Dental Board of Australia sets fee for 2020–21

18 Sep 2020

The Dental Board of Australia (the Board) has announced the 2020–21 national registration fee for dental practitioners.

The Board has increased the registration fee, limiting the increase to indexation of 3%. The new fees are:

• dentists and specialists: $701
• dental prosthetists: $623
• dental hygienists and therapists: $346

The Board’s decision to increase the fee by indexation for the 2020–21 period ensures the Board has sufficient income to allow it to carry out its duties and protect the public.

Board Chair, Dr Murray Thomas, said the Board was committed to keeping the fee as low as possible, while meeting its regulatory obligations to protect the public.

Ahpra and the Board have adapted regulatory approaches to support practitioners during 2020’s difficult circumstances, including introducing a COVID-19 financial hardship payment plan. To read more about the payment plan, including how to apply, see the Ahpra COVID-19 updates page.

‘We also want to support dental practitioner health and wellbeing during these extraordinary times,’ Dr Thomas said.

‘The Board has launched a nationwide support service, provided independently, so that confidential and immediate support, advice and referral is just a phone call away.’

An experienced team of counsellors at Dental Practitioner Support can be contacted 24/7 by calling 1800 377 700. More information is available at dpsupport.org.au and on the Board’s website.

‘The Board recognises that this is a challenging time for health practitioners and sincerely thanks dental practitioners for their continuing commitment and professionalism,’ Dr Thomas said.

Practitioner registration fees fund the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme) and support the Board’s continuing efforts to support and develop a safe and mobile Australian workforce for registered health practitioners and the public in the most efficient way possible.

Registration fees also allow the Board to facilitate the provision of high-quality education and training for practitioners.

The fee for practitioners whose principal place of practice is New South Wales:

• dentists and specialists: $858
• dental prosthetists: $774
• dental hygienists and therapists: $422

A full fee schedule, including the fee arrangements for practitioners whose principal place of practice is NSW, is published on the Board’s website. For further information about the NSW fee, please see the Dental Council of NSW website.

For more information

• Read the media release from Ahpra and National Boards on the Ahpra website.
• Visit the Board’s website.
• For online enquiries visit www.ahpra.gov.au/enquiry.
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 8708 9009 (overseas callers).

¹NSW is a co-regulatory jurisdiction.