Australia gets a new peak professional association to address oral health needs of the community

17 December 2024

Members of the Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapists’ Association Ltd (ADOHTA) and Dental Hygienists Association of Australia Limited (DHAA) overwhelmingly supported and passed the special resolution to establish a new peak professional association to represent and support Oral Health Practitioners (OPHs, including Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists and Oral Health Therapists) in Australia.

The new association will be called Oral Health Association of Australia Ltd (OHAA). It is anticipated that the OHAA will take over full operation from ADOHTA and DHAA on 1 July 2025. It will offer streamlined and fit-for-purpose services, high-quality CPD, and significantly enhanced representation for OHPs in Australia.

More importantly, the OHAA unifies OHPs under one umbrella and strengthens the profession’s capacity to support excellence in innovative models of care that improve oral health in the community. The new OHAA leadership combines the talents of two highly regarded peak bodies and is in a much stronger position to drive changes to address the long time neglect of oral health needs in the community through consolidated efforts in advocacy, workforce training and public education.

The ADOHTA and DHAA would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our fellow board directors, the project team Towards One Professional Association (TOPA) Working Group, external stakeholders and the many members of both associations who provided their advice and support over the past five years leading to this momentous milestone for the profession.

Media contact:

ADOHTA: Michell Weekes [email protected]
DHAA:  Bill Suen [email protected] 0412831 669