Newsletter: December 2019

I’d like to wish you all a safe and happy few weeks ahead as you celebrate the end of 2019, and hopefully enjoy some holiday time to welcome in the New Year.

2019 has proven to be another busy one for us at the Dental Council with our focus well and truly on introducing our new recertification programme next year. Thank you to everyone who shared their perspectives and provided feedback in our recent focus groups to help us complete the design for the new programme. More information about the design and implementation dates will be shared early next year.

All our practitioners have now had the opportunity to use our online services including those chosen randomly to complete practice standards questionnaires. The online system has proved to be a great success - I have received a great deal of positive feedback from users already but encourage more of you to share your experience by emailing comms@dcnz.org.nz.

As well as thanking everyone who contributed to our work throughout 2019, I’d like to acknowledge and extend a special thank you to my team in the Secretariat. They do an incredible job supporting the Council and myself throughout the year. They also provide a professional and friendly service responding to a huge range of requests, questions and problems from local and international callers every day.

We recently met with the new appointed Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at Otago University, Professor Mike Morgan, and Head of Discipline, Oral Health at AUT, Dr Manorika Ratnaweera. The Council has existing working relationships with both educational institutions and we look forward to continuing and building on these good relationships in 2020. We wish both Prof Morgan and Dr Ratnaweeraall the best for their new roles.

Many warm wishes to everyone for a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Marie Warner