. It is impossible to know everything straightaway. Students receive a lot of information; however information about their legal responsibilities is really important. Dental practitioner regulation is going to be an important part of their career on an ongoing basis, no time like the present to find out what it’s all about.”

The Board has laid out the following information for first year students:

• The Board regulates dental practitioners in Australia and its functions include:
  • registering dentists, students, dental specialists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists and dental prosthetists
  • developing standards, codes and guidelines for the dental profession
  • handling complaints against practitioners and students
  • assessing overseas-trained practitioners who wish to practise in Australia, and
  • approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study
• The Board’s functions are set out in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (act) – what we call the ‘National Law’
• The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the agency that supports the Board to implement their duties in the National Scheme.
• You don’t need to apply for student registration, your education provider does it on your behalf and there are no fees for registration as a student
• The Board may take action in relation to dental students in response to:
  • on impairment matters, or
  • when there is a conviction of a serious nature that may impact on public safety; read the Board’s Criminal history registration standard carefully
• Anyone can make a complaint (what we call a ‘notification’) about a student regarding their health or a criminal matter and the Board can consider if regulatory action is required to protect the public.
• The Board publishes an English language registration standard – you must meet this standard when you register as a dental practitioner at the end of your course.

The Board regularly publishes communiqués and newsletters on its website so you can keep up to date with what’s going on.

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