Dr Tim Crofts was announced as the new ADAWA President at October’s AGM. We spoke to him about his hopes for his term.
Dr Tim Crofts brings decades of experience and passion to the ADAWA Presidency.
As a child, Tim says he was treated by great dentists, which initially drew him to the profession.
“Dr Bruce Cole in Victoria Park looked after me and when I got into Dental School, he mentored me through that – he was a fantastic role model,” Tim recalls. “I also had two family members in nursing, so I was interested in the medical side of things, but dentistry appealed for its art as well as its science.”
He adds throughout his schooling at Trinity College, the students were encouraged to become men that served the community.
“There was an ethos of service and what better way to do that than through a health profession,” he explains. “My father was also a great role model of service to the community. He was involved in huge community events and projects and disability providers, as well as Perth City Council and sporting organisations.”
Dentistry
When asked about his passion for dentistry, Tim says it is all about the people. “It’s great learning the stories about my patients and getting to know their families,” Tim explains. “Also, the team we work with – we have great fun every day. Knowing at the end of the day we are helping the community is what drives me.”
Country practice
Tim is well-known in country dental circles – serving as the ADAWA Country Councillor for a number of years – flying his plane around the towns to visit country ADAWA members.
He decided on a country change back in 1999 and hasn’t looked back.
“My great friend Dr Chris Wholley was working in Collie, and he got an entry into the orthodontic master’s program in Melbourne,” Tim recalls. “I used to visit him in Collie quite often and so he needed someone to take over.
“We really enjoyed Collie – the place, the people, and the outdoor lifestyle, and we stayed there for 10 years. Then we gravitated to the coast as people do once the kids hit high school and we lived in Australind, then Bunbury.
“Dentistry-wise, working in a country practice means I get to do a variety of work that I wouldn’t necessarily get to do in the city,” he adds. “I enjoy the variety instead of being stuck just doing certain procedures.”
Joining ADAWA Council
When Tim joined the ADAWA Council, it followed 15 years working with the South West Dental Convocation.
“We were involved in doing some advocacy trying to get fluoridation into the South West and trying to get more dentists to come to the regions and I just loved it,” Tim says. “I have also been addicted to volunteering my whole life through the State Emergency Service, Surf Lifesaving WA, and others. ADAWA invited me to attend a strategic day many years ago because of my work with the Convocation, and that is when I first got that bug and interest in working with ADAWA.”
For Tim, he was glad to be giving back to an association who has always been supportive of him throughout his career.
“That is why I am a member and have been for my whole career because of the support and the advice you get, the benefits we give to members, keeping up-to date and all the continuing professional development,” he says. “I love the networking as well.”
A country President
Tim says that during his Presidency, he is hoping to promote living and working in regional Western Australia.
“There are a lot of towns out there who are desperate for more dentists,” he says, adding that when he was the Country Councillor, the number one thing dentists would speak to him about was trying to find a dentist because they were short staffed.
“It is not like these places are bad places to live,” he explains. “They are beautiful places to live but people don’t step outside their little square of Perth and take that leap of faith to try out these regional areas.
“The variety, the lifestyle, and the lack of traffic and parking fees are wonderful things about living in regional areas.”
During his term as ADAWA President, Tim says he thinks we can always improve upon things.
“Things are great with the services that are provided through ADAWA but I think we can always improve things, which is why I always love networking and getting good feedback from members,” he says.
“The other thing I want to do is celebrate our heroes and our volunteers in dentistry,” he adds.
Message to members
Tim says he would like to thank ADAWA members for their overwhelming support of the association over the years.
“It is something to be proud of to be a member of ADAWA,” he says. “Please get involved and come to our events – our continuing professional development, the Eat and Meets, the General Meetings and volunteer for one of our groups because it is quite addictive. You get so much energy out of helping others.”
