The Public Sector Dental Workforce Scheme in NSW

The Public Sector Dental Workforce Scheme (PSDWS) has been introduced in Australian jurisdictions to help alleviate workforce shortages in the public sector, particularly in rural and remote areas. Further details on the PSDWS are available on the website of the Dental Board of Australia (ADC).

In New South Wales, the Scheme has been implemented through the NSW International Dental Graduate Program (N-IDG).

It must be noted that the primary aim of the Program is to enhance the dental work in rural communities, while also providing experiene that will help the innternational dental graduate to successfully complete the Final Clinical Examinations of the ADC.

The Program does not constitute a formal componenet of the ADC process, and it is not designed as a training program for the Final Clinical Examinations of the ADC.  The onus for successful completion of ADC Examinations rests entirely with the international dental graduate.

This Program is the only mechanism that NSW Health uses to employ international dental graduates on limited registration.  There is only one intake a year and this occurs in January.

The N-IDG was launched in January 2007, a second group of overseas trained dentists was recruited in January 2008, the third group in January 2009 and the fourth in January 2010.

The N-IDG provides a supervised clinical experience program of up to 12-months, for international dental graduates who are enrolled with the ADC, are not yet fully registered in Australia but who have passed (or are exempt from) Part 1 of the ADC examination process and who have a current pass in the ADC’s Occupational English Test.

To be considered for the Program, applicants must be citizens or residents of Australia and legally allowed to undertake paid employment in Australia. They will be employed by a Local Health District (LHD), either Western Sydney or South Western Sydney - under the Health Employees Dental Officers (State) Award. Accommodation for candidates to rural areas will be arranged by the recipient LHD under the Rural Oral Health Centre Incentive Scheme.

Employment is conditional on sitting and successfully completing the ADC Final Examination at the end of the program, and therefore a failure to comply with these requirements will lead to termination of employment under the N-IDG program.

Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, there is a range of registration categories under which a dental practioner can practice in Australia, and dentists who are recruited to the NSW International Dental Graduate Program will be registered under Section 68 of this Act - Limited registration in public interest.

As required by this Act, each international dental graduate will be under the direction and supervision of an identified dentist at either Sydney Dental Hospital or Westmead Centre for Oral Health.  In addition, 'day to day' supervision will also be provided by an identified dentist employed by an LHD during the period that the international dental graduate is on placement in a rural dental clinic.

Key Elements of the Program

a) The Program commences in January and runs till November.

b) One-half day per week, on average, will be devoted to private study during the course of the program.

c) The program begins with a brief introduction to dental practice in Australia and orientation to the NSW public dental health system, diagnosis, treatment planning and general dental care.

d) The 12 week intense training period includes supervised dental clinical care at Sydney Dental Hospital and Westmead Centre for Oral Health, lectures, simulation sessions and assignments. The clinical component will include rostered sessions in emergency, general and specialist dental care and special needs dental care as directed by the Supervising Dentist. At the end of the 12 week training period an assessment of the candidate’s competencies and skills will be carried out.  The form of this assessment may include case presentation, viva voce assessment, simulation exercise and clinical examination. At completion of this assessment process candidates will be accepted for rural placement and supervision through a Rural Centre of Oral Health.

e) The rural placement will be of six months duration in a clinic(s) associated with a Rural Centre for Oral Health followed by a rotation  through clinical departments at SDH and/or WCOH. Assessment of the candidate’s competency and skills will be carried out by the Supervising dentists with advice from the rural supervisor.

f) During both training centre and rural/regional placements, candidates will be provided with opportunities to attend seminars, case presentations and will meet regularly with their supervising dentists.

Willingness to undertake rural/regional rotation is a condition of employment

Candidate Requirements

Candidates:

a) Shall not transfer employment between LHDs while undertaking this program.

b) Will be required to sit for the ADC Final Clinical Examination during the tenure of their employment. Five paid working days will be granted to candidates for these requirements.

c) Who successfully complete the ADC Final Clinical Examination are encouraged, but not required, to continue employment with NSW Health should opportunities be available.

Selection criteria

Candidates must meet the requirements of Section 68 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 and be enrolled with the ADC to complete the Final Examination of the ADC.