ADAQ Council Elections 2023 

I have been a Councillor since 2017 and was President in 2021. I have a good working knowledge of ADAQ, and I can contribute to Council in many ways, including by passing on my corporate knowledge to new Councillors. It would be a privilege to be re-elected to Council.

I am nominating to be on ADAQ Council again as I would like the opportunity to serve a second year as your President.  It’s been an honour representing our Association and profession.  It’s been a challenge that I have loved and enjoyed.

I have worked in private practice and been a supervisor at UQ Dental School since graduating from UQ in 2007 with First Class Honours.  I’ve also participated in volunteer dental programs with Tzu Chi Foundation (since 2006), ADHF and Esesson Foundation.  I am a member of the Australian Prosthodontic Society and Cadmus Society (past president).

I am passionate about dentistry, whether it’s treating patients or mentoring new graduates and students.  The ability to make a positive impact to my patients, colleagues and students is a privilege and responsibility that is tremendously rewarding for me.  Being on ADAQ Council is a way to give back to the profession that has given me so much. 

I have been on Council for four years.  During that time, some of my contributions include:

• Authoring the proposals that led to the structural reform of how ADAQ’s CPD Program is created leading to the growth in the quality and variety of the program in recent years;
• Initiating the establishment of a Volunteering in Dentistry Committee and serving as its Chair since;
• Driving the discussions and work that lead to better support, financial and non-financial, of ADAQ’s affiliated study clubs;
• Building positive relationships with specialist societies and producing the Bite Club Directory to promote them;
• Representing the profession at the Public Hearing for the Queensland Government’s parliamentary inquiry into reducing vaping.

Having worked at the coalface for 16 years, I’ve seen the issues that have affected our profession and appreciate the ones facing us now.  If re-elected to Council, I will continue to work for you, my fellow members.

I graduated from the University of Queensland with Honours in 2013. I have gained experience in both the Public and Private Practice sectors in Queensland. Working predominantly in South East Queensland with locum roles in Central Queensland.

Over the past two years, I have actively participated as a mentor in the ADAQ mentoring program and I have supervised 5th year students during their final placement. Currently, I serve as a dedicated member of the ADAQ Policy and Advocacy Advisory Committee, and the Awards and Honours Committee.

Dentistry is a profound passion of mine, and I am committed to ongoing education. I am presently enhancing my expertise through a fellowship program and regularly engage in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) initiatives and training opportunities. I also have a very keen interest in infection prevention and control.

Having spent over a decade in the field of dentistry, I understand the significance of professional connection and finding a supportive network. I also have experience serving as an executive member of Narangba State School Parents and Citizens association from March 2021- March 2023.

I firmly believe in the importance of accessible, safe, and high-quality dental care for all individuals. This care should empower patients with the knowledge and skills to improve their oral health and enable them to make informed health decisions. By fostering a dental community that is well-supported in education, training, and collaboration, we can elevate the standard of care accessible to our patients.

In conclusion, the ADAQ plays a pivotal role in uniting and advancing our dental community. If elected to the council, I am dedicated to facilitating the growth and support of our fellow members and giving back to the profession of which I am proud to belong.

In recent years, many have recognised that ADAQ has been initiating and supporting more charitable endeavours and advocacy for dentists. As I have special interest in both NFP governance and advocacy, it would be an honour to serve on the ADAQ Council and contribute to the future directions of our caring profession.

I chose dentistry over medicine as it is the most universally required healthcare, and since everyone requires good preventive oral care, volunteering opportunities are readily available. A mission trip working in mental hospitals and orphanages in East Asia lighted a fire for me, to explore creative ways to serve the wider community, using my transferable skills. I have since partnered with many organisations in varying volunteer capacities, including as a mentor to South African entrepreneurs with Virgin Unite, and currently as a board intern of a NFP.

Since graduating as dux of 2009 from the University of Melbourne, I have been exploring ways to best serve the dental community. Realising that specialisation and practice ownership were not my aspirations, I worked as a clinical supervisor at Griffith University while enjoying long term recall relationships in family practices. I am a firm believer in ‘patients don’t know how much you know, until they know how much you care’ and ‘prevention is better than cure’. I strive to encourage these values among health professionals I have mentored at Griffith, Melbourne University, CMDFA, and through the ADA mentoring program.

I am the current President for Southside Study Group, and have been privileged to coordinate the 50th anniversary extravaganza of this intergenerational and collegial group. I also initiated the inaugural Southside Clinic Day, which was well attended by over 80 dentists and students.

In offering to volunteer on the ADAQ Council, I hope to continue to promote intergenerational collegiality, and a caring culture to the wider dental community. I am passionate in speaking about practising healthcare with care, prioritising positive relationships and mental health awareness among dental workplaces, as well as promoting volunteer opportunities. I hope a role in the council will provide a forum to advocate and collaborate with more like minded professionals, in spreading these preventive public health messages.

Dr Jelena Vlacic graduated from the University of Queensland with her Bachelor of Dental Science, receiving first class honours. While working in private practice, she also went on to pursue further studies, and was awarded her Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) following esteemed international reviews, under the mentorship of Professor Ian Meyers and Professor Laurie Walsh. This further lead to a Post-Doctoral research fellowship role in the field of Dental Implantology with Professor Saso Ivanovski. She has presented at both national and international conferences and has noted publications in highly respected journals (Biomaterials Journal, British Dental Journal, Australian Dental Journal, Book chapters).

With extensive experience practicing dentistry in the private sector, having served both in the capacity of a Principal Dentist as well as a contracting dentist, Jelena brings a wealth of business and clinical knowledge. She has worked in the private sector throughout Brisbane city and wider areas.

Jelena has served as a Clinical Supervisor for dental students at the University of Qld Dental School. She is a member of the Australian Dental Association, member and past president of Cadmus Study Club, an ITI (International Team for Implantology) member and a past assessor for ADRF (Australian Dental Research Foundation) and ARC (Australian Research Council) grants. She is the immediate past Chair of her son’s School Board and currently serves on the ADAQ Asset Management Committee.

Outside of dentistry, Jelena spends her free time with family and close friends. She has a passion for languages, having studied Spanish, Japanese and Chinese (Mandarin, simplified) at IML, UQ.