Page 4029 - Week 13 - Thursday, 10 November 1994
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Australia which is substantially equivalent to an Australian course and which is accredited by the board. They must also have passed any examinations the board requires them to, and have undertaken any training or experience in practising as a dental hygienist as the board may require, but not for longer than 12 months.
To be eligible for registration as a specialist dentist, a person must be a registered dentist and hold a qualification in a specialist branch of dentistry that is accredited by the board or approved by a registration authority in another State or Territory. They must also have gained experience in the specialisation by holding an appointment in a hospital approved by the board or by practising in circumstances that the board considers would allow the person to be regarded as a specialist dentist.
In addition to unconditional registration, the Dental Board also has a discretionary power which enables it to register a person as a dentist "with conditions". If the board considers it appropriate, it may impose conditions on a person's registration. Those conditions would restrict that person to practising in a manner that the Dental Board considers to be in the interests of public safety. This Bill also provides for new registration arrangements and distinguishes "initial registration" from the more streamlined mutual recognition procedures for these professions.
The Dental Board's disciplinary powers have been expanded to provide for a range of uniform sanctions. These can be imposed singularly or in combination on a person's registration, either as a result of disciplinary action or in cases of impairment. There is, however, a requirement for the board to hold an inquiry prior to imposing any of the expanded range of sanctions on a person's registration. Where a dentist or dental hygienist has had conditions imposed on his or her registration under the impairment provisions, that person may request the board to review those conditions. If the board is satisfied that the impairment has lessened or that the person no longer suffers from that impairment, the board may either remove the conditions or impose new conditions. If the board refuses to review the conditions imposed under these circumstances, the applicant has a right of appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The provisions relating to registration as a specialist dentist require a person to remain registered as a dentist and, where conditions have been imposed, for those conditions to apply equally to the person's registration in both categories.
The transitional provisions will ensure continuation of registration for dentists and dental hygienists registered under the Dentists Registration Act 1931. Their registration will be subject to the same terms and conditions as applied immediately before the commencement of the new provisions. The transitional arrangements also entitle persons who were granted provisional registration under the principal Act to interim registration under the new provisions. The transitional arrangements ensure that, where a person has failed to pay the annual fee payable under the principal Act or where registration was cancelled for failure to pay that fee, the fee remains payable or registration remains cancelled. The transitional arrangements also provide for the continuation of inquiries and reviews or the investigation of complaints in relation to the dentist's or dental hygienist's previous conduct which were pending or under way immediately prior to the enactment of the present amendments. Decisions of the Dental Board in respect of registration, disciplinary and impairment matters will be subject to review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
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