The Australasian Council of Dental Schools (ACODS) is the peak body in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji for all matters related to oral health education and research, dedicated to training the next generation of oral health professionals and upskilling the exiting workforce using the most contemporary evidence based practice.

We work closely with relevant stakeholders, including Federal, State and Territory Governments, regulatory bodies, accreditation councils, dental associations and societies, NGOs, and the community to provide informed decision-making affecting oral health through the lens of dental education and oral health research.

ACODS members have representation in various peak bodies, such as the Health Professions’ Education Standing Group (HPESG) at Universities Australia (UA), and are in consultation with government agencies related to topics, such as the development of the new National Oral Health Plan. In addition, we are regularly meeting with our accrediting body, the Australian Dental Council (ADC), the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA), the Australian Dental Association (ADA) and the Dental Board of Australia (DBA). We are proudly partnering with the Indigenous Dental Association Australia (IDAA) to support First Nations Australian dental and oral health students. We frequently discuss matters related to workforce, scope of practice, academic standards and workforce, clinical placements, rural and remote dental access, health care delivery systems, speciality training and national registration and accreditation with involved parties.

ACODS members include Australian, New Zealand and Fiji Deans and Heads of Dental and Oral Health education providers in the professions of dentistry, dental hygiene, dental therapy, oral health therapy, dental prosthetics, and dental technology. ACODS also brings academics together who are responsible for certain aspects of their respective institutions, such as education, research, operations and admissions.

ACODS is committed to leadership, innovation and continuous improvement of education and the advancement of research that will benefit the oral and general health of individuals and communities in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji as well as the broader international community.

We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with dental, health, education and industry stakeholders to achieve common goals to improve dental education and research.

Professor Heiko Spallek
Head of School and Dean, The University of Sydney School of Dentistry

Chair Australasian Council of Dental Schools