Congratulations to the 2024 winners!

Members of the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA) and the wider oral health community gathered last night at the International Convention Centre in Sydney to celebrate the dental industry’s finest.

The Australian Dental Industry Awards were presented at a gala dinner event, in conjunction with ADX Sydney. Chaser and War on Waste presenter, Craig Reucassel provided entertainment with his humorous tongue-in-cheek take on everything from politics to the SIDCON & ADX Sydney program.

The ADIA President and Board acknowledged ADIA member and Centaur Software Co-Founder, Dr Frank Papadopoulos, for his contribution to the industry, receiving the Industry Pioneer Award. Dr Mark Wotherspoon, who has advocated tirelessly for improved dental care in the aged care sector, was also acknowledged with the Industry Award.

In accepting the Industry Award, Dr Wotherspoon said "It is an absolute honour to win this award, which is amazing in that it helps to shine a light on the need for general dentists, public and private, to lift their game."

Clinton Lewis, the winner of the Service and Support Award, paid tribute to his team and their "daily commitment to empower dental professionals to provide exceptional service, with relentless innovation.'' He said that the Award would "fuel [their] determination."

ADIA CEO, Kym De Britt, stressed the importance of honouring standout achievements in the sector. He remarked, "These awards are a way for the Association to applaud industry excellence and commend the members and groups at the forefront of improving the oral health outcomes for Australians."

We would like to congratulate all winners of the Australian Dental Industry Awards:

ADIA Board Awards

• Women in Dentistry Scholarship: Judith Raj
• Presidents Award: Louise McCann
• Industry Award (Inaugural): Dr Mark Wotherspoon
• Industry Pioneer Award: Dr Frank Papadopoulos 

Australian Dental Industry Awards

• Emerging Dental Manufacturer or Supplier Award: Angus Pryor Dental Stars
• Business Continuity and Sustainability Award, sponsored by My Business: Tepe
• Thryv Innovation Award: SDI Limited
• Educational Initiative Award: Centaur Software
• Marketing Award: Dentsply Sirona
• Service and Support Award: Clinton Lewis, Centaur Software
• Outstanding Achiever: Sean Pereira, Centaur Software

This appointment is pivotal to the success of all the other key recommendations that have been put in place to address the desperately needed improvements in oral health in Australia.
 
The latest release of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data on Oral Health² last week, confirms that cost continues to be a barrier to access for oral healthcare for many Australians. This leads on to the shocking statistics that show that approximately 80,000 people living in Australia undergo hospitalisation for dental conditions each year that could have largely been prevented with regular, comprehensive preventive oral healthcare. This rate of potentially preventable hospitalisation for dental conditions is highest amongst children 5-9 years of age and is more than one-third higher for Indigenous Australians compared to Non-Indigenous Australians. With less than half of all Australians aged 15 years and over visiting a dental professional in the last 12 months, it is no wonder that Australia finds itself in a poor state of oral health!
 
This inquiry has once again shone a light on what we need to do to turn this around. With oral health a critical component of overall health and wellbeing, we now have solid recommendations to work towards. By improving the oral health of our nation, benefits to overall health such as lowered risk of heart disease and diabetes will result.  In addition, improved oral health allows everyday Australians to smile with confidence and be free of oral pain and discomfort.
 
The Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA) is the peak body representing the suppliers and manufacturers of products, equipment and services to Australia’s oral health practitioners. ADIA’s vision is for an industry that empowers oral health professionals to advance the health and wellbeing of all Australians. Our members provide the latest products and technology to the oral health profession to enable wider access to oral healthcare, especially in rural and remote populations, aged care and disability settings.
 
The ADIA wishes to thank Senators Jordon Steele-John, Fatima Payman, Ross Cadell, Wendy Askew and Marielle Smith for their important work towards improvements in oral health for all Australians. We hope the Australian Government listens to the crucial recommendations and agrees to work with the Oral Health profession to make equitable access to oral health for all Australians a reality.
 
For media enquiries, please contact advocacy@adia.org.au or phone Dr Sarah Raphael on 0412 918 848.