Six Indigenous Dental Association Australia (IDAA) members had the honour of attending the Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa Maori Dental Association’s Hui ā Tau 2025 in Rotorua which marked their 30th anniversary. It provided the opportunity for cultural learning and connection that all of us need for our well-being as Indigenous peoples.
Jessica Manuela, Jodi Hart and Nic Reid attended as representatives of the IDAA Board. Read reflections from some of the members that attended.
Reflections from Jessica Manuela (dentist and IDAA Co-President)
“The experience at the Te Ao Mārama 30th year hui in Aotearoa was incredible. Being an Aboriginal and Polynesian woman, it was like coming home. The speakers they had were knowledgeable and they were very generous with sharing the history of their association and culture. This is a gathering that will enrich your soul and make you want to be a better clinician, advocate and human. I would love to attend another hui in the future and highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to elevate their understanding of Indigenous health and how culture encompasses everything we do.”
Reflections from Gari Watson (dentist, 3rd Year Med student UQ & immediate past-President of IDAA), selected to attend the hui by the Board in recognition of his long-term and continuing commitment to the association.
“My experience attending the Te Ao Marama Dental Conference in Aotearoa was truly inspiring.
The conference offered a unique opportunity to exchange and celebrate our cultures, leaving me both empowered and culturally enriched. It also strengthened connections, not only among ourselves but also with fellow members of the Indigenous Dental Association of Australia (IDAA).
Through this gathering, I witnessed the significant contributions of members in developing the Te Ao Marama Dental Association. I was particularly inspired by their initiatives embedding Māori culture into everyday oral health practice, which are already demonstrating positive impacts for Māori communities. These experiences provided valuable insights and “food for thought” that we can carry back to the IDAA to help further strengthen and grow our own organisation.
I believe this conference marked an important milestone in fostering an alliance that acknowledges and addresses the shared struggles faced by First Nations peoples in both Australia and Aotearoa. Our allyship is a crucial step forward, enabling both associations to continue supporting one another and driving meaningful change toward improved oral health outcomes for Indigenous communities internationally.
I hope we continue to nurture these networks with Te Ao Marama and also consider developing partnerships with other First Nations dental associations worldwide, further strengthening our collective commitment to First Nations oral health.”
Reflections from Warrick Edwards (OHT and 3rd year DDS student UMelb & IDAA Director 2023-2025), selected to attend the hui by the Board to acknowledge his contributions to IDAA.
“Recently I had the privilege of attending the Te Ao Mārama Conference in Rotorua, with my IDAA family. It was an inspiring experience that highlighted the meaningful integration of Māori culture throughout dental education, professional life, and community care. From the opening ceremony to the academic sessions, there was a strong sense of unity, cultural pride, and respect that permeated every aspect of the event. What struck me most was how naturally Indigenous knowledge and values were woven into the profession and not as an add-on, but as a central pillar. The presence and leadership of Māori dental professionals, the visible pathways created for students and the authentic partnerships between the national association and Māori communities were truly moving. At the same time, it was bittersweet. While I felt deeply connected to my colleagues in Rotorua, it was also sad to realise that I had to travel to another country to feel that sense of belonging and cultural connection within dentistry. It reinforced how much work remains to be done in Australia to elevate and embed First Nations voices, students and professionals within our institutions.
I return from Rotorua encouraged, motivated, and more determined than ever to keep pushing for positive change at home.”
Reflections from Caleb Rice (final year BOH student CQU & IDAA Student Representative) who has actively participated in member events and was chosen to represent IDAA as a student member.
“We were incredibly blessed with the opportunity to make our way across to Aotearoa to attend the Te Ao Mārama Māori Dental Association Hui-ā-Tau 2025 at the end of July. The conference was an immersive cultural experience, with many emotions shed, and it was a great opportunity to foster deeper personal and professional connections between our associations. It was such a fulfilling week to see how far Te Ao Mārama have come in their journey as an association over the past thirty years and how they have chosen to support their students in such a way that allows them to empower themselves. It was definitely a huge few days of learning to take back to IDAA, but I also made some truly special connections and reconnected with many students I met briefly through an online university event last year, which was amazing. I equally feel more connected to IDAA after having the opportunity to be able to be physically together in an emotional space that we may not have had otherwise.”
