As a Bachelor of Oral Health student you’ll develop all the scientific, theoretical and clinical skills to practice in oral health therapy — which includes careers as both dental hygienist and dental therapist.
You will learn alongside dental students at the Melbourne Dental School in a high-tech clinical setting. You will also have the opportunity to undertake placements in metropolitan clinics and rural areas.
You will learn from a clinical teaching team including active practitioners and world-leading academics who bring international leadership, research and policy expertise to the degree.
The Bachelor of Oral Health has combined vocational outcomes in hygiene and therapy.
Hygiene
Dental hygienists provide dental care for all age groups. They examine and record the nature and severity of periodontal conditions, and clean, scale and root-plane teeth.
Therapy
Dental therapists provide dental care for children and adolescents. They examine oral and dental conditions, restore and conserve permanent and deciduous teeth, perform extractions of deciduous teeth, and remove calculus. Under recent changes dental therapists are also able to provide care to adults under certain circumstances.
Clinical and real-world experience
In the first two years, you’ll undertake clinical work at the Royal Dental Hospital. In the final year, clinical rotations are undertaken at community clinics in metropolitan and rural locations.
High-tech facilities
The Melbourne Dental School provides the most high-tech dental teaching facilities in the southern hemisphere and teachers who are leaders in their fields.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Oral Health is recognised in all Australian states and territories and in New Zealand and is accredited by the Australian Dental Council (ADC). Students will register as dental practitioners with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) upon graduation.
Please note: the Bachelor of Oral Health is not a pathway to the Doctor of Dental Surgery. This is a vocational entry-to-practice qualification. Applicants over qualified for the Bachelor of Oral Health may not receive an offer for the program.
Overview
The Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy and Hygiene) is a Charles Sturt University (CSU) degree offered at Holmesglen’s Chadstone. Students will undertake lectures and pre-clinical training in Years 1 and 2 at Holmesglen, with some clinical training at CSU’s campus in Wagga Wagga, NSW. The third year of the course is completed while enrolled at the Wagga Wagga campus of CSU.
Career opportunities, include:
- oral health therapist (dental hygienist and dental therapist) with employment in public, private or hospital settings
- health promotion officer
- health researcher
- clinical tutor, academic in health discipline courses
Pathways to further study:
- Further post graduate study in oral and public health.
Studying the CSU Bachelor of Oral Health at Holmesglen
The course has a strong focus on health science and its application in the development of clinical skills, with an evidence-based approach to learning.
You will undertake community placements and receive comprehensive clinic and simulation exposure.
In addition, the degree has a strong focus on the unique challenges of rural and remote oral health, in particular with vulnerable and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities.
This degree will give you the skills to work as an oral health therapist, diagnosing dental decay and gum diseases and working alongside dentists to provide oral health care and preventative dental practices among school children and the broader community.
Students will complete clinical placements in year 1 and 2 at the CSU Dental and Oral Health Clinics in Wagga Wagga. During year 3, students complete placement at various sites including CSU clinical sites in Albury and Wagga Wagga as well as other regional NSW Health oral health clinics.
Students studying at Holmesglen and Wagga Wagga will learn in state-of-the-art simulation clinics. Our staff include dual-qualified oral health therapists currently practising in both the public and private health sector, to make sure you are receiving current, industry relevant education.
As a graduate of the course, you will contribute to combating the chronic shortage and increasing demand for oral health professionals Australia-wide, while also significantly impacting the health of our local communities.
Course structure
Timetable: Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm full time
During year one, you will focus on core biomedical and oral sciences.
In years two and three, the focus is on understanding the medical, dental, social and community context of dental hygiene or dental therapy clinical practice.
Units
View units
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Assessment
Students will be assessed by a range of methods including written and oral exams, assignments, presentations and clinical competencies.
Entry requirements
A completed High School Certificate with an ATAR of 70 (including bonuses) or equivalent.
OR
Successful completion of two university level subjects (AQF level Associate Degree or higher) demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success through the Grade Point Average (GPA) gained in these studies.
OR
A completed AQF Certificate IV or higher level qualification.
OR
50% completion of an AQF Diploma level qualification.
OR
A completed Tertiary Preparation Course from an Australian University or an accredited provider demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success through the Grade Point Average (GPA) gained in these studies.
COVID-19 vaccination requirements
Please refer to our coronavirus update page to view current vaccine requirements.
