National Training Standards

Equidae is a member of the Australasian Association for Equine Dentistry Incorporated and supports the developmentof a national training standard for equine dentistry.  

We seek the support of the Horse Industry in the development of National Training Standards for Equine Dentistry    

The Australasian Association for Equine Dentistry Inc. is an alliance made up of the major Equine Dental associations of Australia and other individuals. We are writing to advise you that these professional equine dental bodies have been participating in an National Reference Group (NRG)   that is currently working with AgriFood Skills Australia to develop training standards for Equine  Dentistry. The training standards will allow nationally accredited training in Equine Dentistry to be  delivered by Registered Training Organizations (RTO’s).  Some competencies under development include practices which are currently listed as restricted    cts of veterinary science, but considered essential for the delivery of a  modern equine dental service.  The development of competencies and a national structure of qualifications for equine dentists will ensure a  consistent standard of skills and knowledge is required to perform advanced dental procedures.     

Draft Certificate IV and Diploma level qualifications are currently under review.  The competencies support the development of a professional working relationship between equine dentists and veterinarians.  Referral procedures between equine dentists and veterinarians will ensure the  welfare of the horse is held paramount.  

 In the interest of equine welfare we ask you to support the National Training Standards for  equine dentistry.  

Qualified dentists trained under these Standards will significantly improve the  level of  health service provided to your horses. As a consequence this can only enhance performance and husbandry.    

A uniform standard of equine dental competency and training within Australia will allow the horse  owner the  opportunity to choose a qualified Equine Dental Service Provider. It will also highlight   our Industry as leaders on an International level.   
Further information on the development of the Training Standards is available on the   AgriFood Skills Australia Web site;      
http://www.agrifoodskills.net.au/  

  
Please show your support by logging onto   

http://www.aaed.org.au/ 
Insert your name and email details in the “our newsletter” section and hit  Subscribe  

For more information please contact
AAED Inc President  Sue Combridge   sue@aaed.org.au     

Equine Dental Competency Development Update September 2010 
Dear current and past AAED Inc. member,    

The process of developing a national qualification for equine dentistry started with earnest in 2006.  

After initial work by an Equine Dental Industry Reference Group (EDIRG) working with AgriFood Skills Australia, a National Reference Group      

(NRG) was established to further progress development of training standards to meet industry needs.  

The recent face to face meeting of the Equine Dental National Reference Group was held on the 9th September in Canberra.    

Nine members attended including Mr Bruce Twentyman representing the  Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), Mr Wayne Fitzgerald  

representing the Australian Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) is also a member of the Australian    College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and  

was quoted in the media last week  as also representing Melbourne University. A representative from the Department    

 of Education Employment and Work Place Relations (DEEWA) and also from the  SA Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST), State Training Authority (STA) and AgriFood staff members. The meetin was chaired by Mr Cameron Archer  

from Tocal. The World Wide Association of Equine Dentistry – Australasia Inc and the AAED Inc were represented by Jon Ingersole 

  and Sue Combridge respectively. Graham Farley, attended in his capacity as industry representative on the Victorian Animal Care and    

 Management Committee while Mr James Elsbury attended as independent horse owner.    

 Prior to the meeting draft Certificate IV competencies had support from 10 of the 13 stakeholder feedback submissions including three 

 of the four dental associations. They were not however supported by the Veterinary organisations & the Equine Dental Association Australia     

Prior to the meeting the Draft Diploma had support with some changes from 3 of  the four equine dental associations (AAEDInc, World-Wide 

& National Equine Dental Practitioners) and two state regulators (NSW and Victoria).      

One state regulator, two vet boards, the EDAA and all veterinary associations did  not support the diploma in its draft or altered form 

Some State regulators and also state vet boards provided feedback to say the diploma would be appropriate training for a veterinarian 

  who had completed an undergraduate degree. This speaks volumes as the content in the Diploma reflects worlds best practise dental procedures for professional equine dentists and the content has    

been sourced from existing skills, experience and course content from around  the world and not from veterinary university or post graduate  

courses    

In summary the AVA, the AVDS and the ACVS did not support the draft Cert IV or Diploma competencies prior to the meeting.  

Neither did Mr Mark Burnell from the Equine Dental Association of Australia (EDAA) however Mr Burnell  was missing from the meeting  

and has withdrawn from his NRG position in opposition to the September 2010 did not attend.