Auckland Regional Dental Service dental therapy refresher course

Dental therapy practice is a subset of the practice of dentistry, and is recognised with a dental therapist’s approved education, training and competence.

Dental therapists provide oral health assessment, treatment, management and prevention services for children and adolescents up to age 18, in collaboration with dentists and other health care professionals, and in partnership with individuals, whanau and communities.

Disease prevention and oral health promotion and maintenance are core activities.

Dental therapists and dentists have a consultative working relationship, which is documented in an agreement between the parties.

Practicing as a professional requires that the dental therapist presents evidence of their practice through a portfolio that meets the New Zealand Dental Council (NZDC) requirements, and participates in continuous professional development (CPD).

There are three aspects to meeting the annual practice requirements:

• Maintaining a portfolio
• Professional development, minimum of 30 hours verifiable (across two years)
• Meeting the NZDC competencies for your scope of practice.

About ARDS

In the Auckland region: we cover Rodney and Franklin, North Shore, Waitakere, Manukau, Papakura, Auckland City including Waiheke and Great Barrier Island – in short the largest multicultural area in the Southern Hemisphere.

As the largest School Dental Service in New Zealand, ARDS provide dental care to 204,000 children through 169 dental clinics and a fleet of dental vans.

What we offer you: 

• Clinical placement in dental clinics so you are able to work with a variety of patients
• Clinical supervision with a Clinical Team Leader
• Support from a trained mentor
• Access to the Professional Advisor and Training Coordinator to reinforce learning opportunities.

Why you need to do the ARDS refresher course 
The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCA) requires that all health professionals working have current knowledge and skills, and are fit to practice in order to be safe.

What NZDC require 
If you have a break in practice for five to ten years and have not been practicing as a dental therapist, you will need to undertake the ARDS refresher course.

The ARDS refresher course enables you to re-enter dental therapy practice with up to date knowledge and skills, and the confidence necessary to meet the competencies for dental therapist to practice.

ARDS refresher course
The ARDS refresher course is a 12 week course approved by the NZDC. The course is offered annually and usually starts at the beginning of the school term, providing there are sufficient enrolments. If a current practicing dental therapist wishes to attend individual modules, they will need to obtain a copy of the course timetable.

Selection 
Dental therapists interested in attending the refresher course should: 

• Have been approved by the NZDC to attend the course
• Have completed a Diploma in Dental Therapy or equivalent
• Have been out of practice for five to ten years.

Dental therapists can contact Netini Vaeau or Pam Brennan to indicate interest and apply for the course. You will need to:

• Complete the application form
• Send your CV or work history
• Send the copy of the letter from the NZDC recommending attendence to the ARDS refresher course
• Think of the questions you would like to ask.

Each applicant will be interviewed prior to acceptance into the course.


Refresher course hours
The course hours are from 8.30am–4.00pm for 12 weeks.

Requirements for completion
There are four aspects to completing the course and meeting the competence requirements: 

• Successful completion and passing the ARDS refresher course
• Passing the NZDT registration theory examination
• Passing the clinical practice examination
• Successful completion of a minimum of 150 hours of clinical practice supervision and a report to confirm competence and fitness to practice.

Contact 
Netini Vaeau, Training Coordinator
Phone 09 838 1715
Email: netini.vaeau@waitematadhb.govt.nz
Postal: Auckland Regional Dental Service
Private Bag 93 115, Henderson 0650
Auckland, New Zealand

Pam Brennan, Professional Advisor
Phone 09 839 0565 extn 6752
Email: pam.brennan@waitematadhb.govt.nz
Postal: Auckland Regional Dental Service
Private Bag 93 115, Henderson 0650
Auckland, New Zealand.