Vocational Placement or Structured Workplace learning is an essential requirement to successfully complete the Certificate III in Dental Assisting HLT35021. While you are undertaking Work Placement you will receive on the Job Training and can put the theory and skills you have learnt while undertaking your theory components of the course into practice.
The aims of Vocational Placement are for you to:

• Put the knowledge you have learnt during the course into practice.
• be exposed to the workplace, dental practices environment and make contacts that could help you find or secure a job once you graduate.
• develop and practise the skills required
• complete assessments/tasks in a real work environment, under appropriate supervision.
• Vocational Placement is the most rewarding part of our students experience as they have reported working face to face with clients and colleagues has had a huge impact on their career confidence.

You will be required to complete a min 350 hours of vocational placement.

• You the student
• The Workplace: The place of business you will complete your Vocational Placement.
• Your Workplace Supervisor: This will be a staff member within the place of business that has experience in the industry and holds the appropriate qualification/s. They will supervise and mentor you during your vocational placement.
• AADA College Trainer and Assessor: AADA College Trainer and Assessor’s have many years experience working in the Industry.
  To ensure the company you are going to complete your Vocational Placement hours at, are equipped and have qualified staff on the premises they will contact the workplace and have them complete a vocational placement agreement.

Your Trainer and Assessor will be in constant contact with you while you progress through your theory components of the course and ensure appropriate times to complete onsite assessments in the workplace are negotiated at a time appropriate to all parties.

No, you can enrol and start the course first. By starting the underpinning knowledge of the units of competency within the qualification before you start work, this can/will assist you in understanding expectations within the workplace.

Yes, however AADA College will need to check that your current workplace and supervisor meet the requirements of the course.

To meet the National requirements of this course, the majority of Vocational Placement will need to occur in a General Dental Practice. They must provide a range of oral health care procedures, including endodontics and oral surgery.

This could include:

• General Dental Practices
• Specialist Dental Practice, with access to General Dental Procedures.

If you are undertaking your Vocational Placement at a Specialist Dental Practice, you may need to undertake part of your placement in a General Dental Practice in order to complete the full requirements of the course.

No, AADA College provides Public and Product Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance during your Vocational Placement.

It is expected you will find your own Vocational Placement. Approaching General Dental Practices for the opportunity to complete your Vocational Placement while undertaking the Certificate III in Dental Assisting HLT35021 will prove to be great practice for you in finding a job within in the industry.

The employer who provides you with the opportunity for Vocational Placement may offer you a job when you graduate! Use this time as a though it is an extended interview. Ensuring you arrive to work on time and ready to work while you are there can show the employer you are serious about working with them upon completion of your course.

AADA College will provide you advise on finding your Vocational Placement in the forms of:

• Assisting with cover letters and resume
• How to research the best possible organisations
• Advise on how to present yourself while visiting the workplace

As a guide AADA College, expects students within metropolitan areas to make approximately 8 attempts in securing Vocational Placement before we step in. Students within regional areas may have fewer options, however we would expect that you had contacted/visited as many Dental practices within your area as possible.

Remember that this is an important opportunity to develop the skills required to secure paid employment later.

AADA College will provide you with clear guidelines to make sure you complete any necessary documentation or assessments before you start. Here are a few key steps that you need to be aware of to ensure a smooth transition to the workplace.

• When an employer has been engaged for Vocational Placement, you will need to complete the Vocational Placement Assessment Approval Form. Once you have submitted this form to us, our team will review their facilities, resources and ensure your proposed supervisor holds the appropriate qualification to ensure you receive the best on the job training possible.
• Your Vocational Placement hours can begin once the employer has been approved by our team.
• Prior to commencing your Vocational Placement, AADA College recommends you complete the theory components of stage 1 (please see below for more details on your study guide), to ensure you have an understanding of Workplace Health and Safety and comply with Infection Prevention and control policies and procedures.

This depends on the employer, you may be required to meet specific requirements due to the nature of the industry. These may vary by workplace and may include:

• National Police Check
• Immunisation History against infectious disease
• Working with Children (blue card)
• Signing a Code of Conduct
• Signing a Confidentiality Agreement

Please note if the above are required for your Vocational Placement, these check will be at a cost to you and must be organised by you.