Course Summary

This qualification reflects the role of workers who assist dental practitioners during oral health care procedures. The role includes maintaining high standards of infection control, assisting with practice administration and supporting quality and professionalism in the dental sector. The skills in this qualification must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 350 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the units of competency.

Entry Requirements

There are no current Training Package entry requirements into this qualification, however students should note the following important information:

• Students are required to complete the Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) online literacy and numeracy assessment prior to enrolment unless they have completed an equal or higher-level course.
• Work placement requirements: Vocational placement is an important and vital factor in successfully completing this qualification. You must be an existing worker or a volunteer in a dental practice in order to satisfy the assessment requirements for each of the units of competency within this qualification. You are required to be working or volunteering in a dental facility for a minimum of 12 hours per week in order to gain the skills and knowledge as outlined in each of the units of competency.

Under HLTDEN015 - Prepare for and assist with dental procedures, you are required to perform 350 hours of dental assisting work and have this recorded in your student logbook.

• At least 300 hours in a real dental clinic workplace.
• Up to 50 hours in a simulated dental clinic workplace environment.
• With adherence to Infection Control Guidelines and in line with the current edition of The Australian Immunisation Handbook, it is a requirement that all students have surface immunity to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Evidence must be provided in the form of a Vaccination Record with reported date of the 3 doses or age-appropriate doses and a serology result indicating blood titre level result with an antibody level of 10IU/L or greater. We recommend contacting your GP to arrange a referral for a blood test/screening.
• COVID Guidelines: Workers in a healthcare setting (COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements)

PART 1 - COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKERS IN HEALTHCARE

A worker in healthcare, other than a residential aged care worker at a residential aged care facility, must not enter, work in, or provide services in a healthcare setting unless the worker in healthcare complies with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Note: the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for workers in healthcare who are residential aged care workers at residential aged care facilities are set out in Part 1A.

1. The COVID-19 vaccination requirements are that:

1. a worker in healthcare must be fully vaccinated; and
2. the worker in healthcare must:
   i. for a sole trader - provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to any healthcare settings in which they work; or
   ii. for an employee who is not a sole trader - provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to their employer; or
   iii. for an employer that provides staff or services to a healthcare setting - keep a record of the COVID-19 vaccination status of each employee who is a worker in a healthcare setting and confirm that employees are fully vaccinated, to the responsible person for each healthcare setting employees work in, if requested by the responsible person, provide evidence to support the undertaking.

Note: an employer is not required to keep a copy of an employee's evidence of vaccination or medical contraindication. The employer must record the employee's compliance with the vaccination requirements. Assurance should be provided to the healthcare setting, advising all employees provided to the healthcare setting meet the COVD-19 vaccination requirements.

Vocational Placement and Work Integrated Learning

Students must complete a Vocational Placement and/or Work Integrated Learning as part of this qualification.

Additional information

Vocational placement is an important and vital factor in successfully completing this qualification. You must be an existing worker or a volunteer in a dental practice in order to satisfy the assessment requirements for each of the units of competency within this qualification. You are required to be working or volunteering in a dental facility for a minimum of 12 hours per week in order to gain the skills and knowledge as outlined in each of the units of competency.

Under HLTDEN015 - Prepare for and assist with dental procedures, you are required to perform 350 hours of dental assisting work and have this recorded in your student logbook.

• at least 300 hours in a real dental clinic workplace
• up to 50 hours in a simulated dental clinic workplace environment.
• With adherence to infection control guidelines and in line with the current edition of The Australian Immunisation Handbook, it is a requirement that all students have surface immunity to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).
• Evidence must be provided in the form of a Vaccination Record with reported date of the 3 doses or age appropriate doses and a serology result indicating blood titre level result with an antibody level of 10IU/L or greater. We recommend contacting your GP to arrange a referral for a blood test/screening.

Course Details

Admission Codes

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

Students completing HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting can enter the workforce in the role of Dental Assistant.