Recognition of prior learning
You may be able to reduce the number of units to be studied in your chosen course by measuring skills acquired through work, life experiences or qualifications obtained from formal studies or training. AQF qualifications and statements of attainment issued by another registered training organisation will be recognised by Holmesglen. Read more about Recognition of Prior Learning, Credits and Advanced Standing.
Outcomes
Qualification and recognition
CSU’s Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy and Hygiene) is accredited by the Australian Dental Council and graduates are eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Graduates are able to provide hygiene treatment to individuals of all ages and dental therapy care to children and young adults (up to age 26).
Graduates are also eligible for registration in New Zealand.
If you are applying for recognition of prior learning in the CSU Bachelor of Oral Health course please visit the Charles Sturt Universityfor further information
Connections with industry
Charles Sturt University
How to apply
VTAC
Apply through VTAC or directly through CSU
Recruitment
Holmesglen may engage third parties to recruit students on behalf of the institute. Third party recruiters receive a commission and this will not impact on your fees.
Find out more about your rights and obligations as a student and the services we provide at Holmesglen.
Fees
For more information about the course fees please visit:
For more information about the course fees please visit: https://study.csu.edu.au/courses/medical-dentistry/bachelor-oral-health-therapy-hygiene
**Additional costs may also apply for course consumable and other costs. These may include consumables such as learning resources, personal protective equipment/clothing and other costs such as immunisation costs, National Police Check and Working with Children Check for relevant courses. To view the additional costs that apply for each course, download a full list of estimated additional costs by course (PDF – 102kb).
All fees are indicative only. Your fees will be calculated on your individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. Training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth funding. Find out now if you are eligible for Government-subsidised fees or Concession .
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Oral health therapists provide oral health care including the prevention and treatment of dental decay and gum diseases. They work closely with other dental professionals including dentists and dental specialists and are highly skilled in oral health promotion. Our course has a strong focus on oral health care services in rural and regional areas and you will do a practical placement in rural Victoria. Study basic sciences and public health and start preclinical dentistry in your first semester in our state-of-the-art clinical simulation laboratory.
Career opportunities
La Trobe designs its courses with your future career in mind and partners with a range of professional organisations for accreditation and registration. Refer to the detail for each course below to see what professional registration and membership options exist. There is currently high demand for graduates to work in many different settings and employment opportunities exist in private dental practice, community health centres, hospitals, aboriginal health collectives, academia, health promotion, not-for-profit and health organisations, specialist dental practices and health management.
Join us for Open Day at Holmesglen as we discuss how an oral health course can meet your career goals.In partnership with Charles Sturt University (CSU), Holmesglen delivers the Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy and Hygiene) at our Chadstone campus. This degree is delivered primarily at Holmesglen in years one and two, with placements in Wagga Wagga. During their third year, students relocate to NSW and undertake a variety of placements across different clinical sites. Visit us on Open Days to learn about the oral health course, meet our teaching staff and tour our purpose-built simulation clinic and laboratories.
Charles Sturt University developed the Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy and Hygiene) in cooperation with the Australian Dental Council, the Australian Dental Association, local dentists, oral health practitioners and senior consultants to ensure you graduate with the skills and knowledge for successful practice.
Exceptional employment outcomes
Our dental science and oral health graduates have excellent overall employment rates – 91.3 per cent of graduates find jobs within four months of graduating (Good Universities Guide 2020/21).
Outstanding facilities
Develop your practical skills in our state-of-the-art simulation clinic, dental technology/clinical support laboratory, biodental science learning suite and anatomy teaching facilities. If you’re studying at the Holmesglen Institute’s Chadstone campus, you’ll have access to a world-class oral health simulation facility.
Authentic experience
Charles Sturt University has five dental and oral health clinics across our Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga campuses. These clinics are open to patients from the local community and will provide some of your first professional training. You could undertake placements at any Charles Sturt University clinic during your course, working under the supervision of qualified practitioners.
Leading academics
Our academic team is committed to providing high-quality teaching and service to students and to rural and regional communities. You’ll benefit from small class sizes and learn from dedicated and experienced academics and guest lecturers.
Study options
Charles Sturt University offers this degree full-time over three years at our Wagga Wagga campus, or you can study the first two years of your course at the Holmesglen Institute’s Chadstone campus in Melbourne. If you are enrolled at the Holmesglen Institute, you’ll undertake lectures and pre-clinical training in Years 1 and 2 at Holmesglen, with some clinical training at Wagga Wagga. Towards the end of your degree, you may be able to apply to embark on a short study tour to Cambodia.
