Melbourne, 16 December 2021
Victorian based dentists, Dr Evangeline Alphonse and Dr Thivagar Nirmalann have been announced as the recipients of the 2021 Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) and BOQ Specialist Bursaries.
Dr Alphonse from Berwick Dental Clinic and Surgery has been awarded the Recent Graduate Bursary and will receive $5000 to be applied towards ADAVB Continued Professional Development (CPD) courses. Dr Nirmalann and his team from Balnarring Dental Care have been awarded the CPD Practice Bursary and will receive $8000 to be applied to CPD and training programs and $2000 to be applied to ADAVB CPD courses.
Now in its seventh consecutive year, the ADAVB and BOQ Specialist bursary program provides recognition to both dental practices and recent dental graduates that demonstrate a commitment to excellence and to quality learning, by providing funding to support further professional development.
University of Sydney graduate, Dr Alphonse, said that she was honoured to receive the bursary and feels a deep sense of gratitude for those who have helped contribute to her career.
“As someone who is heavily involved in community projects and pro bono work, it is an honour to be acknowledged by those in my industry.
“This bursary validates the work we do here at Berwick Dental Clinic and Surgery, and motivates me to continue working hard for our community members.”
Owner of Balnarring Dental Care, Dr Nirmalann, said that he and his team were ecstatic and humbled to be the recipients of this year’s bursary, after what has been a very challenging period for all businesses.
“It has been a long and hard two years, so being awarded the bursary has reinvigorated us to push forward with newfound enthusiasm.
“We have always been a clinic that values dental education, CPD, and being at the forefront of evidence-based dentistry and the bursary will support us in realising this.”
ADAVB President Dr Jeremy Sternson said, “Dr Alphonse and Dr Nirmalann both illustrate a deep commitment to helping their patients and the wider community. Their drive to further enrich and develop their dental teams will ultimately lead to better care for their patients and their respective communities.
“Together with BOQ Specialist, we are very proud to announce Dr Alphonse and Dr Nirmalann as the 2021 bursary recipients,” said Dr Sternson.
BOQ Specialist CEO, Keith Strachan, concluded, “We are proud to partner once again with the ADAVB to recognise two outstanding bursary recipients in Dr Alphonse and Dr Nirmalann.
“Our recipients have demonstrated a true passion for their people, their patients and their communities, providing exceptional services through their team-oriented approach to professional development. This makes them both unquestionably deserving recipients of this year’s bursaries,” said Mr Strachan.
Dr Alphonse and Dr Nirmalann will be featured in ADAVB’s online and print publications as well as BOQ Specialist’s own ‘Best Practice’ publication.
Media enquiries
BOQ Group Media Relations
Tel: (07) 3212 3068
Email: mediarelations@boq.com.au
ADAVB
Sophia Ljaskevic, Marketing and Communications Manager
Tel: (03) 8225 4600
Email: sophia.ljaskevic@adavb.org
About BOQ Specialist
BOQ Specialist has been Australia’s leading financial services partner for medical, dental and veterinary professionals for over 30 years. Their distinctive range of personal and business banking products and services include everyday banking and savings accounts, credit cards, residential mortgages, car loans, practice purchase loans, equipment and fit-out finance, commercial and investment property loans. For more information, call 1300 131 141 or visit boqspecialist.com.au
About the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch
The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) is the professional association of Victorian dentists. We aim to improve the dental health of all Victorians, promote the highest standards of professional dental care and enhance the professional lives of our members. We support and advocate on behalf of dentists to build a stronger voice for our profession and to promote the oral health of Victorians. For more information, call 8825 4600 or visit adavb.org.