The Dental Assistants' Professional Association

07/03/2026

Today, we celebrate the achievements, leadership, and impact of women in our communities and across the world.

A special acknowledgement to the women Dental Assistants who show up every day with skill, care, and professionalism - supporting patients, strengthening teams, and helping dentistry deliver its best.

Your work matters. Your voice matters. Your future matters.

Happy International Women’s Day. 💜

03/03/2026

Confused about the Fair Work Commission decision on Dental Assistant pay and classifications?

DAPA is here to support you.

Join our free live webinar to hear directly from legal, HR and sector representatives as we explain:

• New minimum pay rates
• Implementation timelines
• Updated classifications
• What this means for you

Stay informed, understand your rights, and prepare with confidence.

Register now 👉🏻 https://go.savemymarketing.com/HWU177

25/02/2026

🚨 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 - 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄

The Fair Work Commission has handed down its final decision on Dental Assistant pay and classifications.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

Join DAPA for a free live webinar where you will hear directly from 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹, 𝗛𝗥 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, and have the recent Award changes explained, including:

✔️ The new minimum pay rates
✔️ The two-stage implementation timeline
✔️ The updated classification structure
✔️ How to prepare for workplace conversations

This is an important milestone for our profession. Make sure you understand what is changing, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄: https://go.savemymarketing.com/HWU177
We look forward to supporting you with clear, reliable information.

25/02/2026

🚨 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 - 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄

The Fair Work Commission has handed down its final decision on Dental Assistant pay and classifications.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

Join DAPA for a free live webinar where you will hear directly from 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹, 𝗛𝗥 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, and have the recent Award changes explained, including:

✔️ The new minimum pay rates
✔️ The two-stage implementation timeline
✔️ The updated classification structure
✔️ How to prepare for workplace conversations

This is an important milestone for our profession. Make sure you understand what is changing, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

🔗 Register now: https://go.savemymarketing.com/HWU177
We look forward to supporting you with clear, reliable information.

24/02/2026

🦷✨ 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸! ✨🦷

While Dental Assistants Recognition Week™ is a U.S.-based observance, here at DAPA we want to honour the incredible dental assistants across Australia.

The 2026 theme, “𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀,” shines a spotlight on the essential role dental assistants play in 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀, 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱.

🪥💙 Thank you for everything you do - your profession, your contribution and your commitment deserve recognition!

🎉 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺? 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄!

19/02/2026

🚨 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 – 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄

Our CEO, Marty Thomas, was recently interviewed by Bite Magazine to discuss the growing dental assistant workforce shortage across Australia.

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 new dental assistants leave their roles within weeks -- a concerning trend that is placing increasing pressure on practices and, ultimately, patient care nationwide.

Key findings from DAPA’s recent workforce report, ‘𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 – 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙖’, include:
• 20% of new assistants leave within 45 days
• Low wages and high part-time roles contribute to attrition
• Lack of formal training and career pathways fuels “silent leaving”

Marty emphasised “𝙒𝙚 𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨.”

The report outlines urgent reforms needed to address this crisis, including fair pay, structured training and formal career pathways for dental assistants.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲:
🔗 https://www.bitemagazine.com.au/dental-assistants-in-short-supply-2/

With one in five dental assistants leaving their roles within weeks, the sector is heading for a crisis unless key reforms are implemented, and soon. By John Burfitt When Martin Thomas speaks about the state of Australia’s dental assistant workforce, he offers this blunt assessment. “We have suc...

05/02/2026

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿?

If you couldn’t join us live, you can now watch 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 on-demand 💻

This session is designed to support early-career Dental Assistants with practical guidance, confidence-building strategies and real-world insights to help navigate the first years in practice.

👉 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/sNzhjJLmP4SyA7QUXjGWbjJQgPiJPyfu5q3Om86DJSzLN_Sl7kXF6Hdse6LNGUxX.CvZP1F8w-t0cwSnO

A huge thank you to our wonderful speaker, Julie Parker, for sharing her knowledge, experience and practical advice with the DAPA community. We are so grateful for your time and expertise 🙌

05/02/2026

🎉 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮

The Fair Work Commission has handed down its 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 under the HPSS Award 2020.

This landmark result recognises the skills, responsibilities and contributions of Dental Assistants, following 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆, 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗔𝗣𝗔.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:
• Higher minimum Award pay rates
• Updated classification structure reflecting skills, experience and responsibility
• Recognition of historic gender-based undervaluation

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲:
• Stage 1: 1 April - 31 Dec 2026
• Stage 2: 1 Jan 2027 (full implementation)

💡 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
👉 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗪𝗖 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: https://secure.dapa.asn.au/home/node/333

💬 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? DAPA is here to support you – send us a DM or email office@dapa.asn.au.

01/02/2026

⏰ 𝟭 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 | 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴!

Secure your place in DAPA’s 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 designed for early-career Dental Assistants 👇

🎓 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩
📅 Wednesday, 4 Feb 2026
⏰ 6:30 – 7:30pm (AEDT)
💻 Live via Zoom

Learn practical strategies to build confidence, navigate early-career challenges and set yourself up for long-term success in the dental industry.

Featuring expert speaker, Julie Parker, Dental Practice Management Consultant at 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆.

👉 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹: https://go.savemymarketing.com/rk5176

29/01/2026

⏰ 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟭 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼!

Join DAPA’s FREE live webinar designed for early-career Dental Assistants 👇

🎓 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁
📅 Wednesday, 4 Feb 2026
⏰ 6:30 - 7:30pm (AEDT)
💻 Live via Zoom

Learn how to build confidence, handle day-to-day challenges and set yourself up for long-term success with practical tips you can use straight away.

𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿, Julie Parker, Dental Practice Management Consultant at Dental Business Mastery.

𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄! 👉 https://go.savemymarketing.com/rk5176

26/01/2026

🦷 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲!
Swipe through 👉 to see 𝟯 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 every early-career DA should focus on.

💡 Want more guidance? Join our 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 with Julie Parker and get practical tips, confidence-boosting strategies and expert advice to thrive in your first years.

👉 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁: https://go.savemymarketing.com/rk5176

20/01/2026

🎤 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿

Meet Julie Parker, Dental Practice Management Consultant at 𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮 (and your expert guide for 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩!)🦷

With decades of experience in dental practice management, Julie understands the real challenges DAs face in their first years – from finding confidence and communicating effectively to feeling valued within the team. As the 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮, she brings a rare, practical perspective and a genuine passion for supporting dental assistants to grow, thrive and find purpose in their roles.

📅 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 | 𝟰 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆
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👉 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁: https://go.savemymarketing.com/rk5176