NEW DENTAL GRADUATE HANDBOOK PUBLISHED BY PEAK BODY - a dental profession survival guide for new dentists
The Australian Dental Association
3.9.25
NEW DENTAL GRADUATE HANDBOOK PUBLISHED BY PEAK BODY
A dental profession survival guide for new dentists
WITH UPDATES ON TAX, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR DENTAL GRADUATES, the latest edition of The Dental Graduate Handbook is the must-have survival guide for anyone entering the dental profession.
The latest edition of The Dental Graduate Handbook published by the Australian Dental Association (ADA) in early September, is a comprehensive resource for newly accredited Australian and overseas trained dentists to get their professional careers off to a flying start.
The new edition has a whole host of fresh information including:
*Tax, superannuation and financial information relevant to the current financial year including indexation rates and tax thresholds, as well as income thresholds for repaying down Higher Education Loan Program debts.
*With dentists poised to enter a new three-year CPD cycle from December 2025, the Handbook outlines the process of meeting Dental Board of Australia (DBA) expectations when it comes to what’s acceptable CPD, and how the ADA can assist in watching and logging content. It also outlines CPD registration requirements set by the DBA and defines the percentage of clinical and scientific learning that must be undertaken.
*Updated information on each state branch including radiation licensing as well as branch-specific offerings such as in-person CPD courses and indemnity insurance.
*Updated HR content on a range of employment contracts, helpful QR codes for HR advice and state-specific advisory service information for graduates with HR queries.
*Advice on finding a graduate job, crafting a resume, nailing a job interview and considering potential employers.
*Mental health services in each state.
*For international dentists who’ve completed the ADC certification process and registered to work in Australia, the Handbook has state-specific information on insurance, government-funded dental schemes such as the CDBS, employment contracts, and even a sample resume and interview tips to help start their dental career in Australia.
Additional Handbook features:
- The AHPRA Registration process explanation for both Australian and overseas trained dentists.
- QR codes for members, providing access to all key ADA resources such as the Schedule & Glossary, Infection Control Guidelines and the ADA’s HR service.
- Peer networking.
- Medicines information from our Pharmaceutical Advice service, a key ADA member benefit.
- Continuing education providers if graduates want to obtain specialist qualifications.
ADA President Dr Sanzaro said: “The DGH covers key aspects of the profession which graduates need to not only begin well, but continue successfully throughout the years ahead."
New dental graduate Dr Bobby Cao said: “The Handbook gives the new grad a good understanding of the different types of contracts, insurance and job types that are out there. Many new grads might not know this information and wouldn’t know where to search for it.
“The insurance section was particularly helpful – most grads are in their early 20s and wouldn’t know anything about insurance. The state-specific radiation licensing information was also beneficial, as were the tips for labs. While most new grads might not be super interested in this right now - they just want to find a job - I believe many will come back to it when they start working.”
Further DGH information:
The Handbook, available in both hard copy and digital, sits behind a paywall and is free to dental students and graduates who are ADA members and for whom ADA membership is free.
This free membership also extends to Graduands (a dentist joining the Association in the financial year in which they completed their entry to practice degree) until the commencement of the next complete subscription year. Following this, membership is then discounted for 1st and 2nd year graduates to allow them to find their feet in the industry before having to pay an active full member rate.
The range of benefits for retaining membership beyond graduation can be found here: The value of ADA membership. | Australian Dental Association
The Handbook is distributed to ADA state branches to mail to upcoming graduates, and sent to the dental schools at James Cook University, the University of Sydney and Charles Sturt University for ADA student members.
To interview Dr Sanzaro or for more information about the DGH, contact
ADA Media Advisor Jenny Barlass 0497 748 331
Contact details:
ADA Media Advisor Jenny Barlass
0497 748 331.
