JULY 2018

W O R D O F M O U T H

CEO Message 2

Refugee dentists visit DHSV 3

Students helping from the heart 4

Migrant Information Centre playgroup session 5

Albury Wodonga Business Awards finalist 6

Oral Health Educators – the new workforce 7

Town Hall July 2018 8 – 9

Dental Health Week 10

Vale Dr Elishka Marvan 11

Agency Bite 12 – 13

Calendar 14

Town HallsWe ran another successful round of Town Hall sessions in mid-July. The sessions were a great opportunity to catch up and talk about all of the great projects happening at DHSV and plan for the second half of 2018.

The sessions were incredibly well attended, with staff turning out in force to hear the latest on the Carlton Connect initiative, as well as our move towards value-based healthcare. It was also a timely chance to discuss what we’ve got in store for Dental Health Week and details on the much-anticipated launch of digital radiology at RDHM.

Your feedback is crucial to critically assessing our progress and addressing staff concerns, and the Town Hall sessions provide an avenue for you all to share your thoughts and suggestions.

To ensure that we continue to provide you with the latest information and updates, we will include a regular column addressing the progress that DHSV has made in relation to the issues and topics arising at these sessions.

Dental Health Week Each year in the first week of August, we celebrate Dental Health Week. The Australian Dental Association (ADA) uses this week as a way of focusing its health promotion campaigns across a week of associated events.

DHSV is proud to celebrate Dental Health Week as it is a useful way to meaningfully engage with patients about the importance of incorporating better oral health practices into their everyday lives.

Read more about Dental Health Week on page 8.

New look Word of Mouth We hope that you enjoy the fresh new look Word of Mouth – as always, we welcome your story ideas and contributions.

Got a story for

A message from Deborah Cole CEO, Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV)

Dr Deborah Cole

W O R D O F M O U T HSend it to wordofmouth@dhsv.org.au

dhsv.org.au2

CEO Message

Refugee dentists visit DHSV As part of Refugee Week in June, a group of nine Syrian refugee dentists visited RDHM to learn more about the hospital and the labour market for dentists in Victoria. The group are all currently completing a Career Pathways Pilot program at AMES Australia.

The pilot program helps refugees who have arrived in Australia in the past five years through the Humanitarian program, and who have a qualification or trade.

The team of dentists are steadily working towards gaining registration in Australia.

They were eager to learn more about the Australian labour market for dentists and how best to keep themselves up-to-date while studying.

After an engaging session and a brief tour of the hospital, the group of dentists have returned to their communities with the intent of spreading the word about DHSV’s resources for refugees.

by Julie McCormack

dhsv.org.au3

To support the oral health of those who are sleeping rough, Doctor of Dental Surgery student Sandra Chee decided to make a difference through a recent health initiative. Sandra organised the oral health events in conjunction with the Many Rooms organisation, which provides meals to rough sleepers every Friday and Saturday night.

The oral health events took place at the Melbourne Multicultural Hub and at the North Melbourne Community Centre over the weekend of 8-9 June.

All attendees received a toothpack including a toothbrush, floss and toothpaste.

They also received a ‘priority access card’ that allows for speedy access to public dental health services in the central and northern parts of Melbourne where the card is recognised.

DHSV contributed to the event by donating oral health products and by providing the priority access cards for distribution at the event.

Sandra received assistance from some of her fellow classmates at the

University of Melbourne, Wvina Ngo, Jinxuan Chen and Matthew Li.

After the success of these events, Sandra is also joining forces with the Salvation Army to continue this community outreach.

Students helping from the heart On any given night, one in 200 people are homeless in Australia.

dhsv.org.au4

Migrant Information Centre playgroup sessionPlaygroup sessions are an important avenue to provide families with useful information on accessing public dental services. The Eastern Metropolitan Regional Oral Health Network (EMROHN) recently attended two supported playgroup sessions run through the Migrant Information Centre (MIC), in Ringwood and in Croydon.

The sessions are also a great way to share resources on healthy eating and drinking options and the importance of oral health with families in a relaxed atmosphere.

