Dental workforce report demonstrates shortages are a myth
Date:
Fri, 15/06/2012
Spokesperson:
Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA)
The latest dental workforce figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in its report Trends in the Australian Dental Labour Force, 2000 to 2009: dental labour force collection 2009 support the view of the Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) that dental workforce shortages are a myth.
The AIHW report presented findings from the 2009 national dental labour force data collection and explored workforce trends since 2000. It demonstrated the substantial increase in the number of dental professionals over this period. Dentist numbers grew from 46.9 to 54.1 practising dentists per 100,000 population – that is a 15% increase. The number of dental hygienists doubled and oral health therapists numbers increased by almost 60%.
“The ADA has been trying to make government aware of the growth in the dental workforce for some time now and this report justifies our position,” stated ADA President, Dr Shane Fryer.
“Government has seen the need to consider reform within the dental workforce to meet what it saw as shortages but the statistics demonstrate there is absolutely no need for this type of action.”
“As the report is based on 2009 statistics the ADA knows that there has been even further substantial growth since then and more is expected in the coming years. In 2012, the Dental Board of Australia indicated dental practitioner numbers have now reached more than 20,000 – an increase of a further 27% on 2009.”
“Even the maldistribution problem that exists with shortages of dentists in rural and remote regions is improving. This will only be enhanced by the Australian Government’s Budget announcement of the provision of grants to dentists who are prepared to establish a practice in rural and remote areas. Continuing to increase the number of students entering dental education and training programs is clearly unnecessary and expenditure here would be better directed to improving facilities and teaching staff levels in dental schools,” said Dr Fryer.
Media Contact: Bryan Nguyen (02) 9906 4412 0432 720 213
