The NSW Health Awards covering dental clinicians, technicians and assistants are out of date and not fit for purpose. Award Reform is a crucial once-in-a-generation opportunity to campaign for significant improvements and updates to working conditions.

For the past two years, HSU members of the Dental Industrial Advisory Committees have been collectively researching and developing proposed reforms in the following areas:

• Career progression and fair recognition for skills and qualifications.
• Conditions that will enable profession-wide staff retention and attraction.
• Ongoing evaluation of remuneration for the value of our work.
• Improved conditions when travel to alternative places of work is required (especially for dental assistants).
• Other issues that may emerge, relevant to the dental workforce.

HSU members have formed the following Dental Industrial Advisory Committees:

1. Dental Clinicians: dental officers and specialists, oral health therapists and dental hygienists, dental prosthetists.
2. Dental Support Professionals: dental assistants and dental technicians.

Now is the time to play your part and join colleagues who are driving the campaign for real Award reform within Dental Services. Please email [E-Mail not displayed] with the term Dental Award Reform in the subject line if you’d like to join your committee!

To win award reform, we have to build grassroots bargaining power from the membership. Your colleagues can join the HSU at www.hsu.asn.au/join or call 1300 478 679.