Dental Journalism Awards entries close this month

Less than a month is left for journalists to send in their entries for the Australian Dental Association (ADA)'s Excellence in Dental Journalism 2015 Awards (Awards).

The Awards are for dental journalism published in Australia through public print, television or radio in the two years prior to 31 December 2014. Awards will be in two categories of the media: electronic and print. Award recipients will receive a sum of $5,000 each.

Dr Rick Olive AM RFD, newly elected Federal President of the ADA said, "We recently have been able to see the terrific journalism being acknowledged by the Walkley Awards. The ADA's Awards are an opportunity to showcase the great work being done by the Australian media to raise awareness about oral health issues to decision makers and the general public.

"We call upon all journalists to submit the oral health stories they have reported on over the last two years so they can be considered by our panel of judges.

"While Australians' oral health is improving, much more can be done; particularly for those who experience disadvantage. Dental decay and gum disease are the most common adverse health conditions in Australia; and policy makers are confronted with challenges relating to oral health promotion and education, dental workforce oversupply, and how to efficiently target scarce government resources to those who truly need assistance getting dental care.

"The ADA's baby teeth, mouthguard awareness and teeth whitening campaigns, its annual Dental Health Week (4–10 August this year), do their part in oral health promotion and awareness. Through this Award, we seek the media's support to further improve the public's awareness of oral health issues impacting all Australians."

Dr Olive acknowledged that journalism plays a significant role in not only informing the public, but in ensuring that oral health issues are placed on the government agenda.

"The media has played no small part in ensuring that oral health issues have formed part of the national conversation in recent years. We hope that the media continues to do its part in not only raising awareness of oral health issues but also to encourage the public to take an active responsibility for their oral health, as well as encourage government investment in improving disadvantaged Australians' oral health", Dr Olive concluded.

Nominations close on 31 December 2014. Details for the Award can be found at: http://www.ada.org.au/dentaljournalismaward2015.aspx.

The President of the ADA will present the recipients with the Awards at the upcoming 36th Australian Dental Congress (ADC) in March 2015.