ADC and DC(NZ) release revised Accreditation Standards

The Australian Dental Council (ADC) and Dental Council (New Zealand) (DC(NZ)) have released the revised Accreditation Standards for dental practitioner programs following a joint review. 

The revised Standards reflect feedback from stakeholders across the sector. The ADC and DC(NZ) thank everyone who contributed to the review process. 

Most updates to the Standards are minor and aim to improve clarity, consistency, and ease of use for education providers and assessors. 

There are also several targeted changes to strengthen key areas of accreditation. 

Admissions aligned with academic governance 

Criterion 4.2, which focuses on admissions and progression requirements, has moved from Domain 4: The student experience to Domain 2: Academic governance and quality assurance to become criterion 2.4. This change brings admissions processes more clearly into academic oversight and strengthens the role of program staff in student selection and admission. 

New criteria to support assessment quality within accredited programs 

Two new criteria have been added to Domain 5 to support consistent and high-quality assessment practices. 

• 5.1 Assessments conform to the principles of validity, reliability and fairness.
  This criterion addresses concerns about teaching staff expertise and calibration, inconsistencies in assessment application, and the overall quality and reliability of assessments. 

• 5.2 Mechanisms are in place to recognise and respond to emerging developments and risks in assessment.
  This criterion ensures the Standards remain responsive to evolving developments and risks in educational assessment, including those arising from rapid technological change such as artificial intelligence. 

Domain 6 has been updated and is now titled Cultural Responsiveness 

This change, combined with revised wording for criteria throughout Domain 6, strengthens expectations that education providers actively recognise, understand and respond to the cultural needs and preferences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

Graduates are expected to demonstrate cultural responsiveness to deliver culturally safe care in all settings. 

Revisions to Domain 6 are applicable only to Australian programs. Domain 6 remains unchanged for New Zealand and will be reviewed at a later date. 

Implementation 

The revised Accreditation Standards will take effect from 1 January 2027. Programs seeking reaccreditation in the second half of 2026 will continue to be assessed against the current Standards. 

To support implementation, the ADC and DC(NZ) have developed guidance notes in response to stakeholder feedback. These include an overview of each domain, explanations of the criteria, examples of evidence, and prompts for assessors.