There was an impressive turnout for both sessions with the feedback received by session facilitators, MIC Settlement Support Workers, highlighting the value of the sessions for the families who attended.

Further sessions have been arranged for Mooroolbark and EMROHN is assessing how we can incorporate dental screenings into future events.

The MIC supported playgroup sessions were also a great opportunity to trial the new ‘Swap sweets for healthy snacks’ posters designed by EACH using the Wrigley Community Grant they successfully obtained in 2017.

by Diana Roggenbucke

dhsv.org.au5

Albury Wodonga Business Awards finalist

Congratulations to the team at the Albury Wodonga Health Dental Service who are finalists in the Albury Wodonga Business Awards.The team were nominated in the category of ‘Excellence in Health, Education and Disability’ for the work

done by the dental team in improving the oral health of their local community.

Nicolle Davies, Program Manager – Dental Service, and Ruchi Chandra

- Senior Dental Officer attended the Finalist Announcement Night at The Clubhouse Bar and Bistro.

“Both Ruchi and I are thrilled with this recognition of the important work delivered by our dental team and the contribution to our local and regional community,” Nicolle said.

dhsv.org.au6

Friday the 13th of July was an auspicious day for 42 Oral Health Educators to graduate from their nine-month Certificate IV course. Graduates can now provide oral health instruction, dietary and smoking cessation advice, and engage in health promotion activities.

Students gained confidence and enhanced their skills as the course progressed.

Several graduates spoke about how the course and their new skills have

‘changed their lives’. There was much discussion on the day about the immense satisfaction students have derived from being able to offer expertise and support.

The course, jointly developed by RMIT University and DHSV, was attended by participants from across the state. Students attended on-campus classes

in addition to completing many of their practical and assessment tasks in their workplaces.

The Oral Health Educators will add value to their workplaces with their ability to engage in community outreach and promote better oral health practices.

by Julie McCormack

Oral Health Educators – the new workforce

dhsv.org.au7

bit.ly/dhsvtownhalls

Watch the full townhall presentation here

dhsv.org.au8

Value-based healthcare: Debunking the mythsDeb Cole addressed common concerns and questions about value-based healthcare (VBHC). The key takeaways were:

• No-one will be working outside of their scope of practice. If anyone is required to do anything new, they will be fully trained.

• The launch date is set for 1 October but nothing will change suddenly. This is a trial. We are going to try new ways of doing things but change will be gradual.

• People are not going to lose their jobs as a result of VBHC. Over time, the proportion of oral health therapists, dental therapists and dental hygienists may change.

• We have not forgotten about other departments (e.g. the teaching clinic and specialist care) but we can’t do everything at once. We are starting small and will expand to other areas of the hospital as the project progresses.

• We acknowledge that we haven’t done a great job of communicating with everyone up until now. We are in the process of setting up an online information hub as well as other forms of online, print and face-to-face communication.

Your questionsHow many working groups are there?At the moment we have four working groups focussing on different elements of practice design: Access, Assessment and Measurement, Care Pathways, and Maintenance. The working groups comprise of one person from the VBHC project group, one member of Oral Health Advisory Committee and a mix of clinical and corporate staff.

How were the working groups selected?Expressions of interest were sent to primary care units and team leaders spoke to staff directly. This process will be repeated when other working groups are formed. If you are interested in joining a working group, please get in touch with Melanie Van Altena.

Are we moving from permanent staff to casual staff?Definitely not. We need engaged oral health teams who are able to get consumers engaged in their own oral health.

How does VBHC fit with oral health promotion?VBHC is all about empowering people to self-manage their oral health, develop their skills and change their behaviour. We want our environment to be all about promoting oral health.

Missed the Town Hall sessions? Here’s an update. Thank you to everyone who attended the town hall sessions on 17, 18 and 19 July. It was great to catch up face-to-face and talk about what’s happening in and around RDHM. For those of you who couldn’t make it, here is a snapshot of what was discussed.

TOWN HALL

dhsv.org.au9

Carlton ConnectWe also provided a quick update about the Carlton Connect project.

• The link corridor will be relocated to the hospital side of the courtyard, providing an enclosed direct link between the hospital and the corporate services building. The courtyard will be redeveloped as a green space.

