New dental health curriculum to support the next generation of Indigenous dental clinicians
A new curriculum commissioned by the Australasian Council of Dental Schools has been launched to equip graduate dental practitioners (oral health therapists, dentists, dental prosthetists and specialist dentists) with the appropriate knowledge and skills to provide culturally safe oral health care.
(L-R) Professor Julie Satur, Melbourne Dental School and project lead, Josh Cubillo, Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, and Dr Cathyrn Forsyth, University of Sydney, pictured at the launch event for the curriculum [missing: Joanne Bolton, University of Melbourne).
Through incorporating the expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the curriculum enables a culturally safe educational approach, marking an important first step towards addressing significant disparities in the prevalence of oral diseases between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The curriculum will be implemented over the next five years, and can be adapted to fit the delivery of Australia’s dental programs to meet the specific needs of their communities.