A new preventive oral health education focus

An innovative new Oral Health Partnership between The University of Newcastle and The University of Adelaide will finally see a Dental Hygiene School established in New South Wales. The largest by population of the Australian states legalised the practice of Dental Hygiene nearly 20 years ago (November 1985) but to date is the only mainland state not to educate hygienists.

The introduction of a Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH), that will educate Dental Hygienists in clinical, oral health promotion and research skills to provide more preventive dentistry on an individual and community scale, was just one of a number of exciting components of the Partnership announced.

A forum of dental professional constituents, dental industry leaders and prominent faculty heads and staff were present at the launch event at the Ourimbah campus of The University of Newcastle on January 23, 2004 to hear details of the planned program.

"The University of Newcastle offers the broadest and most diverse allied medicine and nursing programs in all of Australia," said Professor Roger Holmes, Vice Chancellor of The University of Newcastle. "[This Partnership] is truly a unique opportunity to bring together attributes of an 80 year old University [University of Adelaide] into a progressive organisation [University of Newcastle] and faculty of Health."

Adjunctive aims of the Partnership include integrating Oral Health education throughout all of the Health Sciences courses; providing opportunities for The University of Adelaide final year dental students to gain experience in the Hunter Valley and Rural placements; arranging post-graduate, specialist education opportunities with the primary focus on the significant shortage of Specialist Paedodontists in Regional and Rural areas; and formal continuing dental education courses.

The birth of this merger was literally born in mid-air when Professor John Marley, the Pro Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences at the University of Newcastle, and Professor Vivian Burgess, the Dean of the Dental School at the University of Adelaide and Honorary Professor of Oral Health at the University of Newcastle, were on a flight from London to Dubai and discussed oral health and oral health education.

Twenty-five years ago The University of Newcastle shook up medical education with its innovative approach, to which all Medical Schools in Australia now follow as of last year. The University of Newcastle anticipate the same happening with their innovative approach to Oral Health Education.