Message from the Chair

Welcome to the 2009 Program of Courses following a year of successful activities in 2008, there is much to interest you again this year.

You will notice, on a number of courses, the logo of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. The committee is pleased to have arranged an association with the college whereby the College has certified those courses it deems suitable for study by candidates for the new Membership in General Dental Practice qualification now offered by the College. We look forward to co-operating further with the College in pursuing our mutual goals of encouraging dental practitioners to continue their education.

In another move, the Committee is this year reaching out to International Dental Graduates who seek to qualify for practice in Australia through the ADC examination process. As well as the opportunity to participate in our advertised courses, they will be offered “pre-examination” refresher courses.

Knowledge, they say, is power. With forecasts of impending recession which we all hope will not eventuate, expectations of reduced patient demand can be compensated. This is the time when a critical look can be taken at our overall practice operation and there is time for planning for the future in terms of equipment, surgery refurbishment, systems and procedures and staffing. The opportunity of increasing our exposure to further education is also available through membership of various special interest societies as well as the many course promotions constantly before you. Then when we are busy again we are operating at a new level, contributing further to our practice success and our patient’s well-being.

We are pleased to recognise our Director, Glenn Butcher, Ross Corrigan and Florence Tager for their continued outstanding performance in the success of the faculty’s continuing education program.

We continue to enjoy the support of industry sponsorship and again I ask you to support those who help to bring you these courses.

Again, we are grateful the Dean, Professor Schwarz, for his leadership and support and we are grateful, too, to all our course presenters who make such an effort to ensure that you receive an outstanding learning experience.

Best wishes for 2009 to you all. Please enjoy our new program.

Bill Dawes