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Eleven new dental graduates have relocated from interstate or overseas to start their careers in the Tasmanian Health Service following a successful recruitment drive to boost the State’s oral health workforce.
The 8 Graduate Oral Health Therapists and 3 Graduate Dentists will benefit public dental services across the State, working across emergency dental care, general dental care and denture clinics for adults, as well as dental care for children and adolescents. Five of the new starters to be based in the south, three in the north and three in the north west.
Importantly, the graduates will play a key role in delivering the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to provide an additional 20,000 public dental appointments made at the 2024 State Election.
The new starters are being supported to begin their professional journeys through Oral Health Services Tasmania’s Graduate Program, which provides structured clinical and professional training and support opportunities.
As part of the graduate Program the new cohort have been assembled in Hobart over the last two days (18 and 19 February) for a two-day welcome and training workshop delivered in conjunction with Brand Tasmania. This includes a visit to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and a Tasmanian Aboriginal food and bush tucker experience” by the company ‘Palawa Kipli’ designed to support the graduates with their understanding and connection with Tasmanian Aboriginal people and culture.
Graduate Oral Health Therapist Dylan said he looked forward to beginning his career in Tasmania, having relocated here from New Zealand's North Island to join the graduate program: "There are multiple reasons why I chose Tasmania. The way the service is delivered here really meets my needs, with good training and mentoring opportunities. It's also a beautiful place and has great food, particularly in Launceston where I'm based".
Graduate Oral Health Therapist Courtney - who has also relocated from New Zealand with her partner - said: "I've been a dental assistant for a long time and worked with lots of good practitioners that inspired me. I particularly like working with kids and have seen lots of them develop dental fear, but wanted to make a difference by giving them a good experience. I also love the bush and am looking forward to taking up the great hiking and camping opportunities that Tasmania has to offer".
Oral health services Tasmania Clinical Director Dr Ioan Jones said: "It's fantastic to be surrounded by a wonderful young group of people who have started as part of this year's graduate program, which is now in its fourth year. Their enthusiasm reinvigorates our drive to continue to improve our services and be at cutting edge of education and workforce development."
