Media Releases

ADX Sydney 2022

The Australian Dental Industry Association wishes to advise members and exhibitors that the upcoming ADX Sydney 2022 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) at this point in time is still planning to proceed on 17-19 March 2022.

At this stage, the NSW Government does not envisage implementing restrictions to prevent large events from proceeding. The current medical advice from NSW Health indicates that we've reached peak infection rates and should see case numbers dropping over the next few weeks.

The ADIA will implement the same robust COVID-safe strategy we had at ADX Sydney 2020 and ADX Melbourne 2021, including the use of face masks, sanitisation stations, and controlled entry and exit points.

There are currently 180 exhibitors confirmed, with a waitlist of 56 organisations wanting to exhibit at ADX and only 24 booths remaining for sale.

Delegate confidence in the community remains high. At the end of this week in 2018, we had 1406 registrations. In 2020 we had 1605 registrations. And as of today, we have 2720, almost double the registrations for the same time in 2018.

Over the next three weeks, we will monitor the situation closely and continue to update members and exhibitors on a weekly basis to advise of any changes leading up to the event.

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Latest COVID-19 Business News

Pandemic Leave

The Fair Work Commission amended 99 modern awards to include unpaid 'pandemic leave' and allow the flexibility to take double the amount of annual leave at half pay. The operation of the unpaid pandemic leave provision of Schedule X - Additional measures during the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended in 73 awards until 30 June 2022.

Read more here.

Rent Relief Extended for Small Businesses

The NSW Government is extending rent relief regulation until March 13 for small business owners impacted by COVID-19.

Full details and how to apply: https://www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au/get-help/covid-19/covid-19-grants-and-support-small-business

As part of our regular stakeholder engagement this month I met with the following associations to catch up on their activities and to discuss upcoming events, such as the Refresh Masterclass Workshop on Tuesday 9 November 2021 and ADX Sydney 17-19 March 2022.

• Nick Williams (Chair) and Mel Pitto - NZDIG (NZ Dental Industry Group - part of MTANZ)
• Bill Suen (CEO) - Dental Hygienists’ Association of Australia
• Di Woolcock (Executive Officer) - Australian Dental Prosthetists Association (ADPA)
• Kerstin Baas (CEO) & Miranda Shoppee - Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO)
• David Hallett (CEO) - Australian Dental Association Western Australia Branch (ADAWA)
• Lisa Rusten (CEO) and Madonna McManus - Australian Dental Association Queensland Branch (ADAQ)

On behalf of ADIA I also participated in group online discussions with:

• Hon. Anthony Albanese MP
• The Hon Stuart Robert MP, Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business
• Jeremy Ungar - Israeli Trade Association
• Mike Freelander MP (Chair) - Parliamentary Friends of Dentistry

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australia (EEAA), of which ADIA is a member, held its AGM this month. At this meeting I was appointed a Director. I attended the subsequent EEAA Board meeting.

I will continue to update you on the advocacy work ADIA undertakes on behalf of its members' interests.

Employers to receive wage subsidies

In other news, the Federal Government has pledged to pay half the wages of 100,000 apprentices for the next 12 months.

As part of a $1.2 billion commitment to upskill and reskill Australians into jobs, the Government will pay 50% of the wages of 100,000 new apprentices and trainees in their first year.

The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy (BAC) is a 50% wage subsidy that is available to all Australian local business.

The BAC wage subsidy can apply to new apprentices and trainees signed up before (today) 30 September 2021.

The BAC wage subsidy is capped at $7,000 per quarter ($28,000 for the year) and is available until the 100,000 limit is reached.

“ Apprenticeships are an important pathway to get young people into jobs and to ensure there is a skills pipeline to meet the future needs of employers,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison, announcing the package.

To be eligible for payments under the Program, your employee must be:

• an Australian citizen; or
• a foreign national with permanent residency status; or
• a New Zealand passport holder who has resided in Australia for at least six months

Other Financial Incentives

As well as the $28000 wage subsidy the State and Federal Governments provide a number of incentives to trainees and employers.