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Graduate Certificate in Clinical Dentistry
This course was formally known as the Melbourne OTC program (Melbourne Orientation Training Course for Overseas Dental Graduates)
Course Introduction
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Dentistry will provide overseas trained dentists whose qualifications are not immediately recognised in Australia with the knowledge and skills they require to prepare for dental practice in Australia and to practice their dental skills under the guidance of experienced general and specialist Australian dentists.
Following completion of the Graduate Certificate, students will be required to independently undertake (and pass) the ADC examinations before they can apply to the Dental Practice Board to allow them to practice general dentistry in Australia.
The academic coordinator, Professor Michael Burrow, is a member of the Melbourne Dental School, within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.
CRICOS Code 067106C
International Students wishing to study the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Dentistry on a Student VISA, must apply through the International Office of the University.
Definitions
International Students
You will be an International Student at the University of Melbourne if you are not an Australian or New Zealand Citizen, nor are you an Australian permanent resident or holder of a permanent Humanitarian Visa.
Local Student
You are a Local Student at the University of Melbourne if you have Australian or New Zealand citizenship or you have a permanent or Humanitarian Visa.
Dental Practice in Australia
To practice dentistry in Australia, you must first be registered with the Dental Practice Board in the state or territory in which you will be practicing.
• Australian trained dentists must successfully complete a dental degree (approximately 5 years of full time academic training) at an approved Australian University to be eligible for registration by Australian Dental Practice Boards.
• Overseas trained dentists whose qualifications are not immediately recognised by state or territory Dental Practice Boards are required to undergo a two part examination of their skills and knowledge to demonstrate that they are at a level that is no less than that reached by dental graduates from an Australian university.
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) is the organisation responsible for assessing overseas trained dentists to enable them to obtain registration in Australia. This assessment includes two examinations:
1. a preliminary written examination
2. a clinical examination
Students that successfully pass these examinations and comply with the academic, professional and health requirements of the ADC will receive an Australian Dental Council Certificate stating that the required standards of dentistry have been achieved for practice in Australia.
Course Objectives
The 20 week program consists of lectures (4 weeks) plus tutorials, pre-clinical and clinical experience on site at the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne (16 weeks). The emphasis is on understanding dentistry practices in Australia, and providing the opportunity for students to update existing clinical skills and knowledge as well as to develop communication, presentation and patient management skills relevant to Australian general dental practice.
Graduate Attributes
Academically excellent:
• Improving the academic and practical clinical knowledge of students to prepare them for a career in dental health in Australia.
Knowledgeable across disciplines:
• Graduates will have broad knowledge across relevant dental disciplines and in managing the patient interaction.
Leaders in communities:
• Graduates from this award, as public health professionals will be expected to contribute to the dental health and wellbeing of the communities in which they will work.
• With their experiences from outside of Australia, graduates are likely to have a well developed understanding of community needs
Attuned to cultural diversity:
• As graduates with their first degree obtained outside of Australia, graduates are expected to have a deep understanding of cultural values and a strong understanding of the values and challenges of social and cultural diversity
Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirements are:
• Successful completion of an undergraduate dental degree recognised by the University of Melbourne
• Evidence of registration (or eligibility for registration) as a dentist in the student’s home country or the country in which their dental studies were undertaken.
• Demonstrated competency in English language skills by one of the means recognised by the Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences (see below for further details)
• Achievement of minimum level of dental skills as assessed by a skills test undertaken by Dental Health Services Victoria
*Please note, all students will need to organise and undertake the following activities before beginning the clinical components of this course:
• Obtain and provide a “Working with Children Check” – This is obtained from the Victorian Department of Justice
• Obtain and provide a “Criminal Records Check – International students who studied outside Australia in the year prior to enrolment must obtain a Police record Check from the country in which they spent that year.
• Obtain and provide evidence of a current Specific Registration to Undertake Supervised Practice or Training issued by the Dental Practice Board of Victoria (see http://www.dentprac.vic.gov.au/docs/reg_71d.pdf)
It is recommended that students apply for these two checks as soon as possible after you submit your application form, and no later than the day on which you undertake your skills assessment.
English Language Requirements
If you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident graduate applicant, you can satisfy the English language requirements in a number of ways
You must meet one of the following english requirements:
• Satisfactorily complete secondary studies in a country where English is the official language and gain a pass in final year English (applicants from countries with more than one official language may be required to meet TOEFL or IELTS requirements).
• Satisfactorily complete the final two years of secondary studies in an approved secondary school with English as the medium of instruction and gain a pass in English in their final year. (Please provide formal advice from the institution to support your claim that you have satisfied this requirement - this can be an original or originally certified letter on letterhead from the institution that specifically states that the course attended was both instructed and assessed in English).
• In an institution where English is the language of instruction and assessment for the entire institution, satisfactorily complete either:
o at least the first year of a tertiary course within the last two years; OR
o at least a two year tertiary degree within the last five years.
