Admission criteria

To be considered for entry into this course, you must:

• Have two years of documented relevant experience in restorative practice.

And

• Have current registration with the Dental Board of Australia as a dental therapist or oral health therapist.

Relevant experience is measured in full-time years but may be completed within a part-time equivalent timeframe.

Where degree levels are referenced, levels align with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Applications are assessed against these standards.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

About selection

As part of your application, you must also:

• Provide a curriculum vitae (CV) detailing relevant education, work experience, skills and achievements

• When submitting your detailed CV, use this template only.

Missing information or documents may result in your application being deemed ineligible.

When assessing (and where relevant, ranking) applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• Prior academic performance
• Relevance of previous study
• Relevance of professional qualifications and registrations
• Relevant prior (research and/or professional) experience

• Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is required to undertake the clinical component. If the applicant is a New Zealand DT or OHT currently registered with DCNZ, registration with AHPRA is also required.

The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Selection and Admission Policy.

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

Additional information

The Graduate Certificate in Dental Therapy has a quota, and offers are sent out on a rolling basis. The quota may be reached before the application closing date, and applicants are encouraged to apply early to ensure they can be considered for the course.

Clinical experience in your own practice: Clinical mentorship

This course requires that you undertake 80 hours of mentored clinical practice in your own practice in order to complete the course requirements. You will need to nominate a mentor when you apply.

Clinical mentor information

During this period of home clinic practice, students are applying the learning undertaken in the theoretical and practical components of the program in their own practice settings. Students will be required to provide treatment planning and restorative services for adult patients within their existing scope of dental therapy practice with the support of their clinical mentors. Supervision during this period, while close and structured, should enable the transition of the student participant to more autonomous practice in a supported environment that ensures quality patient care is delivered.

Requirements of Clinical Mentors:

• Undertake a training program (including an online module and live webinar) with the Melbourne Dental School.
• Receive online support via mentor drop-in sessions
• Provide mentoring and support for the student while they provide all dental therapy restorative services to adult patients as part of course requirements
• Ensure patient care is provided to appropriate standards and provide advice, support and instruction where required to enable appropriate skill development in line with course
• Take overall responsibility for patient care by the student during this supervision period
• Adjust their clinical load to accommodate the clinical mentor role
• Provide assessment and feedback in line with the training and calibration provided during the credentialing program
• Record assessments and observations of student development in student clinical workbooks throughout the period.

While the assessment and feedback components are an important part of student learning, they are designed to be accommodated within a clinical practice environment and are not onerous. They are consistent with requirements in community-based student clinics regularly utilised by Melbourne Dental School.

It is also important that sufficient and appropriate adult patients requiring dental therapy treatment are arranged ahead of time.

Advanced Standing

Prior studies may be credited towards your degree and potentially reduce the duration of your course. This is known as Advanced Standing (also known as credit or recognition of prior learning).

For additional, in-depth details on entry requirements and admissions for this course, refer to the University Handbook.