• A larger capacity bike shed will be located off Lynch Street, providing a covered secure storage for bikes.

• Following staff feedback, the rooftop on Level 4 will have a sensory/community garden. Staff will be consulted during the design process.

Your questionsWill there be upgraded shower facilities and extra change rooms for cyclists?Yes. We are currently looking at the best location for these facilities and will provide an update soon.

Can we use the new rooftop to meet with external people?Yes. We are happy for you to use this space to hold meetings.

TOWN HALL

Digital RadiologyNuno Gonclaves presented an update on the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) as well as the Radiology Information System (RIS).

• The new PACS/RIS is due early August 2018. • The RIS will deliver chairside radiology ordering,

radiology test worklists and diagnostic imaging reporting.

• The PACS will provide centralised secure image storage with retrieval and viewing capability. This will be accessible chairside via a toolbar icon in Titanium.

Enterprise AgreementsFollowing extensive negotiations, an in-principle agreement has been reached with regard to the next General Dentists Enterprise Agreements and the next Specialist Dentists Enterprise Agreement. The fantastic outcome demonstrates a commitment to the retention and attraction of general dentists and specialists in the public sector.

The key features are:• An 18% salary increase over a

four-year period (19.2% cumulative) paid on/after 1 July 2018 (6%), 1 July 2019 (6%), 1 July 2020 (3%) and 1 July 2021 (3%).

• A sign-on bonus of $2,000 for full-time employees (pro-rata if part-time).

• An annual Professional Support Allowance of $2,000 for full-time employees (pro-rata if part-time) for the reimbursement of approved CPD costs.

• Increased paid parental leave for the primary care giver from 10 weeks to 12 weeks.

• A new professional support clause to help employees meet CPD requirements.

• Inclusion of family violence leave.• Commitment to a value-based

model of care.For the General Dentists only the following key changes have been agreed:

• All Level 3 paypoints uplifted by one paypoint from 1 July 2018.

• The Level 4A salary increased to $110,000

• Two new classification levels at Level 4 (commencing at $140,000) and Level 5 (commencing at $150,000)

Once the draft agreements are finalised and approved by the Government, there will be a ballot of employees. If successful, an application will be made to the Fair Work Commission to approve the two Enterprise Agreements.

Our next Town Hall sessions are on 25, 26 and 27 September.We look forward to seeing you there.

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) uses this week as a way of focusing its health promotion campaigns across a week of associated events.

Dental Health Week6 – 12 August 2018Dental Health Week celebrations are coming up soon

The week is a great opportunity to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health in every aspect of their lives.

The key messages of the week are: • Brush twice a day with a fluoride

toothpaste• Clean in between teeth at least

once a day with floss or an interdental brush

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit sugar intake

• Regularly visit the dentist for check-ups and preventative treatment.

With 50% of Australians only brushing their teeth once a day, these messages are as timely as ever to encourage people to embrace positive oral health practices.

The Dental Health Week website features a number of valuable resources including:

• Handy fact sheets on brushing, flossing and diet and oral health

• Dental Health Week promotional resources for oral health organisations.

Find out more about Dental Health Week

dhsv.org.au10

Dr Elishka Marvan, an Oral Medicine Specialist of the highest order, recently lost her two and a half year battle with cancer. Married to Dr Ian Cross, a dentist, and mother of two beautiful boys, Alex and William, she will be dearly missed by family, friends, colleagues and patients alike.Elishka commenced her training in Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology only a few years after graduating as a dentist from the University of Melbourne in 1987.

Her specialty practice began in the Oral Medicine Department at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne in the early 1990s and she remained an integral part of the Oral Medicine Clinic until her diagnosis in late 2015. Elishka’s endeavours, however, were much more widespread.

Elishka was an instrumental part of the Forensic Odontology team at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.

She headed up the Dental Clinic at the Fairfield Hospital for Infectious Diseases and she became the Head of the Dental Oncology Unit at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute after many years of devoting herself to the oral care of cancer patients.

Elishka was always smiling, always colourful and always up for a chat! The Oral Medicine fraternity is devastated at her loss.

