IDAA members are invited to join our September member yarn to help shape the association’s new strategic plan.
With support from the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute, this yarn will give members the opportunity to share what matters most for IDAA’s future, including how we continue to strengthen connection, support Indigenous oral health students and practitioners, and advocate for better oral health outcomes for our communities.
Your voice is important. Whether you have been involved with IDAA for many years or are newer to IDAA, we would love you to join the conversation and help guide the next stage of our work.
More information and RSVP details will be shared with members soon.
The 2026 IDAA Conference will be held in Boorloo (Perth) on 30 November 2026. This year’s theme, Be a good ancestor, Hold the line, invites us to reflect on the legacy we leave and our shared responsibility to drive lasting change in Indigenous oral health.
Ahead of the main program, IDAA members are invited to a special members-only gathering on Sunday 29 November. The members-only gathering will run similar to a live edition of our online yarns. IDAA Co-Presidents Jess and Jodi will facilitate the yarning circle and share updates about the new IDAA strategic plan. Hone Hurihanganui, keynote speaker at the IDAA Conference, will be a guest speaker for a portion of the day with a Q and A as well. We hope you can join us.
Tickets for the IDAA Conference are available now. We encourage members, students and allies to secure their place and share the conference with colleagues who are committed to improving oral health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
During Dental Health Week, the Australian Dental Association’s My Smile campaign is focusing on the oral health of young Australians aged 18–25.
This year’s campaign encourages young people to build good early-care habits, seek reliable oral health information and visit a dentist before small issues become bigger problems.
We’re proud to see IDAA member and former Director Latisha Sykora featured as part of this national campaign. Her involvement is a great example of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership being visible in oral health promotion and prevention.
Congratulations Latisha. It is fantastic to see your work and leadership recognised through Dental Health Week. ]
Watch Latisha’s video below.
Sophie Butcher is our new student representative for 2026. Sophie joins Naomi, who is continuing as a student representative for a second year.
Meet Sophie:
As a proud Murrawarri woman born on Wiradjuri Country in NSW, I’m excited to step into the role of IDAA’s student representative for 2026. With such a small number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across dental and oral health programs, staying connected and supporting one another is incredibly important.
My goal this year is to represent our student members by strengthening communication, encouraging involvement, and helping create opportunities for students to feel supported and engaged within IDAA. I’m committed to ensuring our voices contribute meaningfully to the future of the oral health workforce.
I look forward to collaborating with our student members, IDAA, and our allies to create a stronger and more inclusive future for Indigenous health professionals.
We would like to thank outgoing IDAA student representative Caleb Rice, who joins the IDAA Board as a
Director this year.
The Indigenous Dentists’ Association of Australia (IDAA) congratulates Dr Nicolas Reid on his recent appointment as Senior Dentist and Manager of the Oral Health Program within the Royal Flying Doctor Service (SA/NT). In his role, Dr Reid will provide clinical leadership and strategic oversight of remote oral health services across South Australia and the Northern Territory, supporting the delivery of culturally safe, high-quality dental care for communities with some of the greatest access challenges in the country.
Dr Reid recently presented at an IDAA members’ yarn, where he shared insights into the work being undertaken by RFDS SA/NT remote dental teams, including service delivery in remote communities, workforce development, continuity of care and strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
The Indigenous Dental Association of Australia (IDAA) is calling for Expressions of Interest for Student Representative positions.
Why You Should Apply
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute your voice and ideas to strengthen the representation of First Nations people in oral health. As a Student Representative, you’ll help shape initiatives that support Indigenous dental students and advocate for equity and inclusion within the profession.
Your perspective as a student is invaluable in guiding IDAA’s programs and ensuring they reflect the needs and aspirations of emerging professionals. You’ll be part of a passionate network committed to creating positive change for our communities.
If you care about community, social justice, and the power of collective action, we’d love to hear from you.
What It Involves
How to Apply
Please submit a short letter to info@idaa.com.au that includes:
Studying Oral Health has been such a rewarding and transformative experience. Over the past few years I’ve learnt not only the clinical skills needed to care for patients, but also the importance of culturally safe care, community connection, and working as part of a team, particularly through my involvement with IDAA and the Indigenous Allied Health Australia’s (IAHA) Ultimate Student Leadership Challenges (USLC). I’ve also really valued coming from a regional university with the opportunities to learn in a variety of settings and through clinical placements in rural and regional communities.
Being the IDAA student representative has been one of the highlights of my time as a student. It’s given me the chance to advocate for my peers, become more culturally connected with myself and others, connect with professionals across the dental industry (even internationally), and contribute to something more within the association to help grow our network. As I step into life as a new graduate, I’m excited to keep growing clinically, professionally and personally. I’m looking forward to building my clinical confidence, supporting better health outcomes for our mob, and continuing to stay involved non-clinically, through IDAA and other professional associations that I have had involvement with. I’m grateful for the support I’ve had throughout my studies, and I can’t wait for what’s ahead!
We’re excited to share that Dr Jess Manuela has received the University of Adelaide’s Distinguished Alumni Award, Indigenous Tirkapena Award, on 4 December. This recognition highlights the genuine impact she’s making in dentistry and in her community.
As Co-President of the IDAA, Jess continues to advocate for better outcomes and greater representation for Indigenous people in our profession. We’re proud of her achievements and grateful for the energy and heart she brings to the IDAA and to the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dental professionals.
Savannah Kanters, Tachae Douglas-Miller and Davis White are three newly qualified Indigenous Australian dentists who recently attended the UQ Indigenous Graduation Sashing Ceremony. Savannah is a Djabugay and Iman woman from Woorabinda in Central Queensland, born in Rockhampton, who has always been a strong advocate for Indigenous oral health and culturally safe care. She will be working with Queensland Health providing public dental care in 2026 while continuing as a tutor for UQ dental students. She is keen to pursue further advocacy roles for her people in future. Tachae is a proud Ngunnawal woman with a deep passion for Indigenous oral health and a long-term dream of becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. She will be studying Medicine in 2026. Davis is from the Kunja mob through his father’s side, with family connections across Cunnamulla, Kowanyama and Lockhart River, and he’ll soon be travelling throughout Western Australia to provide public dental care as he works toward specialising in orthodontics.
“Standing together at the Sashing Ceremony reminded us of how far we’ve come. None of our journeys to graduation were straightforward—we each had our own challenges, moments of uncertainty, deferred years, and times when we had to rely on resilience, family, community, and the strength of our ancestors. Along the way, we didn’t just learn about oral health; we learned what it means to care deeply for people and to show up for our communities with compassion and responsibility.
The sashing ceremony represents persistence, cultural pride, and a shared purpose of improving oral health in our communities. We’re stepping forward as new Indigenous Australian clinicians with pride, gratitude, and a genuine commitment to our people and the generations who will come after us.”
The Indigenous Dental Association of Australia (IDAA) is calling for Expressions of Interest for Board Director positions.
This is a unique opportunity to stand alongside passionate and dedicated people working to strengthen the voice of First Nations people in oral health. As a director, you’ll be helping to shape strategies, programs, and initiatives that make a tangible difference in our communities.
Your insights, lived experience, and professional expertise will help IDAA continue to grow as a trusted, grassroots organisation that champions equity, representation, and leadership in oral health for our people.
If you have a heart for community, a commitment to social justice, and a belief in the power of collective action, we want to hear from you.
Please submit a heartfelt letter including:
Expressions of Interest close 22 December, with positions to commence 9 February 2026.