Preparing for the Australian Dental Council (ADC) exams is tough especially for internationally trained dentists aiming to practise in Australia. Every candidate wants clarity on procedures, expectations and how to succeed. That’s why the 2025 ADC Candidate Forum, held on 18 November was such a valuable resource for aspirants

The forum brought together speakers who addressed real-world issues that ADC candidates face from visas to patient care ethics, and even practical aspects of dental billing in Australia. This blog captures the key points from that forum, explains their relevance for ADC exam candidates, and provides context where it matters most.

Why the ADC Candidate Forum is needed?

ADC assessments are competency-based and extend beyond technical clinical knowledge, It expects candidates to understand:

• Their role in a professional Australian dental practice environment,
• Legal and ethical responsibilities,
• And the day-to-day practicalities of working as a dentist in Australia.

Forums like this give candidates insights that you won’t find in handbooks alone. They highlight how professional practice intersects with cultural, legal, and regulatory expectations.

1. Australian Visas for ADC Candidates

One of the first topics covered was visas for ADC candidates, presented by Natalie Walsh.

For many international candidates, understanding visa requirements is a critical and often stressful step. Visa status affects:

your ability to sit the examination,

• your eligibility for on-campus or practical training,
• and whether you can work in Australia between exam periods.

Although the ADC focuses on assessment and competency, visa arrangements are handled through separate processes., candidates were advised to:

• Research the right visa subclass for your situation (e.g., student, temporary graduate, skilled worker),
• Plan early visa applications can take weeks or months,
• Ensure that your visa covers all exam periods and practical requirements.

This session bridged a frequent gap in candidates’ preparation: visa logistics often get overlooked, yet they directly impact your path to a dental career in Australia.

2. Family, Sexual and Domestic Violence Ethical Practice in Dentistry

This session, by Dr Alex Dancyger, tackled a topic that’s not in textbooks, but is part of professional expectations: how dental professionals must recognise and respond to Family, Sexual and Domestic Violence (FSDV).

Here’s what matters if you’re aiming to clear your ADC exams and practice ethically:

Australia takes FSDV seriously. Health professionals are expected to know how to recognise potential victim-survivors in patients.

It’s not merely clinical it’s about communication, empathy and appropriate referral to support services.

ADC candidates must show cultural competence and awareness of contextual patient care issues which goes beyond cavity charts and technical skills.

For exam candidates this means: Your clinical decision-making must embrace ethical judgment and professional responsibility, something examiners care about, especially in communication OSCE stations.

In the ADC practical exam, you’re tested on clinical competence. But in real practice, examiners want a dentist who understands the whole patient journey including how treatment is billed.

How This Helps ADC Exam Candidates

Let’s cut through the noise: many resources on ADC exams focus only on technical skills like typodont procedures, OSCE tasks or written MCQs. But the Candidate Forum reinforced something every successful candidate must internalise:

1. Clinical skill alone isn’t enough.

You must understand practice environment, legal expectations, ethical obligations, and context-specific knowledge in dentistry.

2. Communication and ethical judgment matter.

From responding to sensitive issues like domestic violence to ensuring patients are fully informed about treatment and billing, your professional conduct is part of your assessment narrative.

3. Practical realities prepare you for success.

The ADC exams are not just about passing a test they simulate whether you can function effectively as a dentist practising in Australia.

This is exactly why Winspert’s ADC Course programs help bridge gaps that technical textbooks can’t fill they combine:

exam-specific coaching,

insight into real-world practice expectations,

and focused guidance based on official policies and forum insights such as these.

If you’re serious about passing the ADC exams and building a long-term dental career in Australia, don’t underestimate the value of insight sessions like the Candidate Forum. They give you context that handbooks and mock tests simply don’t and that context is educational, ethical, and practical all at once.

Winspert’s ADC ccourses and programs align their teaching with what the ADC actually emphasises ensuring you’re prepared not just for the exam, but for work as a dentist in Australia.

You’ve got the clinical chops now back that up with clear professional insight, tested ethical awareness, and a real understanding of the Australian dental practice environment.