We have lost an amazing teacher and mentor and her impact on our profession will continue, we are better and stronger because of her influence.

Vale Dr Elishka Marvan11 Dec 1965 – 8 Jun 2018 by Nicole Heaphy

dhsv.org.au11

Improved DHSV knowledge network on #Slack

Following a temporary hiatus, join fellow clinicians on the new and upgraded Knowledge Network on #Slack today. Created by DHSV Principal Oral Health Advisor, Dr Rana Yawary, the team collaboration hub is for clinicians to discuss difficult clinical cases and topical public oral health issues.

“This is an avenue for clinicians across the state to meet, talk about anything clinical, share knowledge and ask questions,” Rana said.

Clinicians will receive an email invitation to join the network within the next week.

Contact Rana with any questions: rana.yawary@dhsv.org.au

Removing barriers to accessing oral health careThe Royal Flying Doctor Services share stories of patients who benefit from the work of the Flying Doctor Dental Clinic. See how the Flying Doctor Dental Clinic has impacted patients such as Georgia, Aiden and Peter.

Watch the video

Provider handbook updatedAn updated version of the Victorian privately contracted dental schemes - Provider Handbook is now available on the Extranet

agencybite

dhsv.org.au12

bit.ly/RFDSdental

Managing children in the chair – how confident are you? Behaviour management of children in the dental chair can be difficult, so this helpful workshop offers practical tips and techniques to help build your confidence to manage a tricky situation. This workshop discusses a variety of scenarios, and features an interactive session in the afternoon to help you improve your approach.

Date and time: Friday 14 September, 9.00am – 4.30pm

Venue: Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne, Meeting Room L, 720 Swanston Street Carlton

Register now: Managing children in the chair workshop

Special Needs Dentistry workshop This workshop has been designed to showcase two important resources

• the online module developed by Alzheimer’s Australia and Special Needs dentists

• the online module developed by DHSV and designed to help carers maintain the oral health of patients.

The workshop also aims to facilitate discussion on the NDIS and how dentistry can become a larger part of the NDIS package.

Suitable for dentists, oral health therapists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, prosthetists and dental assistants.

Date and time: Friday 14 September, 9.30am – 4.30pm

Venue: Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre, 251 Faraday Street, Carlton

Register now: Special Needs Dentistry workshop

Upcoming courses

agencybite

dhsv.org.au13

More courses are coming up this year to help you continue your professional development.

Check out what’s on offer

DHSV has partnered with the International Consortium for Health Outcome Measurements (ICHOM) the Hospital Contribution Fund (HCF), and the World Dental Federation (FDI) to develop a standardised set of oral health measurement questions to evaluate adult oral health.

The partners are now seeking feedback from consumers about their views on

the standardised set of oral health measurement questions through a Consumer Validation Survey.

Take the survey today and share your thoughts.

The survey will close on 29 July 2018. More information is available here

Oral health survey

View all CPD events:

intranet.dhsv.org.au/cpd

extranet.dhsv.org.au/cpd

dhsv.org.au14

Calendar6 – 12 AugustDENTAL HEALTH WEEK Dental Health Week is a great opportunity to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health in every aspect of their lives.

24-25 SeptemberMENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDThis 2 day nationally accredited program will provide Mental Health awareness training using a range of different interventions.

Register here

17 SeptemberMANAGING CHILDREN IN THE CHAIR – HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU? These practical tips and techniques will help you manage children in the dental chair, and also provides insight into managing the parent for a successful visit.

Register here

14 DecemberRESPECTFUL WORKPLACE LEARNING DAY More details on the 2018 Respectful Workplace Learning Day will be released soon. This year’s theme is ‘Courage and Kindness’.

14 SeptemberSPECIAL NEEDS DENTISTRY WORKSHOPLearn more about these useful online modules designed to help carers maintain the oral health of patients. The workshop also delves into the NDIS and how dentistry fits in.

Register here

25-27 SeptemberTOWN HALL SESSIONS Keep an eye out for information on the next Town Hall sessions. They’re a great way to stay informed about the latest DHSV news and projects.