A drive to recruit 100 new dental assistants across the state is already delivering improved access to oral health care for thousands of Victorians, including in Melton.
The Dental Assisting Traineeship Program is providing recruits with the required training, mentoring and supervision to undertake the Certificate III Dental Assisting traineeship.
A key feature of the program is the earn and learn model where trainees are offered a paid position for 12 months followed by further opportunities for ongoing career progression.
Through the program 24 trainees have commenced work with another ten due to start over the coming weeks.
Of the 34 new hires, ten will work with the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne, 15 in metro dental agencies, and nine in regional Victoria.
Of the successful candidates, almost all are women with one in five being newly arrived migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Melton MP Steve McGhie said the recruitment drive for dental assistants is “simultaneously improving the oral health of
our kids and providing stable careers for members of the Melton community”.
Health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said Victorians “deserve quality dental care with minimal wait times, and we’re building up our dental system and workforce to ensure that we provide this now and into the future.”
