Kardla on Kaurna: Spirit enduring, fire alive

In early December 2024, ADC staff attended the Indigenous Dental Association Australia (IDAA) conference, held on Kaurna Country in Adelaide. This biennial event is dedicated to supporting First Nations Australian dental health students and practitioners to improve oral health outcomes for Indigenous communities. Dental practitioners and professionals heard from an array of distinguished speakers including Associate Professor Carmen Parter, who passionately spoke of the need to ‘armour up’ against white violence to ensure a healthcare system free of racism.

Gamilaroi woman Jayde Fuller introduced the National Scheme in the Cultural Safety Accreditation and CPD Upskilling Framework and Strategy, which will change how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety knowledge is taught, assessed and accredited for all regulated health professions.

Championing culturally safe care was the focus of the keynote presentation from Associate Professor Eleanor Parker and Dr Dylan Coleman, highlighting self-reflection as an essential part of practice for non-Indigenous health practitioners.

The conference also highlighted the need for improving the number of Indigenous dental practitioners to ensure Australia’s First Nations people have sustained access to safe and equitable care.

We are grateful to have been part of such an inspiring and insightful event. IDAA’s next conference will be held in 2026.

(L-R) Philippa Davis, ADC Director, Accreditation, Policy and Research; Dr Jodi Hart, IDAA Co-President and Director; Leeann Waaka,
Executive, Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa Māori Dental Association; Dr Jess Manuela, Co-President and IDAA Director; Veronica Vele, ADC
Director, Assessments and Examinations