This course will prepare you to translate your existing scope to provide dental therapy restorative care for patients of all ages. You will develop the knowledge and skills to apply evidence-based, person-centred care in a high-quality learning environment. With the support of our academic and clinical dental staff, you will apply your learning with patients in our clinics and have the benefit of clinical case learning and interactive and collaborative team dentistry practice, and assessment of competence.

We support your continued learning through mentored clinical practice in your own clinic, which includes training for your mentor and a community of practice, enabling flexible and continued work-integrated learning in your own practice.   All the benefits of the Melbourne Dental School’s rich research and learning environment, including our libraries and world-leading academics, are available to you as undertake clinical practice for adult dental therapy, including diagnosis and treatment planning for restorative care for people aged over 18 years.

All subjects are required to be attempted in the same semester.

Course structure and dates for 2023

The course comprises three subjects: 2 x 12.5 points and 1 x 25 points, totaling 50 points of study which must be taken concurrently.

The course dates for the 2023 Graduate Certificate in Dental Therapy are:

• Introductory session on Tuesday 13th June.
• Ten weeks of online learning (self-complete modules and weekly tutorials on Thursday evenings) beginning June 15th and running until the end of August 2023.
• All students will be required to attend 2 weeks (10 days) onsite for the Clinical Intensive component at the Melbourne Dental School, Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.

This is scheduled from Monday 16th October until Friday 27th October 2023 (To Be Confirmed).

• 10 weeks of clinical experience in your own practice settings completing at least 80 hours of adult dental therapy practice, with the support of a credentialled Clinical Mentor* (dentist or dental therapist/oral health therapist with adult scope qualifications) commencing Monday 28th August and ending Friday 17th November 2023.
• Some online assessments to be completed during September 2023.
• One week of swot vac to prepare for exams, commencing Monday 20th November and ending Friday 24th November 2023.
• Three days of assessments (online exams) between Monday 27th November and Friday 1st December 2023.

*Supervisor credentialling requires the mentor/supervisor to undertake an online training module and webinar to prepare for clinical mentoring and assessments. Students will be required to identify a Mentor with their application (more information under Entry Requirements)

While this is a one-semester, full-time course, this structure allows participation for clinicians who wish to maintain existing employment and study while managing family commitments. The integration of clinical and didactic elements is important to skill development for participants. Completion of this course will qualify practicing dental therapists and oral health therapists to expand service provision to patients of all ages within their scope of practice.

Delivery mode

This course is delivered mostly online; ten weeks of online intensive coursework and two weeks of clinical training at the Melbourne Dental School. Further information regarding requirements for the clinical intensive component and clinical experience in your own practice will be available on the LMS (Learning Management System - online learning platform) once you enrol, and in the Week 1 Course Orientation webinar.

Assessment

Each subject is formally assessed to meet the requirements of University accreditation, involving class presentations, clinical case-based assessments, oral exams and workbook assessments.