It has been a busy few weeks on the advocacy front including a General Council meeting, virtual roundtables, and face-to-face meetings with Federal Ministers.

Meetings with Federal Ministers

ADIA had the opportunity to meet one on one with several Ministers in the new Labor Government at an ALP forum in Sydney last week.

Topics for discussion included an introduction to ADIA, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, aged care reform, and the Australian Jobs and Skills Summit.

We also had the opportunity to share the concerns of our members as reported in the latest ADIA Member Survey including supply chain issues, labour shortages, staff recruitment and retention, and the ongoing business impacts of COVID-19.

We had productive one on one meetings with:

Minister for Health and Aged Care - the Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Aged Care - the Hon Anika Wells MP
Minister for Small Business - the Hon Julie Collins MP
Minister for Social Services - the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
Minister for Indigenous Australians - the Hon Linda Burney MP
Minister for Early Childhood Education and Youth - the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health - Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy

Meetings were overwhelmingly positive, with MPs receptive to the work of ADIA and open to ongoing collaboration as we work towards our advocacy goals.
 

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)

ADIA attended the ACCI General Council meeting in Canberra last week. Along with some internal matters, the main focus was industry feedback and concerns in the lead-up to today's Australian Jobs and Skills Summit. Key solutions to ADIA member concerns were discussed, including immigration (both permanent and temporary), apprenticeship funding, and expansion of vocational training.

Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP was in attendance to receive feedback and share the Government’s hopes for the summit.

ADIA also attended the ACCI Small Business Roundtable with Minister for Small Business, the Hon Julie Collins MP. While the content was similar, the small business perspective provided alternative viewpoints and solutions including HECS relief, technology investment, and rental/housing alternatives.

ADX Brisbane Registration Update

With eight weeks to go until ADX Brisbane, there are currently more than 1,800 registrations for the first-time event. At 26% of target, registrations are slightly higher than the eight-week mark for ADX Sydney, and on track to reach the benchmark set for the first Brisbane event.

The exhibition promises to showcase the latest in dental technology, equipment, and service to a new audience of dental professionals who may not have experienced ADX previously.

As a valued member of ADIA, I encourage you to invite your networks to experience Australia’s premier dental event. You can access useful marketing assets here.

ADX Melbourne Exhibitor Update

Following the recent exhibitor ballot, I am pleased to announce ADX Melbourne booths have sold out. If you missed out and would like to join the waitlist, you can do so here.

The city will be full of excitement that weekend, with the event coinciding with the F1 Grand Prix. If you are interested in attending or hosting your key clients at the race on Sunday, you can register for tickets here.

We look forward to continued collaboration both with Government and external stakeholders. If you have an issue you would like to raise on behalf of the membership, please do so via email.

ADX Melbourne to Coincide with F1

The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2023 dates were announced this week and will coincide with ADX Melbourne.

ADX Melbourne dates have been set for quite some time with the event locked in for 30 March - 1 April 2023.

While this is great news for attracting visitors to Melbourne, it does mean accommodation will likely sell out.

I encourage you to book your accommodation for ADX ASAP.

If you would like further information, please don't hesitate to contact me via email.

A new domain name format has been introduced in Australia. Current .au domain name holders (.com.au, .org.au, .net.au, .edu.au etc) have less than eight weeks left to reserve their existing domain name in the new format.

There is concern among industry associations that awareness of the roll-out is particularly low in the business community. Find everything you need to know below.

On 24 March the .au Domain Administration (auDA) introduced the new system allowing anyone with a connection to Australia, such as businesses, associations, and individuals, to register a new category of domain name.

Instead of URLs ending with .com.au, .net.au or .org.au, the shorter .au name can now be registered. For example, adia.org.au could be adia.au

Australian businesses have until 20 September 2022 via the Priority Allocation Process to register their equivalent .au domain name before it becomes available to the general public.

The implications of your business name domain being registered by another party are clear.

Opportunistic domain purchases could result in the need to pay much higher prices to secure your own business name at a later date.

More concerning still, a party operating online with your business name in a .au domain opens the door to fraud, leaving your customers vulnerable to scams.

Follow the instructions on the Fact Sheet and register your new .au domain with your current registrar. See the list of accredited registrars here.

Aged care reforms a key focus in Parliament

Federal Parliament is back in session for the first time under the new Labor Government.

Oral health in aged care is a key focus of ADIA so it is encouraging to see aged care reform top of agenda for the Albanese Government this week. Two aged care bills were presented in the House of Representatives yesterday.

The Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022, requiring a registered nurse on-site 24/7 at aged care facilities was read twice.

The Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Bill 2022, containing nine measures to implement urgent reforms to the aged care system passed the Lower House and is due to be debated in the Senate today.

Read the announcement from the Department of Health and Aged Care here.

If you would like further information or to provide feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email.

There have been several COVID-19 updates at a national level in the last week. These include altered mask recommendations, new vaccine eligibility, and changes to international travel. Further information on each is outlined below, along with a state-based breakdown of measures that may affect your business. 

Winter COVID-19 advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee
The COVID-19 reinfection period has been reduced from 12 weeks to 28 days. Symptomatic cases four weeks after an initial positive result are now classed as new cases. Read more from AHPPC here.

National advice on a winter (fourth) vaccine dose has been updated 
Fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses are now available to all those over the age of 30 and in some instances, to those over 16 years of age. Read more here.
 

International travel restrictions lifted
Unvaccinated Australians are now permitted to travel internationally without the need for an individual exemption. Read more here.

Below you will find links to the current measures and recommendations in place in each state. Should any state change its guidance or mandates in light of the current surge in cases, you will find the most up-to-date information via the sources below.

New South Wales
A fourth vaccine dose is now available to people over the age of 30 and is recommended to those over the age of 50 and those at greater risk of severe illness. Mask recommendations have changed. Read more about current rules and restrictions here.

Victoria
A fourth vaccine dose is now available to people over the age of 30 and is recommended to those over the age of 50 and those at greater risk of severe illness. Read more here.

Find updated recommendations on masks for your staff here.

Queensland
A fourth vaccine dose is now available to people over the age of 30 and is recommended to those over the age of 50 and those at greater risk of severe illness. Read more here.

Current measures in place for Queensland, including updated mask recommendations, can be found here.

South Australia
South Australia is currently only recommending a fourth (winter) vaccine dose to the severely immunocompromised or those suffering a chronic condition between 18 and 64 years of age. Read more here.

The current guidance on face masks and other COVID-19 measures in South Australia can be found here.

Western Australia
A fourth vaccine dose is now available and encouraged for everyone over the age of 30. Read more here.  

Find up-to-date information on COVID-19 mandates and measures in Western Australia here.


Tasmania
A fourth vaccine dose is now recommended for people over the age of 50. It is available to those over the age of 30, however, the benefits in this age group are less certain at this stage. Read more here.  

See changes to mask recommendations in Tasmania from 1 July here.

Northern Territory
A fourth vaccine dose is now available to anyone over the age of 30, and anyone over the age of 16 with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness. There are no active recommendations. Read more here.

Find up-to-date information on COVID-19 mandates and measures in the Northern Territory here.
 

Australian Capital Territory
A fourth vaccine dose is now available to people over the age of 30 and is recommended to those over the age of 50 and those at greater risk of severe illness. Read more here.

Find up-to-date information on COVID-19 mandates and measures in the ACT here.

Advocacy Update: Dental Sector Working Group

As part of ongoing collaboration with the TGA and the wider medical community, ADIA regularly participates in the Australian Dental Sector Working Group (DSWG).

The Meeting Statement for the DSWG meeting held on 31 March 2022 is now available to view. The  consultative process to develop a new regulatory framework for personalised medical devices is ongoing. ADIA members can stay updated on the process through these CEO communications. 

If you have any questions about how you can get involved with ADIA advocacy work, feedback, or suggestions, please contact me via email.

Following another major weather event this week, with many ADIA members impacted, I wish to bring your attention to the latest Government flood relief package available.

Late Tuesday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a joint package to add to the various support measures available since earlier this year.

Eligibility is determined by Local Government Area (LGA) and payable from today. Individuals, sole traders, and employees can claim payments through MyGov for the following types of assistance:

Australian Government Disaster Relief Payment (AGDRP)

The AGDRP payment is available for individuals affected by this week’s weather event within a listed LGA. The payment is up to $1,000 for adults and $400 for children who have experienced significant loss, damage to home or property, or injury. The payment is a one-off and not means-tested.

Check your eligibility for the AGDRP here.

Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA)

The DRA is open to employees and sole traders for up to 13 weeks from today. The claimant must be able to demonstrate loss of income as a direct result of storms or floods since 27 June in a listed LGA.

Check your eligibility for the DRA here.

You can read the Prime Minister’s press release here.

You can read about other kinds of assistance available in NSW since February 2022 here.

If you have any questions or anything you wish to see in these updates, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email.