The designation of the COVID-19 pandemic by Ahpra and the National Boards as a “national health emergency” allows recent health professional graduates including dentists who are experiencing financial hardship can seek assistance from the regulator when it comes to paying their registration fees.
Financial hardship, in the context of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme means that registered dentists who have experienced “family tragedy, financial misfortune, unemployment, serious illness, impacts of a natural disaster, national health emergency and other serious or difficult circumstances” and who in turn are “unable to reasonably provide necessities such as food, accommodation, clothing, education and/or medical treatment for themselves, their family or other dependents, and by extension, the costs associated with their registration” can apply for assistance.
Registered dentists must renew their registration by 30 November to be eligible for a payment plan scheme which permits them to pay their registration fees in two instalments.
Recent graduates who are facing financial hardship as defined by Ahpra and the National Boards should contact Ahpra’s customer service team via web enquiry or on 1300 419 495 to discuss their individual situation before they complete their online graduate application.
