Newsletter: December 2019

Following the decision to remove the age limit for restorative activities from the oral health therapy (OHT) scope of practice, Council has placed an exclusion on OHT scopes of practice effective from 1 November 2019.

The exclusion is for "Restorative treatment on patients 18 years and older" and will remain until an OHT completes an accredited adult restorative programme to attain the necessary competencies.

OHTs who have completed a qualification listed below after the date specified, and who meet our recency of practice requirements will not have this exclusion placed on their scope of practice:

• Central Queensland University - Bachelor of Oral Health completed after 1 January 2016
• Curtin University of Technology - Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) completed after 1 January 2016
• La Trobe University - Bachelor of Oral Health Science completed after 1 January 2019
• University of Newcastle - Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy completed after 1 January 2018
• University of Sydney - Bachelor of Oral Health completed after 1 January 2018

Some overseas qualifications include training in adult restorative treatment. If you can provide satisfactory evidence that you have received appropriate training, you can apply to have the exclusion removed from your scope of practice. Any assessment of a non-approved course will be considered on an individual basis by a senior academic against an accredited programme which includes the adult restorative treatment. The application and assessor report are then considered by Council.

We are aware that both Otago University and AUT are developing programmes to provide oral health graduates with the education and clinical experience for providing restorative care for adult patients but we have not received any applications for accreditation to date.