Open Colleges is the new name for Cengage Education, and is Australia's oldest and most respected provider of Online and distance education courses. We deliver over 130 online and distance education courses, including an extensive range of nationally recognised Certificates and Diplomas.  

The Open Colleges difference:

·         Nationally accredited: This ensures your qualification is recognised by industry around Australia.

·         Start today! Open Colleges courses offer you ultimate flexibility. There is no need to attend classes at a campus or wait for an intake or start date. You can start your course whenever it suits you!

·         Study from home at your own pace: You can study from home at your own pace. You can a choose to receive your learning materials by mail or online.

·         Benefit from 100 years of history: Open Colleges has been delivering distance education to Australians for more than 100 years. Join over 700,000 Australians who have studied with Open Colleges. Unlike many other institutions, we are specialists in distance learning.

·         We help you to succeed: Open Colleges provides you with comprehensive support throughout your studies. From access to ‘OpenSpace’ — our online learning portal — to support from experienced tutors, we help you every step of the way.

·         Affordable fees: Open Colleges provides you with a range of different payment plan options. You can pay upfront and get a discount on your fees or you can choose to pay by instalment – including weekly, fortnightly and monthly options.

·         Articulation opportunities: Once you have completed this course, you may receive credit if you wish to pursue further education.

This nationally recognised qualification will consolidate your skills as a dental assistant, and can help you extend your career options by studying a specialist elective.

As well as expanding your knowledge of infection control and safe working practices, you will learn to safely produce radiographic images and to properly provide supportive assistance during general anaesthetic and conscious sedation procedures. Communication skills include working effectively with culturally diverse clients and colleagues, and preparation and presentation of educational information for community oral health programs. Skills relating to practice management are also covered.

Subjects

• Infection control


• Communication


• OHS requirements


• General anaesthesia and conscious sedation (elective)


• Dental radiography (elective)


• Oral health promotion (elective)


• Dental practice administration work (elective)

Minimum education

• School Certificate or equivalent OR
• relevant qualification OR
• relevant vocational experience.

Minimum age

Minimum age of 18 years.


Workplace requirements for fee for service students

Students are required to be employed in their chosen field to enhance their on the job learning. They need to be supervised by a qualified staff member and working a minimum of 21 hours per week to meet the qualification requirements.

Computer requirements
Students have the option to access their course material online.

Minimum specifications for the computer are:

• Microsoft Office 2003 or equivalent


• Microsoft Windows 98, or Mac OS X


• CD-ROM drive

Students will also need access to a printer and the following plug-ins:

• Adobe Acrobat Reader and


• Macromedia Flash player

English language requirements
Student must meet the requirements of the national units of competency. Typically:

• Apply reading and writing skills required to fulfil work role in a safe manner and as specified by the organisation/service:


• This requires a level of skill that enables the worker to follow work-related instructions and directions and the ability to seek clarification and comments from supervisors, clients and colleagues.
• Industry work roles will require workers to possess a literacy level that will enable them to interpret international safety signs, read clients service delivery plans, make notations in clients records and complete workplace forms and records.
• Apply oral communication skills required to fulfil work role in a safe manner and as specified by the organisation:
• This requires a level of skill that enables the worker to follow work-related instructions and directions and the ability to seek clarification and comments from supervisors, clients and colleagues
• Industry work roles will require workers to possess oral communication skills that will enable them to ask questions, clarify understanding, recognise and interpret non-verbal cues, provide information and express encouragement.



Additional requirements
Students may be asked to attend a major teaching hospital or other hospital during the course of their training to expose them to specialised surgeries not encountered in their own workplaces. The amount of time students may have to devote to external hospitals will vary from student to student.

• Dental assistant


• Senior dental assistant