What is the Australian Dental Association (ADA) website?
ada.org.au is the website of the Australian Dental Association (ADA), the national peak body for the dental profession in Australia. It serves two distinct audiences: dental professionals (members and non-members) and the general public. For professionals, the site is a hub for industry standards, clinical guidelines, continuing professional development (CPD), events, and career resources. For the public, it provides a "Find a" tool to locate dental practitioners.
Who the ADA is
The ADA describes itself as the national peak body for the dental profession. Its stated role is to set standards, deliver national advocacy, and support dentists in practising "safely with confidence." Membership is framed as joining a professional community that "strengthens your practice, protects your profession, and amplifies your voice."
What the website offers
The site's content is organised around two main audiences, as reflected in its own navigation.
For the dental profession
These resources are positioned as delivering value across the whole profession:
| Resource | What it is |
|---|---|
| Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary | The ADA's reference for coding and describing dental services across the sector |
| ADA Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines | Evidence-based guidelines for practitioners, aligned with national standards and best practices |
| Dental Careers Hub | A national job board covering dentists, specialists, hygienists, assistants, and practice managers |
| Australian Dental Congress | The region's leading CPD event, with 200+ hours of presenters and networking; the next listed edition is Adelaide, 19–22 May 2027 |
For ADA members
Membership unlocks a professional community and specific benefits. The site highlights these member areas:
- CPD on demand — access to 100+ hours of peer-reviewed, expert-led webinars, video, and audio CPD, available "anywhere, anytime." Example titles include sessions on AI scribes in dentistry, CBCT justification and patient safety, cracked teeth and root fractures, and communication skills.
- Therapeutic Guidelines
- HR Advisory Service
- Practice Accreditation
- Member benefits overview
Note that CPD on-demand content is marked "Members Only," so it requires ADA membership to access.
For the public
The public-facing section includes a "Find a" tool, which the site presents as the starting point for locating dental care.
How to use the site
What you do next depends on who you are:
- If you are a dental professional seeking standards or guidelines: go directly to the Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary or the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines.
- If you want CPD: browse the CPD Portal. Members can access the full on-demand library; non-members can view the events calendar for upcoming CPD events across Australia.
- If you are job-hunting or hiring: use the Dental Careers Hub to advertise nationally or search for roles.
- If you are a member: check your member benefits for Therapeutic Guidelines, HR advisory, and practice accreditation.
- If you are a member of the public: use the "Find a" tool to locate a practitioner.
Key things to know
- The ADA is a membership organisation, and a meaningful portion of its resources (particularly the CPD library) is restricted to members.
- Some resources, such as the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines, are labelled "(Public)" and are accessible more broadly.
- The site does not publish pricing or membership fees in the material reviewed here, so membership cost is not something you can determine from these pages alone.