This qualification provides the knowledge and skills necessary to provide an advanced level of chairside assistance to the operator, including contributing to the quality of dental care provided through well developed communication skills; providing an oral health education program that promotes good oral health as part of general good health; as well as implementing and monitoring infection control policy and procedures.
This qualification allows the dental assistant to select electives to address specific workplace needs in line with jurisdictional Dental Acts and Regulations.
This qualification is suited to Australian Apprenticeships pathways.
Subjects
PACKAGING RULES
7 units of competency are required for award of this qualification including:
3 core units
4 elective units
A wide range of electives is available and can be packaged to provide either:
a generic qualification that covers a range of dental assisting work functions, or
a targeted qualification as required for specific work roles
Elective units may be selected from:
Group A electives which are required for work in dental radiography and meet licensing requirements for this work
Group B electives which are recommended for work in oral health promotion
Group C electives which are recommended for work in general anaesthesia and conscious sedation
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PACKAGING RULES (contd)
Elective units may be selected from:
Group D electives which are recommended for dental assisting work with extended duties
Group E electives which are recommended for dental practice administration work
Group F electives which are recommended for culturally aware and respectful practice
Other relevant electives listed below
Units of competency to address workplace requirements and packaged at the level of this qualification or higher in Health and/or Community Services Training Packages
Where appropriate, to address workplace requirements, 1 unit of competency packaged at the level of this qualification or higher in other relevant Training Packages or accredited courses where the details of those courses are available on the NTIS or other public listing
Core units
HLTAMBFC301C Communicate with clients and colleagues to support health care
HLTIN403C Implement and monitor infection control policy and procedures (Note pre-requ: HLTIN301C )
Four (4) elective units must be selected in line with the specified Packaging Rules.
Group A electives identify specific units required for work in dental radiography.
Groups B, C, D and E specify electives recommended for work in the following areas:
Oral health promotion
General anaesthesia and conscious sedation
Extended duties
Practice administration
Electives for this qualification may be selected from these groups as well as from the electives listed below them and from other Training Packages, in line with the specified Packaging Rules.
Group A electives required for dental radiography
The following three (3) units of competency are requiredfor work in dental radiography:
HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
HLTHIR404D Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
The importance of culturally aware and respectful practice
All workers undertaking work in health need foundation knowledge to inform their work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and co-workers and with clients and co-workers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This foundation must be provided and assessed as part of a holistic approach to delivery and assessment of this qualification. Specific guidelines for assessment of this aspect of competency are provided in the Assessment Guidelines for the Health Training Package.
Group F electives recommended for culturally aware and respectful practice
Where work involves a specific focus on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and/or culturally diverse clients or communities, one or both of the following electives is recommended:
HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
HLTHIR404D Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
Other relevant electives
In addition to the core and elective units listed above, other elective units of competency are to be selected in line with the Packaging Rules. Workplaces may package electives to reflect the functions of workers. The following sample electives are suggested as appropriate for this qualification.
To gain entry into this qualification, candidates must demonstrate competence through a recognised training program or recognition process, in all core units from the Certificate III in Dental Assisting (as listed below):