NSW PRESIDENT'S REPORT

This will be my first, and last President's Report for NSW ACDLA, as soon, we will be completing the transition to OPHA. As the new organisation emerges, it will be an organisation for dental technicians, and student dental technicians, not just laboratory owners. We are currently actively seeking new members through the existing laboratory membership.

This year has been extremely busy, with many tasks achieved, the first being, an office move to Mascot. We have set up a new office in Coward Street, Mascot, providing a professional atmosphere for our organisation.

As we all know, Jan Sullivan recently retired from our organisation, having tirelessly supported us for the last 17 years. I would like to thank Jan, most sincerely, for her hard work and commitment, and offer our best wishes, for her well deserved retirement. It was always going to be difficult to find someone to fill her shoes, however, luckily, we have been able to find someone to do this task, her name is Sam Dagasso. I'd like all of our members to welcome Sam to the role of Executive Officer. She can be approached by any of the members, at any stage, for professional advice.

Dentechno 08 was again a big success, even though numbers were slightly down from last year, due to the stormy weather on the day. We seem to be growing out of our venues for Dentechno as quickly as we find them. Next year we will endeavour to find a larger venue.

On a political level, the use of David Brand, our lobbyist, over the last 12 months has seen more happen for the ACDLA, than I can remember in recent years. He, in conjunction, with others has lobbied Government regarding TGA, and sub-standard imported work, and I would like to thank David and all who have been involved, for this wonderful effort.

With regard to insurance, we are currently investigating opportunities for competitive insurance rates for our members, on a number of levels, including public liability and public indemnity, and possibly other general insurances. Our aim is to be able to provide extremely competitive premiums to our members.

We have also upgraded our website, members are now able to log in, and receive up to the minute information, on a variety of subjects.

We continue to provide an ongoing commitment to laboratories, by providing an accreditation system that will guarantee a specific standard of laboratory work to dentists. This is something that all laboratories should achieve as a guarantee against substandard work. Each accredited laboratory will have available, a certificate to send out with each case, addressed to the patient, guaranteeing that the laboratory passes OH & S standards, uses TGA approved materials, and the work is constructed to the highest possible quality. For more information on accreditation, please contact our Executive Officer.

We are also in the process of updating the ACDLA's OH & S booklet, which every laboratory should have, and use in their lab. With this document you are able to provide a laboratory that meets all OH & S guidelines.

This year we also saw the introduction of a new TAFE course for dental technicians. This course, in my opinion, is a very good course, but still lacks enough practical hours for students to achieve a satisfactory skill level. Students need to gain more experience in a laboratory situation, and also be provided with a good learning environment at work.

We have introduced two student kits, which can be purchased either by the student or the employer, so as to provide the right tools during the training process. Students cannot learn without the correct tools. The ACDLA is also committed to helping students to find employment in our industry, through our contact with relevant employers.

The final topic, and probably the most important is the formation of OPHA. This organisation will be a giant leap forward for our industry, and hopefully, will provide the numbers for us to be taken seriously by Government bodies. If you are interested in the survival of our industry, by stopping sub-standard work from reaching our shores, and providing a better career path for dental auxiliaries, then you need to be a member of OPHA, by not being a member, you'll be aiding the erosion of all of these things, plus more.