Please provide formal advice from the institution to support your claim that you have satisfied this requirement - this can be an original or originally certified letter on letterhead from the institution that specifically states that the course attended was both instructed and assessed in English.
• Obtain a grade in one of the following General Certificate of Education subjects: General Paper (AO Level), or AS Level General Studies, English Language, English Literature, English Language and Literature; which is deemed by the Academic Board to be at least the equivalent of applicants for the course who have completed the VCE.
• Obtain a pass of VG (grade 4) in English in the Norwegian Vitnemal or the Swedish Avgangsbetyg.
• Satisfactorily complete additional English Language Studies which, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, is the equivalent of the other tests specified above.
• Meet the University's TOEFL or academic IELTS requirements in a test taken no more than 24 months prior to application. Your original TOEFL or IELTS test report form must be included with your application. Certified copies and TOEFL examiner's score records are not accepted.
• An IELTS score of 6.5 (and no band less than 6.0) must be demonstrated.
*Please note, the University does not accept OET as proof of English language.
Australian or New Zealand citizens or permanent residents
If you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident graduate applicant, you still need to satisfy the English language requirements and this can be achieved in a number of ways.
You must provide evidence that you meet one of the following English requirements:
i) satisfactorily completed English language studies at a level which is judged by the Academic Board to be at least equivalent to that required of students who have completed the VCE ; or
ii) satisfy at least one of the requirements listed above for people who are not Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents
Please note: If you are unsure as to whether you will meet the English Language requirements, it may be helpful to still book in for an IELTS or TOEFL exam in the case that you need to provide extra evidence of English Language skills. However, please note that the University is not responsible for reimbursing any booking fees or costs aassociated with the IELTS or TOEFL exams.
Course Structure
To satisfy the requirements of the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Dentistry, students must successfully complete all four subjects, a total of 50 points. The subjects offered are:
360899 General Dentistry Theory (12.5 points)
360900 Endodontics & Restorative Dentistry (12.5 points)
360901 Periodontics & Removable Prosthetics (12.5 points)
360902 Oral Surgery, Diagnosis & Radiology (12.5 points)
Part-Time/Full-Time Study
This course is available as full-time or part-time study. Part time study allows students to take the General Dentistry Theory subject first, followed by the remaining three clinical subjects in the following semester. In all cases, the General Dentistry Theory subject must be taken first before the three clinical subjects.
Course Fee
The fees are charged per subject. Each subject fee is $6,250.00.
At the time of application, students will be required to pay a fee of $150.00 to cover the costs of the pre-course skills assessment. This $150.00 fee will be deducted from the fees of all students that are offered (and accept) a place in the course in the semester immediately following the skills assessment.
Fee-Help
Fee-Help is available to Australian Citizens only. For information regarding Fee-Help, please visit the government website http://www.goingtouni.gov.au
Course Coordinator Details
Professor Michael Burrow, Melbourne Dental School
2010 Course Delivery & Skills Assessment Dates
Semester 1 begins: 1st February 2010
Semester 2 begins: 5th July 2010
This course is delivered on a full time basis, completed over one semester.
Campus: This course is taught at the Parkville campus at The Melbourne Dental School, 720 Swanston Street, Melbourne.
Skills Assessment Dates:
The skills assessment for entry into the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Dentistry for semester 1, 2010 is scheduled for Monday 16th, Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th November 2009.
All applicants will be required to attend on the Monday afternoon for a 3 hour written examination which will be conducted at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne. Students will be advised by the Melbourne Orientation Course office (OTC) of the session they will be required to attend for the three hour clinical component.
Written Component
All students are required to attend this session. The written component will consist of a three hour written paper, including treatment planning, short answer and multiple choice questions.
Practical Component
The three hour practical component may include preparation or restoration of one or more teeth on a manikin. All necessary instruments and materials will be provided.
Further information will be forwarded including venue and time of practical component, following acceptance of your application form.
Application Process
Applications for the Semester 1, 2010 intake will close at 30th October 2009.
The application form for this course can be downloaded below:
Application Form - Semester 1, 2010
Useful Links
Australian Dental Council
IELTS
Dental Practice Board
Dental Health Services Victoria
Victoria Police (for "Police Checks in Australia" information)
Victorian Department of Justice (for "Working with Children" information)
Fee Help Information
Further Enquiries
It is possible that during the course of the year, you may have questions about the content or perhaps the administration of the program. There are a number of people who are there to assist with any issue you may wish to raise.
Carol White
Tel: +61 3 9341 1177
Fax: +61 3 9341 1111
Email: otc@dhsv.org.au
Renee Killeen
Tel: +61 3 9810 3354
Fax: +61 3 9810 3149
Email: r.killeen@mccp.unimelb.edu.au
Student Services can assist with queries about online enrolment, invoicing, change of address and withdrawal or enrolment in a subject.
Student Services
Tel: +61 3 9810 3245
Fax: +61 3 9810 3149
Email: postgrad@mccp.unimelb.edu.au