Additional disciplinary levy
Unfortunately, the Dental Council has seen a significant rise in professional conduct cases across multiple professions which has led to increased discipline costs beyond what was expected. Disciplinary levies charged each year through the annual practising certificate process provide the funds that are ringfenced by law to cover such matters. The discipline related expenses we are now forecasting to 31 March 2026 in response to this increase in cases and complexity, is significantly more than budgeted and will deplete our current disciplinary reserves.
This means that the Dental Council now need to raise additional disciplinary levies for practitioners in the dentistry, oral health therapy, dental hygiene, and dental therapy professions.
The additional disciplinary levy[1] will be issued to each affected profession as follows:
| Profession | Disciplinary levy (Excl. GST) | Disciplinary levy (Incl. GST) |
| Dentists and dental specialists | $335.00 | $385.25 |
| Oral health therapists | $150.00 | $172.50 |
| Dental hygienists and orthodontic auxiliaries | $355.00 | $408.25 |
| Dental therapists | $215.00 | $247.25 |
[1] At this time, we do not need to raise an additional disciplinary levy for the dental technology and clinical dental technology profession.
This will be invoiced on 20 October 2025, with a payment date of 20 November 2025. The levy above will be raised to practitioners in the affected professions who hold an Annual Practising Certificate on 20 October 2025.
The decision to raise an additional disciplinary levy is not something the Dental Council takes lightly. We know the current cost of living is a challenge for all. However, by law, each profession must fund its own disciplinary costs for conduct matters. You can find all the information about this levy and the reasons for it in the letter to affected professions below.
Letter to affected professions | Additional disciplinary levy